EDITOR'S NOTE: Apologies for the delay in getting to this ... sometimes things just don't go the way you want them to!
Baruch Ha Shem Adonai!
(Blessed be the Name of the Lord!)
(Blessed be the Name of the Lord!)
This is the fifth in The CRIB's presentation of the Twelve Jewels of God ... a look at the wonderful, powerful, inspirational names of God.
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My Sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.'"[Exodus 31:12-13]
USE IN SCRIPTURE
The word translated "sanctify" appears in various places in the Bible. Here are just a few examples:
- In Exodus 19:23, God commanded Moses to "Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it." Here an inanimate object is to be consecrated or sanctified.
- Isaiah 66:17 tells of those who "sanctified ... themselves" to do evil. In this case, wicked men determined to disobey the Lord and sanctified themselves unto the wrath of Jehovah.
- 1 Corinthians 1:1, 2 speaks of believers in Corinth whom Paul calls Christians, who were "sanctified in Christ Jesus."
- 1 Corinthians 7:14 indicates an unbelieving husband is "sanctified" by a believing mate.
On these occasions the predominant meaning is simply "to set apart." If you apply this to the examples above, you'll find that they all become quite understandable. For our purposes here the word will mean "separated," or "set apart."
Israel
Israel has thus been "set apart" by Jehovah as a people of His own — separated from the heathen nations around them. The Lord Himself had chosen Abraham and his descendents and had has initiated procedures to guarantee their individual identity and morality.
Old Testament
Aside from the Exodus passage cited above there are four other specific mentions of the name JEHOVAH-Mekoddishkem in the Hebrew Testament ...
Israel
Israel has thus been "set apart" by Jehovah as a people of His own — separated from the heathen nations around them. The Lord Himself had chosen Abraham and his descendents and had has initiated procedures to guarantee their individual identity and morality.
Old Testament
Aside from the Exodus passage cited above there are four other specific mentions of the name JEHOVAH-Mekoddishkem in the Hebrew Testament ...
You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you.[Leviticus 20:8]
This is in the context of obedience to the commandments of God; statute is synonymous with commandment, precept, law, teachings, etc. (see Psalm 119). Because God has set us apart we should desire to be obedient.
You shall consecrate him, therefore, for he offers the food of your God; he shall be holy to you; for I the LORD, who sanctifies you, am holy.[Leviticus 21:8]
This is in the context of the Levitical regulations for the priests of Israel; the food of God being sacrifice.
You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel; I am the LORD who sanctifies you.[Leviticus 22:32]
Quite simply God is saying turnabout is fair play; He set us apart for Himself, He expects us to set Him apart for ourselves. Holiness and purity are in focus here. Besides, He alone is worthy.
Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.[Ezekiel 20:12]
God knows, as sinners, we will never be faithful 24/7; so He established days of rest for us so we'd be without excuse when it came to time to worship Him.
New Testament
The titles for Jehovah given in Old Testament scriptures tell us much about God, but they are more fully demonstrated in the New by the Son. Jesus said, "I and My Father are one" [John 10:30]. If the Son has been set apart for the whole world [John 3:16] and we abide in Him, then we are set apart in Him for eternity [1 John 5:12]. Here we have Jehovah-mekoddishkem - the LORD who sanctifies you!
Since we are the New Testament priests of God [1 Peter 2:9], and since the blood sacrifices were done away with in Christ at Calvary, we must set apart our very lives as whole and living sacrifices to God [Romans 12:1].
I'm aware the use of the term "sanctification" makes some nervous ... after all it has more than two syllables. Seriously, it's a common term in both testaments; so, if Jehovah is the sanctifier, every believer needs to know exactly what God's sanctifying work is.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul said this of the Corinthian believers:
New Testament
The titles for Jehovah given in Old Testament scriptures tell us much about God, but they are more fully demonstrated in the New by the Son. Jesus said, "I and My Father are one" [John 10:30]. If the Son has been set apart for the whole world [John 3:16] and we abide in Him, then we are set apart in Him for eternity [1 John 5:12]. Here we have Jehovah-mekoddishkem - the LORD who sanctifies you!
Since we are the New Testament priests of God [1 Peter 2:9], and since the blood sacrifices were done away with in Christ at Calvary, we must set apart our very lives as whole and living sacrifices to God [Romans 12:1].
I'm aware the use of the term "sanctification" makes some nervous ... after all it has more than two syllables. Seriously, it's a common term in both testaments; so, if Jehovah is the sanctifier, every believer needs to know exactly what God's sanctifying work is.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul said this of the Corinthian believers:
But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."[1 Corinthians 1:30-31]
Sanctification, as applied in the New Testament, is in and through the Lord Jesus Christ; He Himself is made unto us "sanctification."
CONCLUSION
The Jehovah who provided for our salvation through His sacrifice on Calvary, the Jehovah who bore our stripes and took away our sin, the Jehovah who was victorious over sin and death, is also the Jehovah who has set us apart unto Himself; this One is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps your Christian life isn't fruitful. Perhaps you feel you're not growing in God's grace. If so, I urge you to let Christ wash you with the Word; allow its cleansing water to be applied by the Holy Spirit. Let God judge your sin, confessing it to the Lord; yield yourself to Him, that He may perfect His will in you.
The Jehovah who provided for our salvation through His sacrifice on Calvary, the Jehovah who bore our stripes and took away our sin, the Jehovah who was victorious over sin and death, is also the Jehovah who has set us apart unto Himself; this One is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Perhaps your Christian life isn't fruitful. Perhaps you feel you're not growing in God's grace. If so, I urge you to let Christ wash you with the Word; allow its cleansing water to be applied by the Holy Spirit. Let God judge your sin, confessing it to the Lord; yield yourself to Him, that He may perfect His will in you.
The Bible clearly teaches that without Christ you will not see life, but the wrath of God is abiding on you [John 3:36]. God sent His Son to die in your place. He bore your penalty, for He was made sin for us "that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" [2 Corinthians 5:21]. So receive Him now!
Then the Father may look upon you with favor because our Substitute met the demands of His justice and holiness. Look by faith today to the Savior. Trust God's Son; receive His forgiveness; be reconciled to Him. He is willing to receive you. There is no other way. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" [Romans 10:13].
Much of the above was adapted from Paul R. Van Gorder's RBC (Radio Bible Class) pamphlet "Who Is Jehovah?" (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1977; pp. 25-32; no longer in print).
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