THE CALL of the HEZEKIAH COMPANY

Entry 33

Return To The Old Paths

2Chr 30:1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover to the LORD God of Israel. 

God sent a message and a messenger redeemer with an invitation to come and have everlasting fellowship with the LORD

We have been looking at the  2 Chronicles Hezekiah account. It is in essence the gospel, it is in itself a message of returning to the old paths; which today means return to the pure and true  gospel of Jesus Christ; the Apostle's doctrine.

At some point we must look at some words and concepts which we observe in this 2 Chronicles text. This is that point. These are essential to the events recorded here and to the message being spoken out of them. They are fundamental to the purpose of returning to the old paths. Today we will look at Sanctification. Consecration, Propitiation and Atonement will be visited in another post. 

Remember in 2 Chronicles 29 vs 4 and 5, it says: "And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said to them, Hear me, you Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place."

Today's post may seem a bit academic, but understanding these terms is essential to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We will look at the basic meanings at this time. 

Sanctification

Greek

G38 ἁγιασμός hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos') n.
1. (properly) purification
2. (the state) purity
3. (concretely, by Hebraism) a purifier
[from G37]
KJV: holiness, sanctification 
: Root(s): G37  

Roots

G37 ἁγιάζω hagiazo (hag-ee-ad'-zo) v.
1. to make holy
2. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate
3. (mentally) to venerate
[from G40]
KJV: hallow, be holy, sanctify 
Root(s): G40

G40 ἅγιος hagios (hag'-ee-os) adj.
1. sacred
2. (physically) pure
3. (morally) blameless
4. (religious, ceremonially) consecrated
[from hagos "an awful thing"]
KJV: (most) holy (one, thing), saint 

First Use in New Testament 
John 10:36 Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God?

John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

John 10:38 But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Hebrew

H6942 קָדַשׁ qadash (kaw-dash') v.
1. to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
[a primitive root]
KJV: appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), X wholly.

First Use In Old Testament
Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Sanctify - Definition

To make holy, or to set apart for God, Ge 2:3 Ex 19:23. In the Old Testament, sanctification frequently denotes the ceremonial or ritual consecration of any person or thing to God: thus the Hebrews as a people were holy unto the Lord, through the covenant with its rites and atoning sacrifices, Ex 31:13; and the Jewish tabernacle, altar, priest, etc., were solemnly set apart for the divine service, Le 8:10-12. In the similar sense, men, "sanctified themselves" who made special preparation for the presence and worship of God, Ex 19:10, 11 Nu 11:18; a day was sanctified when set apart for fasting and prayer, Joe 1:14; and the Sabbath was sanctified when regarded and treated as holy unto the Lord, De 5:12. All such sanctifications were testimonials to the holiness of God, and signified men’s need of moral sanctification, or the devotion of purified and obedient souls to his love and service.

In a doctrinal sense, sanctification is the making truly and perfectly holy what was before defiled and sinful. It is a progressive work of divine grace upon the soul justified by the love of Christ. The believer is gradually cleansed from the corruption of his nature, and is at length presented "unspotted before the throne of God with exceeding joy." The Holy Spirit performs this work in connection with the providence and word of God, John 14:26; 17:17; 2Th 2:13 1Pe 1:2 and the highest motives urge every Christian not to resist him, and seek to be holy even as God is holy. The ultimate sanctification of every believer in Christ is a covenant mercy purchased on the cross. He, who saves us from the penalty of sin, also saves us from its power; and in promising to bring a believer into heaven, engages also to prepare for heaven.

See the Author and Finisher of our faith in the pattern of sanctification as revealed in the below scriptures, first Jesus, then us, then Jesus.

Jesus

John 10:36 Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God?

John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

John 10:38 But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Us

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.

John 17:18 As you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus

1Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God.

1Cor 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1Cor 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness;

1Cor 1:24 But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Cor 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Cor 1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1Cor 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1Cor 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are:

1Cor 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1Cor 1:30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.

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Devotional Reading

I pray the Lord feed you by His Spirit as you read the following passages. 

Set your ears upon Him as you read.

The Mercy Of GOD
PSALM 136

Ps 136:1 O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:2 O give thanks to the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:4 To him who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:13 To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:14 And made Israel to pass through the middle of it: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:16 To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:17 To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:18 And slew famous kings: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:19 Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:20 And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:21 And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:22 Even an heritage to Israel his servant: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:23 Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endures for ever:

Ps 136:24 And has redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:26 O give thanks to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.