Sanctification in Song

     The theology of sanctification is very much like the theology of justification, several things may sanctify.

One song we all love is the ""Old Rugged Cross", it speaks openly that we are sanctified by the cross, by the death of Jesus.

This matches with the words of Hebrews,

Heb 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

We are sanctified with the blood of Christ, but we must also understand we are sanctified by other parts of the Gospel.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Water in conjunction with God's word also sanctifies us. Notice it doesn't say we sanctify ourselves without God, but Christ sanctified us with water.

God sanctifies us through several things, not just one. The process involves several steps, not just one.

Jud 1:1  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

sanctified

preserved

called

One might think called should preceed sanctification, but our calling is more than baptism, so that it begins before sanctification and continues to be fulfilled in our obedience. We are called to live Christ and his teaching in our lives.

We are also sanctified by the truth, which is identified as God's word. This identifies with sanctification through water which was identified with the word. Water is certainly part of the truth, but not all.

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Man is required to do some sanctification, we are to sanctify God in our hearts. We should set God apart from all others. So not all sanctification is by God, we do have a part. That is what worship really is. An act based upon setting God apart from all others.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: