sanctification

“Making holy” or “consecrating” a place, thing, or person to God. Since holiness is primarily the attribute of God, what is “sanctified” is removed from “profane” or “secular” use and reserved to the Lord. In the OT, rites such as sprinkling with blood sanctify places, objects, and persons. The people must consecrate themselves before they can approach the Lord (Exod 19:22-24). NT writers can speak of sanctification as something that is accomplished by Christ (2Thess 2:13). Jesus’s sacrifice is said to “sanctify” Christians (Heb 10:10; John 17:19). Sanctification, however, is not a passive gift. Christians must live out their lives in a holiness that reflects what they have received (Rom 6:19; 1Thess 4:3; 1Thess 4:7; 1Tim 2:15; Heb 12:14).