Vicariously Holy

October 9

What does the word ‘holy’ mean? What is ‘sanctification’? If your answers to either or both of those questions aren’t particularly edifying or satisfactory, be assured that you’re not alone. None of us can define these terms by anything we are. Perhaps we have a better chance of doing so by identifying what we aren’t.

First of all, we aren’t God. Most of us tend to associate the word ‘holy’ with Him. To be holy is to be worthy of being exalted and of receiving complete devotion and perfect praise. We know we don’t deserve to be venerated or considered to be divine, so we can eliminate any reference to ourselves from our definition of ‘holy.’

Second, of course we also know that a holy God doesn’t require sanctification. By virtue of who He is, He is already free from sin and imputed with sacredness to which we cannot add or detract. Neither can He grow in divine grace, for He is divine grace. But His word assures us that He will impute holiness to us! He will sanctify us!

In I Thessalonians 5:23, Paul writes, “May God Himself, the God of all peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So we are vicariously made holy and sanctified because of Jesus so when HE comes, we shall be fit for our heavenly home.