The Christian is a new creation, in a new sphere with a new Sovereign, living a new life, which speaks of differentiation and distinctiveness. The Christian is a marked man. There is a distinct line of cleavage between the man “in the flesh” and the man “in the Spirit.” There is a definite boundary between “the world” and “the heavenlies” and the man who, through redemption, has stepped over that borderline is thereby a sanctified man. Christ, the Savior, has become his sanctification.

The necessity for sanctification will be clearly seen when we remember that man was created for God’s possession and use, but through sin, he fell into the possession and use of Satan. In sanctification, God recovers His own and fits him for communion and cooperation with Himself.

As Scripture reveals, sanctification has a vital relationship to the believer’s calling, position, and condition. This is typified in God’s redemptive dealings with the children of Israel. Through His call to Abraham God chose and set apart a nation for Himself. With them, He made a covenant by which they were to be separated from all other peoples on earth and become holy people who would show forth the praise and glory of His name among the heathen nations. The children of Israel were set apart as God’s peculiar possession, under His sovereign control, and for His exclusive use.

Deuteronomy 14:2

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”

But the children of Israel were sold into the bondage of Egypt and became the subject—slaves of Pharaoh. That He might repossess His own, God redeemed them and brought them out of Egypt and into Canaan. In position as well as by calling, they became a separated people, God’s own possession.

Leviticus 20:24, 26

“But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey; I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”

Numbers 3:13

“Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.”

Then God commanded them to live as a people who belonged wholly unto Him. The separateness which He had wrought through their changed position was to be manifested through a changed condition. As a people in covenant with a holy God they were to live a holy life in the midst of altogether unholy nations and were to be God’s instrument in the conquest of the promised land.

Leviticus 20:7-8

“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.”

THE BELIEVER A SAINT BY CALLING

In the New Testament, God says that believers are a chosen, called, and separated people. In Christ, the believer was set apart as God’s own peculiar possession even before the foundation of the world. Every believer is chosen in Christ to be holy; he is called to be a saint; he is set apart to show forth the beauty, glory, and holiness of His God.

Ephesians 1:4

“According as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

Romans 1:6-7

“Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:9

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Thus, we see that every believer was chosen and called to be a saint and that a saint is one set apart as belonging to God and separated unto Him for His use. Throughout Scripture, this is invariably the meaning of the words “to sanctify” or “sanctification,” whether used in connection with things or persons. That which is sanctified is something wholly set apart for God’s possession and use, and when God lays claim to anything and separates it unto His use, it is by that act “sanctified.” God’s undivided proprietorship of the believer lies enfolded in the very heart of the truth of sanctification. In the eternity of the past, God called us to be His own possession. He said, “Thou art mine.” 

Source: “Life on the Highest Plane” by Ruth Paxson

Lord, what a privileged people we are to be chosen, called, and separated for Your own possession!