Musick-al note # 104
Christians are to live righteously in the world. Only in this way can they be an influence for God and godliness. We are to live holy lives because God (and Christ) is holy. One cannot live like the world in satisfying every lust and whim and glorify the Lord at the same time. Further, such living will cause no one to know the greatness of living in Christ but will hinder the cause of Christ Jesus. When Christ died on the cross of Calvary, He did so to satisfy the justice of God for sin who had decreed that the soul that commits sin would die (Ezekiel 18:3). Christians have been sanctified to live pure lives.
SANCTIFICATION has a basic meaning of “separation” and, in the Bible relates to that which is separated from ordinary things to be used for a sacred purpose. It is used of times, places, things and people who are set apart for special work for God. The idea of some denominational groups that sanctification means “total sinless-ness” is not supported by the Bible. When the Bible speaks of God as being “holy” (the root word is the same as “sanctified”), it refers to his being separated from all evil. When man is sanctified, he is separated from the world and worldly things and his life is therefore dedicated to God. Of course, if he is thus ‘set apart’ i.e. sanctified, he should live apart from sin. Paul wrote to those “saints” in Corinth, who were “sanctified” or holy, in the sense that they had been separated from sin in their obedience to the gospel. He pointed out that they were not living sinless lives, and needed to repent of every sin committed. John also spoke of Christians who needed to repent (not walk in darkness of sin) and stated that in so walking in the light, the blood of Christ continually cleansed them of all sin (1 John 1:6-8).
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 