Sermon: Separation
by Chris Cumming

Turn to 2 Thessalonians 1.

Paul is writing to the members there.  He says in verse three:

2 Thessalonians 1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

In verse 8 he speaks of the return of Christ…

2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Then, beginning in verse 10 he speaks of the firstfruits:

2 Thessalonians 1:10-12
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

These verses are discussed in the book, “The Handbook of Bible Application” under the subject of, “Purpose.”  Quoting now from that book for this verse:

“We find purpose in becoming like Christ.  Our ‘calling’ from God as Christians, is to become like Christ [Romans 8:29]. 

Roman 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Continuing in the handbook:

“This is a gradual, lifelong process that will be completed when we see Christ face to face [1 John 3:2].”

1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Continuing again in the handbook:

“To be ‘worthy’ of this calling means to want to do what is right and good (as Christ would).  We aren’t perfect yet, but we’re moving in that direction as God works in us.”

The handbook says we find purpose in becoming like Christ. It goes on to say that to be worthy of Godly calling means to do what is right and good as Christ would.

What is the “right and good” that Christ would do?  Romans 8:29 says we are conforming to the image of Christ.  This is repeated in our “glory to glory” verse of 2 Corinthians 3:18 where we read that this is done via immersion in the Word of God.  What is the image of Christ?  That is, what is it about Him we are conforming to?  Does it have to do with the “right and good” that Christ would do?

2 Thessalonians 1 speaks to our Godly Calling.  What is a “Godly Calling.”  Today, we will answer these questions and discuss these issues as I encourage all of us to “find purpose.”

In our recent Bible studies we have been talking much about this concept of “Godly purpose” haven’t we?  For the most part we have been using the other biblical word for “purpose” which is the word, “sanctification.”

Let us immerse ourselves into this word.  We will begin with a key verse:

1 Peter 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

So, somehow we are the elect through sanctification of the Spirit.  Let us define the word:

From the Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology:

Sanctification
The generic meaning of sanctification is "the state of proper functioning." To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is "sanctified" when used to write. Eyeglasses are "sanctified" when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God's design and purpose.

The Greek word translated "sanctification" (hagiasmos [aJgiasmov"]) means "holiness." To sanctify, therefore, means "to make holy." In one sense only God is holy (Isaiah 6:3). God is separate, distinct, other. No human being or thing shares the holiness of God's essential nature. There is one God. Yet Scripture speaks about holy things. Moreover, God calls human beings to be holy as holy as he is holy (Leviticus 11:44 ; Matthew 5:48 ; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Another word for a holy person is "saint" (hagios [a&gio"]), meaning a sanctified one. The opposite of sanctified is "profane" (Leviticus 10:10).

The quoted verses were:

Isaiah 6:3 ...only God is holy
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Leviticus 11:44 ...being holy like God
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Matthew 5:48 ...being holy like God
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Peter 1:15-16 ...being holy like God
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Leviticus 10:10 ... regarding the word, "profane"
And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

Remember our study of 1 Timothy 4:7..."But refuse profane and old wives' fables..."

Go back a moment to Leviticus 11:44 because it said, "ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves."  What does this mean?  How do I sanctify myself?

Notice the commentary:

ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy, for I am holy - that is, separate themselves from all other people, and be distinct from them, by using a different diet from theirs, as their Lord and God was different from all others, so called; and thus by observing his commands, and living according to his will, and to his glory, they would be holy in a moral sense, as they ought to be, who were under the peculiar care and notice of a holy God, and so highly favoured by him. ~John Gill

We clearly see in Leviticus 11:44 that if we sanctify ourselves we shall be holy.  Surely there is close biblical linkage between the words “sanctify” and “holy.”  The American Heritage Dictionary for “sanctify” has:

To make holy; purify.

Let us go to the Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words and compare these two words, “holy” and “sanctify”:

From Vine's on the word, "Holy"

(a) separation to God, 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2;

(b) the resultant state, the conduct befitting those so separated, 1Thessalonians 4:3, 4, 7, and the four other places mentioned above. "Sanctification" is thus the state predetermined by God for believers, into which in grace He calls them, and in which they begin their Christian course and so pursue it. Hence they are called "saints" (hagioi).

Note: The corresponding verb hagiazo denotes "to set apart to God."

From Vine's on the words, "Sanctification", "Sanctify":

Note:  You will notice that Vine has essentially the same definition here, though he will give even more detail.

"sanctification," is used of
(a) separation to God, 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2.

(b) the course of life befitting those so separated, 1Thessalonians 4:3-4, 7; Romans 6:19, 22; 1Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:14. "Sanctification is that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ, Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 6:11, and to which their sole title is the death of Christ, Ephesians 5:25-26: Colossians 1:22; Hebrews 10:10, 29; 13:12.

"Sanctification is also used in NT of the separation of the believer from evil things and ways. This sanctification is God's will for the believer, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, and His purpose in calling him by the gospel, 1 Thessalonians 4:7; it must be learned from God, 1 Thessalonians 4:4, as He teaches it by His Word, John 17:17, 19; cp. Psalm 17:4; 119:9, and it must be pursued by the believer, earnestly and undeviatingly, 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrew 12:14. For the holy character, hagiosune, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, is not vicarious, i.e., it cannot be transferred or imputed, it is an individual possession, built up, little by little, as the result of obedience to the Word of God, and of following the example of Christ, Matthew 11:29; John 13:15; Ephesians 4:20; Philippians 2:5, in the power of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:13; Ephesians 3:16.

"The Holy Spirit is the Agent in sanctification, Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; cp. 1 Corinthians 6:11. . . . The sanctification of the Spirit is associated with the choice, or election, of God; it is a Divine act preceding the acceptance of the Gospel by the individual."

God calls us to a separation.  The primary separation is TO God.  Just as important is the separation from evil things and ways…primarily false doctrines and the ways of the world.
Earlier in our discussion of Leviticus 11:44 I asked, “How do I sanctify myself.”  Clearly this is the work of God through Christ in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the Vine’s definitions on the words “Holy” and “Sanctify” a number of statements were given with scriptures to support them.  Let us go through them now with some of the referenced verses.

For the word, “Holy”:

a) Separation to God
1 Corinthians 1:30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

1 Peter 1:2 ...which we covered earlier as our key verse on the word "sanctification"
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

b) The resultant state and the conduct befitting those separated to God

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, 7
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

For the words, "Sanctification", "Sanctify":

a) Separation to God. ...same as for the first definition of Holy.

Note: Vines gives the same three scriptures as he did for Holy.

b) the course of life befitting those so separated

Vines gives the same verses from 1 Thessalonians 4 but then goes on:

Romans 6:19, 22
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Hebrews 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

c) Sanctification is that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

d) to which their sole title is the death of Christ

Ephesians 5:25-26
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Colossians 1:22
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Hebrews 10:10, 29
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 13:12
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

e) Sanctification is also used in NT of the separation of the believer from evil things and ways. This sanctification is God's will for the believer.

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

f) it must be learned from God

1 Thessalonians 4:4
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;