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Tag: exodus

Sanctification – saints washed in Christ’s Holiness
Sanctification occurs only 5-10 times in the New Testament, while “sanctify” occurs 70 times in 65 verses in the KJV throughout the Bible.

Doesn’t sanctification require someone or something to be ‘sanctified?’

What is sanctification?

How is it different since Christ Jesus?

Sanctification in the Old Testament

Moses on Sinai

Exodus 19 NKJV excerpt

And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain..

‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,

… ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

Exodus 19:3-6 except NKJV

So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.

קָדַשׁ qâdash,

to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally):—appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self),

Exodus 21:5-7

“Also let the priests who come near to Yahweh set H6942 themselves apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942, lest Yahweh break out against them.”

And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [testified to] warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain, and set H6942 it apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942.’”

Exodus 19:22-23 LSB – noting H6942 meaning Sanctify or Hallow

שְׁמֹות (Exodus) 19 :: Masoretic Text

19:22 וְגַם הַכֹּהֲנִים הַנִּגָּשִׁים אֶל־יְהוָה יִתְקַדָּשׁוּ פֶּן־יִפְרֹץ בָּהֶם יְהוָה׃
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19:23 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהוָה לֹא־יוּכַל הָעָם לַעֲלֹת אֶל־הַר סִינָי כִּי־אַתָּה הַעֵדֹתָה בָּנוּ לֵאמֹר הַגְבֵּל אֶת־הָהָר וְקִדַּשְׁתּוֹ׃
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Does this washing for holiness before God bring any sanctifying fear over you before facing the LORD your Maker?

An Old Testament Word

You may recognize the same word in a couple of important places in the Bible.

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified H6942 it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created in making it.

Genesis 2:3 LSB

זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ׃

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep H6942 it holy H6942.

Exodus 20:8 WLC, LSB
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AND perhaps like me, you recall a similar sanctification from the Word of the Gospels. 
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Pray then like this:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9 RSV

Sanctification then prepares unholy sinners to face the Most Holy.

Sanctification in the New Testament

The A.D. first century Greek verb Jesus and the Apostles use is hagiazō.
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verb - From ἅγιος (G40) adjective (most holy thing, a saint) 
- From hagos adjective (an awful thing) [cf ἁγνός (G53) adjective, properly, clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect:—chaste, clean, pure. 
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- to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
- to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
- to purify
  - to cleanse externally
  - to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
  - to purify internally by renewing of the soul
    
    Strong’s G37 – hagiazō
The Apostle Paul, in referring to a long list of sins of the Corinthians writes:

And such were some of you; but you were washed,

but you were sanctified G37,

but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:11 LSB

Therefore, dear chosen of Christ Jesus, do you see yourself as:

a most holy thing, a saint ?

The A.D. first century Greek adjective of the same root is hagios.

Are YOU a HOLY Saint of JESUS Christ, therefore sanctified to Him in your mortal AND eternal life?

Sanctified saints

“For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

Gospel of John 17:20 LSB

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Hebrews 2:10-11 BSB

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17 CSB – Jesus’ prayer for disciples

Sanctification of children learning to walk in Christ

To the saints in Galatia:

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Paul’s letter (epistle) to the Galatians 4:8-9 ESV

To the saint sitting with you in church:

In conclusion, the best way to examine some of the jargon of Scripture like anointed, consecrated, sanctified, justified and holiness is in prayerful time in the Bible itself.

How better to explain sanctification (or any ‘Christian’ jargon) to a new child of the faith with whom you worship than with Biblical text?
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READ any of the links provided in the Scriptures above. 

OR For more on the topic of Sanctification you may search it here on TalkofJESUS.com OR simply read the earlier post below with my closing thought. 
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Sanctification – a refining of our holiness in Christ

For this is the will of God, your sanctification.. For God did not call us to impurity,

but in sanctification.

Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man

but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

1 Thessalonians 4:3a, (3b-6 short list of our impurity) 7-8 LSB

~A.D. 51 – Paul writes to encourage the Thessalonian Church
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A look back from 2025 CE to an earlier look at Sanctification
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Paul’s unfinished encouragement of the Thessalonians

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
February 8, 2025
Consecration, Ceremonies and Rites
Two weeks ago in my Saturday Post SERIES addressing the jargon of the church I asked, “Can you picture a process of ‘consecration?’“
- You probably picture consecration as a rite of sorts, most specifically a public religious rite.
That’s right and an important view of occasions of consecration.

Anoint, Consecrate and Sanctify – more Biblical jargon
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We also defined anointing, but today I'm not quite ready for  'sanctification' without first briefly examining what some view as consecration in this Common Era.

Even though some rites seem Biblical, some Common Era christians claim their rights in place of observing a religious consecration to God.
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And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Exodus 28:41 KJV

Consecration a Public Picture

What do you see here?

Short answer:
- Two religious ceremonies,
  - one Jewish and
  - one (perhaps) christian.
Consecration, whether Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist — Orthodox, Reformed, unaffiliated — Roman Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian or evangelical — atheist or naturist — – consecration is part of a public proclamation of faith — a religious rite.

Who is consecrated?

The answer here seems simple enough. In this instance, the priests who are exclusive Aaron and his sons.

And by extension into an Old Testament context, the Levites are the ONLY Priests anointed and consecrated to serve the LORD on behalf of the church (that is, the Hebrew chosen) as a separate and holy people to God our Father of all creation.

The LORD will judge some Priest and strike them down to death in some instances. The Priest of God and especially the one High Priest bear a weight of accountability for the entire congregation of the Hebrew people.

What is consecrated?

The garments of the priests – the linen cloths and holy garments.

On certain occasions the priest must consecrate all the people and everything in the place of worship.

Even certain times carry an obligation of consecration to the Lord our God:

The LORD instructed Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow, to consecrate himself to the LORD..

“He is holy to the LORD during the time of consecration.

Numbers 6:1-2 ,6 CSB

Many Christians speak the priestly blessing of Numbers

More than simply a benediction

The LORD said to Moses,
“Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
Numbers 6:22-23 RSV

“SAY to Aaron and his sons (the Priests)” — “SAY to them (the people of Israel)” receiving the blessing of the LORD through HIS command!
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DO NOT MISS the weight what the LORD says here. 
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דָבַר dâbar, daw-bar’; a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue:—answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter
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Now you may have recited this COVENANTAL BLESSING in your earlier days; perhaps in English, Latin, some other language, or even in its original Hebrew of the Torah: 
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יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃ ס

יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ ס

יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם׃ ס

Yᵊhōvâ bāraḵ šāmar

Yᵊhōvâ ‘ôr pānîm ‘ôr ‘ēl ḥānan

Yᵊhōvâ nāśā’ pānîm ‘ēl śûm šālôm
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Source: BlueLetterBible.org 
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a New Covenantal Relationship between God and His Church

And likewise the cup after supper, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Gospel of Luke 22:20 RSV
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Gospel of Matthew 23:8-9 RSV

– Instructions of the One Son of God, our only Lord and Savior Christ Jesus
- Do WE casual communicants of our Common Era church worship our ceremony and rites as personal idols?
a Catholic conversation

Excerpt from a Catholic C.E. podcast:

“I think a lot of people have a problem with consecration to Mary.

Fr. H. She’s not Jesus. Gender neutral language, okay, she’s not Jesus-

we don’t want to be gender neutral with the mother of God.

Fr. H. No we don’t.

It’s not directed apparently at least when we say consecration to Mary, maybe you’re going to straighten that out. But the other thing is we have no idea what the word consecration means. What does that mean concentration to?

Fr. H. Well, this is an important topic. And of course, but that’s not the most important aspect of the topic… The term consecration comes in mostly in the 17th century… All right. So that means giving everything over to someone else.

But the word consecration in Catholic theology, and I really don’t like to question what has become a term in popular devotion. And I’m perfectly happy to say consecrate yourself to Mary, it’s a perfectly good expression, but probably the word entrustment is more precise.

“Consecration has an expression that is meant for such things which are given over to God, in the service of God, liturgically especially in him only…

‘Father‘ H. – Roman Catholic theologian

Is every consecration ‘Holy?’

CONSECRATION of Priests according to Scripture, consecration to holiness in ceremonial rites of the Church, leadership of Christ’s flock — like with the Levites, NONE to be taken lightly.

Convocations of Bishops

Error by many Bishops of Rome.

Many Priests and Pastors of all Common Era christian churches have worn the shepherd’s robes of heresy with cunning common rebellion against Jesus Christ, Who IS and WAS and WILL be.
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Do we not commonly witness these in everyday culture? 
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Who so quickly dismisses Scripture and twists the Lord’s instruction?

ἐπίσκοπος – episkopos – masculine noun

A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 BSB

Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher.. He must manage his own household well.. He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil…

excerpt from the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy 3: RSV
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Pronouns: this, these, etc.
Yet Christ's Apostle is clear in his instruction concerning consecration of leadership of the Church. 

God's word is clear as to the humble roles of Christ's servants, both husbands (of a woman) and wives (of a man). NO adultery. NO divorce. NO fornication. NO sinful flesh usurping God-given roles. 

NO idolatry of Rite (or of no rite). NO worship of Saint (capital 'S') or Angel. NO idolatry of self or knowledge or earth or sea or tree. NO following of prophet, for the false proclaim false gods.
 
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! 
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OUR CONSECRATION to GOD is to HOLINESS! And in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we worship ONLY HIM.

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
February 1, 2025
Consecration, Sanctification – more Biblical jargon
- Can you picture what takes place when you hear Biblical words like ‘anoint?’
- OR Can you picture a process of ‘consecration?’
- Can you explain ‘sanctification?’
THIS WEEK we continue defining Biblical jargon, switching from passive verbs like consecrate to their nouns, i.e. consecration.

In case you missed our focus on anointing last week, take a look:

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Anoint, Consecrate and Sanctify – more Biblical jargon

And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Exodus 28:41 KJV

The Anointed, the Consecrated and the Sanctified ones
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I have employed a different part of speech here for the same concept.
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Anointed, Consecrated, Sanctified: Which do you understand least?

Anointing

NOTES:

NOTE: The ANOINTED and the CONSECRATED hold the office of PRIEST.

And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Exodus 30:30 KJV

NOTE: Saul, the ANOINTED and the CONSECRATED King holds the office of KING, but NOT PRIEST as does Samuel.

Samuel also said unto Saul,

The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

1 Samuel 15:1 KJV

1 Samuel 16 excerpt KJV

.. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward…

Consecration
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Once again let's look at Hebrew Scripture of the Old Testament. 
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And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and seethe his flesh in the holy place. And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.

Exodus 29:31-33 KJV
- Did you get all that ABOUT the food of the Priests?
- See any significant symbolism to remind us of the LORD’s grace?
- Read on and observe that the anointed Priests remain in the Tabernacle for seven days in order to remain holy to the LORD.
מִלֻּא

masculine noun from מָלָא (H4390) –

For the false Common Era priestess: The LORD only dedicated certain men as Priests.

a fulfilling (only in plural), i.e. (literally) a setting (of gems), or (technically) consecration (also concretely, a dedicatory sacrifice):—consecration, be set.

source: Strong’s H4394 – millu’

a Covenant broken by Priests

Ezekiel – The Sins of Jerusalem

Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things.

They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.

Ezekiel 22:26 ESV

Vision of a Future Temple

Then the man brought me to the gate that faces the east, and there I beheld the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. The sound of his coming was like the sound of a mighty torrent of waters, and the earth shone with his glory.

The vision I beheld was like the man I had seen when he had come to destroy the city, and like the vision I had seen by the River Chebar, and I fell prostrate.

6 Say to the rebels of the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: I have endured enough of these abominable practices in which you engage, O house of Israel. You have allowed foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and body, to enter my sanctuary and profane it when you offer to me my food, the fat and the blood. Thus, you have broken my covenant with all of your loathsome practices…

But as for the Levites who abandoned me when Israel strayed far from me by following its idols, they must suffer the consequences for their iniquity.

22 Priests may not marry either widows or divorced women, but only virgins of the race of Israel. However, they may marry women who are the widows of priests.

They shall teach my people to distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and they shall make known to them the difference between what is clean and what is unclean.

Ezekiel 41 excerpt; Ezekiel 44 excerpt New Catholic Bible

Ezra
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Just a bit more from the restoration of fallen Israel.
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Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. And .. one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra,

“We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.

Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
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READ more of Ezekiel 10 NKJV
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Consecration of a New Covenant
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Here is where some confusion and considerable controversy can divide the Church. 
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And for their sake I consecrate myself, [fn] that they also may be sanctified [fn] in truth.
Gospel of John 17:19 ESV
– from The High Priestly Prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ
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The function notes of the ESV derive from two forms of the same Greek word [translated: hagiazō]. These notes read respectively: 
Or I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God) 
and Greek may be set apart (for holy service to God)
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A deeper study of John 17 and various English translations, though not possible today, will point to the symbolism and mystery in the Lord’s words here.

Briefly, we’ll approach the chief controversy among divisions between Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches:

Holy Communion

.. the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,

“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

First Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth 11:23-26 ESV

Food for Thought

For today, I will simply ask one question concerning our eternal High Priest Jesus’ consecration of the communion bread and wine:

IF, ‘as often as [we, the saints of Christ’s Church] eat this bread and drink the cup, proclaim[ing] the Lord’s death, — are the body and blood proclaimed, with or without mysterious consecration of a priest, LITERAL or SYMBOLIC?
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I can hardly wait to hear YOUR COMMENTS on consecration, in general, and also specifically on Holy Communion. 
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Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
January 25, 2025