How Did God’s People in the Old Testament Experience Sanctification?

Before diving into this illuminating article, check out another must-read piece on salvation! This powerful read unpacks the core principles of what it means to be saved, offering insights that can deepen your understanding and transform your perspective. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore and grow your knowledge! Be sure to check it out – How To Be Saved According To Jesus.

How Were the People in the Old Testament Sanctified?

The Hebrew word commonly translated as “sanctify” is קדש (qadash). It means to be holy, consecrated, or set apart for God’s purposes. Sanctification in the Old Testament is closely tied to the concept of holiness, which is rooted in God’s own nature as holy and separate.

While many may associate sanctification with New Testament teachings, the Old Testament provides essential insight into how individuals were sanctified under the Mosaic covenant. Sanctification in the Old Testament was primarily achieved through rituals, offerings, obedience to God’s commandments, and divine intervention. This blog explores the key Old Testament verses that discuss sanctification and their implications for the lives of the Israelites.

Exploring the Role of God’s Love in Sanctification

God’s love plays a pivotal role in the process of sanctification, acting as both the catalyst and sustaining force behind a believer’s spiritual growth. Sanctification is the journey of conforming to the purpose of God Almighty. Sanctification is a process that involves the transformation of one’s heart and mind to align with God’s direct will.

God’s Great Love

Today, this transformation is God’s great love, which is steadfast, and transformative. His love is first experienced through salvation, where God, in His immeasurable grace, offers redemption to mankind through Jesus Christ. As believers who partake in this covenant, they are not only justified but also set on a path of sanctification. God’s love continues to work in their lives by the indwelling of His Spirit, who guides, convicts, and empowers them to overcome sin by writing His law on their minds and hearts.

The Power of God’s Love Gives Us Strength

God’s love provides the strength and comfort needed to persevere through trials and tribulations, which are an inevitable part of the sanctification process. Through each challenge, believers learn to rely more deeply on God’s love, recognizing it as a source of hope and encouragement. This love also fosters a sense of commonality among believers, encouraging them to support and edify one another in their spiritual journeys.

In essence, God’s love in sanctification is not passive; it actively shapes and conforms individuals into the image of the Messiah through a lifelong process of growth and maturity. As believers embrace this love, they are continually transformed and equipped to live a life that honors God and reflects His love to the world.

Key Verses About Sanctification

Genesis 2:3

“Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Sanctification begins at the dawn of creation. God sanctified the seventh day, setting it apart as holy and distinct. This verse establishes the concept of sanctification and its importance in God’s design, beginning with the Sabbath as a recurring symbol of rest and holiness.

Exodus 13:2

“Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

God commanded the Israelites to sanctify their firstborn sons and animals as a sign of dedication to Him. This sanctification symbolized acknowledgment of God’s deliverance of Israel during the Passover and their reliance on Him as their Savior.

Exodus 19:10-11

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’”

Before receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites had to sanctify themselves by washing and preparing to be in God’s holy presence. This signified that sanctification required thorough purification to approach a holy God.

Leviticus 20:7-8

“Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”

This verse emphasizes the cooperative relationship between the people’s efforts to consecrate themselves and God’s role as the ultimate sanctifier. Obedience to God’s commandments was central to sanctification.

Numbers 6:5-8 (The Nazirite Vow)

“All the days of the vow of his separation, no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord, he shall be holy.”

The Nazirite vow demonstrates how individuals could voluntarily dedicate themselves to God for a period of sanctification. The vow entailed abstaining from wine, unclean foods, and haircuts as external signs of being set apart.

Joshua 3:5

“And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’”

Before crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the Israelites were instructed to sanctify themselves. Once again, sanctification preceded a divine event, emphasizing preparation and purification.

2 Chronicles 7:16

“For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.”

God affirmed His sanctification of the temple built by Solomon. Sanctification here extends beyond individuals to holy places, showing that objects and locations can carry divine significance when set apart for worship.

Isaiah 8:13

“The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.”

Sanctification is shown as an attitude of the heart. To sanctify God means to revere Him above all else, aligning one’s life with His holiness and acknowledging His sovereignty.

Ezekiel 36:23-27

“I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations… I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”

Here, God promises to sanctify His people not just through external rituals but by transforming their hearts and renewing their spirits. This prophetic passage foreshadows the ultimate sanctification that would come through the New Covenant.

Exodus 40:9-11

“And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy.”

Sanctification extended to the tabernacle and its furnishings, signifying that not only individuals but also objects dedicated to God had to be set apart for divine service.

An Overview of Old Testament Sanctification

God as the Source of Sanctification

The repeated refrain, “I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8), underscores that true sanctification comes from God Himself. We depend on God Almighty to live holy lives and are always empowered by God’s sanctifying work.

The Role of Obedience

Sanctification often required active participation through obedience to God’s laws. Washing, offering sacrifices, and observing rituals symbolized the people’s covenant loyalty.

Symbolism of Purity

Symbols of purification, such as water washing (Exodus 19) and animal sacrifices (Leviticus 16), pointed to the need for moral and spiritual holiness.

Worship and Dedication

Many verses linking sanctification to items like the tabernacle, the Sabbath, and the temple highlight the connection to worship. Sanctification is ultimately related to glorifying God.

Prophetic Look to Future Sanctification

Passages like Ezekiel 36 and Isaiah 8 point to a future sanctification where God would inwardly transform His people, paving the way for the New Testament fulfillment.

Hopeful Thoughts

In the Old Testament, sanctification was a dynamic and ongoing journey deeply rooted in the relationship between God’s providence and mankind’s active response. The process of being sanctified involved both divine initiative and mankind’s effort, as God called His people to holiness and provided guidance through His laws and commandments.

The Israelites were set apart as God’s holy people, chosen to reflect His character among the nations, and this sanctification was demonstrated through their obedience to God’s Commandments and covenantal practices. It was not simply a status but a way of life, requiring unconquering faith, complete devotion, and a faithful commitment to living according to God’s will.

If you’re looking to explore how Old Testament sanctification connects to the New Testament and modern Christian living, consider delving deeper into these Scriptures in your personal studies or theological discussion groups.

Which of these passages do you find most thought-provoking? Share your insights in the comments below!

How To Be Saved According To Jesus

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

“Sirs, what ​must​ I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) That question, that has echoed in the hearts of men down through the ages, since the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas. It touches that universal wish in all of us to understand the meaning of our lives and to have hope for the future.

The response given by Paul and Silas is not complicated; they simply say, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). So, what does it actually mean to believe in or to “believe on”? Check out this amazing article on How To Be Saved According To Jesus

We’re Here to Support You On Your Journey To Life!

We commit our lives to God the Father and His Son – the Lord Jesus Christ! We are in the business of spreading the good news, to inspire hope, share the message of deliverance, and ultimately plant the seed of saving faith.

Our desire is to extend and share with others the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God, which are available to all through faith in Him. Our goal is to encourage others to hold on to this message, enjoy the peace that comes from His promises, and find the pathway to life as we learn the Father’s ways and live by them.

If you need prayer, encouragement, or assistance of any kind, please contact us. It would be our pleasure to help and bless you in any way we can!