One of the most helpful studies that can be done in the Old Testament is God’s establishment of the concept of sanctification for His people. The principle of sanctification is a primary theme, and one that is established just as prominently for us as His children in Christ.
The Hebrew word for sanctified is qadosh, and is defined “to set apart, consecrate. To make hallowed.” As it refers to God, He sets apart objects, days, people, offices, as holy, or for a holy purpose. In this, what is sanctified belongs to God, and so it to be respected and revered. In this way, God demonstrated the proper attitude the people should have for Him.
There are many examples in the Old Testament. We are told that God finished His creative work on the sixth day. Genesis 2:2 tells us that “He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” In Exodus 20:8-10a, as God revealed His ten commandments to Israel, He commanded, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God…” This great command taught the people to set aside ordinary business, and reserve the day for Jehovah, their Creator.
The tabernacle and temple, along with the furnishings and rituals surrounding them were objects of sanctification. God told Moses, “And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it; and you shall hallow it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy” (Exodus 40:9). This was how the people were to worship God. Their approach, demeanor and devotion had to show a proper reverence for the Almighty. In part this was accomplished by holding the objects of the tabernacle, and later the temple as holy implements of God.
We could go on an on. The firstborn male, both human and animal were sanctified. In effect, they were given to God! “For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself.” (Numbers 8:17). Interestingly, to allow for normalcy in living God said in the very next verse, “I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel” (18). This allowed a single tribe to be given over exclusively to serving the Lord. The Levites were greatly respected in Israel during the times when the people rightly regarded God.
In fact, the entire nation of Israel, chosen by God, were His holy people! This was in contrast with the remainder of world (the Gentile nations). One word used to define Gentile in scripture is “heathen” (one who does not follow God). Notice Exodus 19:5-6, as God promised the people at Mt. Sinai, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
There is a wonderful difference that takes place in the New Testament. Where full sanctification or holiness could not be obtained under the Old, we are fully cleansed and made holy by the blood of Jesus Christ!
As such, it is the child of God by faith that is now sanctified in God’s eyes. The citizenship is not in any particular physical people or nation, but in those who enter Christ’s spiritual kingdom, through obedient faith in Jesus Christ. This is made clear by Paul’s words in his epistle to the Romans, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:28-29). Paul continues with an explanation of this declaration, speaking of Jesus Christ, “to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (3:26).
This sanctification is God’s gift to us, (grace). It is accomplished, as noted, in the sacrifice of His Son, “…But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
This leads us to an important point. God has set us apart as holy. He requires us and helps us to act in sanctified ways. We have been created in Jesus for good works prepared by God (Ephesians 2:10). As Paul wrote, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-3). With this sentiment the apostle Peter concurs, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
In this way, the Jew in the Old Testament and the Christian in the New Testament are the same. We are to recognize the nature of God our Creator, Savior and King. Our recognition is demonstrated by the concept of sanctification. God has set us apart as His servants. He expects us to act accordingly. This was required then, and it is required now.
The difference is that the Christian’s sanctification is complete. It is not merely to the purifying of the flesh, but the cleansing of our “conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (cf. Hebrews 9:13-14). It is because of this, “…we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Praise be to God!
