1867.—Sanctification and Its Meaning.
Will you please explain in the Signs “sanctification”? There seem to be several definitions in the dictionary; one that seems to give me the most light is “consecration.”
C. The literal meaning of the word “sanctification” is to separate, set apart. When God separates, sets apart, that implies consecration. The word “holy” comes from the same root. A holy man or a holy thing is that which is separated from the common and set apart unto God. We use profane in the sense of wicked, but in Eze. 22:26 it is used as the opposite of holy or common. When men profane God’s things they make them common, so God sanctified the Sabbath; that is, He separated it from the other days of the week and set it apart for Himself. So He sanctifies His people, He separates them from the world and sets them apart to Himself. This does not imply absolute sinlessness on the part of His people, but it does imply that they are obedient; they are set apart, that they may develop sinless characters.