Holiness: Position and Process

You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:11

Here, Paul is talking about something that has already happened. “You were sanctified.” In this case, it is not an ongoing process. It is a completed act.

The word holy, or holiness, is used in two ways in the Bible. The original Hebrew word could mean two things: “set apart” or “brightness.”

The first meaning describes a position, in which something was set apart for a special purpose. In the Old Testament, you could have a table or a chair that was “holy.” It was set apart for a special purpose. When we read, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8), it means keep this day different and set apart from all other days.

The second meaning describes a process of gradual inward change in a person, by which the character of God is reflected with increasing brightness. That’s what Paul is praying for when he says, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely” (1 Thes. 5:23).

This is why we might hesitate when asked if we are holy or sanctified. If they are asking if our life is a true reflection of the radiant brightness of the glory of God, the answer is no. Only a small part of His love is seen in us, and it is mingled with many other things. We are in the process of becoming holy.

If the question is, “Have you been set apart for a special purpose?” the answer is yes. In Christ, we are set apart as God’s people, for God’s purpose. That is what Paul is talking about when he says Christ is our holiness. You have been placed in a new position, and you are set apart by God for a new purpose.

How do the two meanings of holiness help you better understand God’s work of sanctification in your life?