Sanctification

Sanctification is a fundamental concept in Christian theology, referring to the process by which believers are set apart for God's purposes and transformed into the likeness of Christ. It is both an instantaneous act and a progressive journey. At the moment of salvation, believers are sanctified positionally, meaning they are declared holy and set apart for God. This is evident in 1 Corinthians 6:11 : "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

The ongoing aspect of sanctification involves the believer's growth in holiness and obedience to God's will. This progressive sanctification is a cooperative process between the Holy Spirit and the believer, as seen in Philippians 2:12-13 : "Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now even more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose."

Sanctification is a call to live a life that reflects God's holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16 exhorts believers: "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness encompasses all areas of life, including thoughts, actions, and relationships.

Sexual Purity

Sexual purity is a significant aspect of sanctification, as it pertains to maintaining holiness in one's sexual conduct. The Bible consistently upholds sexual purity as a reflection of God's design for human relationships. Sexual immorality is frequently condemned in Scripture, and believers are urged to flee from it. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 states: "For it is God’s will that you should be sanctified: You should avoid sexual immorality; each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God."

The call to sexual purity is rooted in the understanding that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 emphasizes this: "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body."

Marriage is presented as the proper context for sexual relations, reflecting the covenantal relationship between Christ and the Church. Hebrews 13:4 affirms: "Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers."

Believers are encouraged to pursue sexual purity as an expression of their commitment to God and as a testimony to the world. Ephesians 5:3 instructs: "But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed."

In summary, sanctification and sexual purity are intertwined in the believer's journey toward holiness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to live lives that honor God, reflecting His holiness in every aspect, including their sexual conduct.