Sanctification: Bible and New Testament Essay

Submitted By laura883
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Sanctification

Sanctification is the process of being made holy. A sacred text in which sanctification is seen is the Canon of Scripture known as the Holy Bible. The theme is explored across the Old and New Testaments. Although the word sanctification is only found in the New Testament, the process an idea can still be found in the Old Testament, with links between both. Exodus 31:12-18 and Leviticus 20:1-11, 22, 24, 26 are both Old Testament passages which show God’s holiness and the holiness that He expects of His people. 1 Corinthians 6:7-11 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 are both New Testament passages and whilst showing the holiness God expects from His people, they also show the gift of the Holy Spirit enabling growth in holiness.
 Exodus 31:12-18
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’” When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.”

- Context: God is telling Moses more about the fourth commandment, and what punishments he should enforce to anyone who breaks them. On Mt Sanai God gave the commandment “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”(Exodus 20:8-11) Keeping the Sabbath involved making it a day of rest, not to do business/charge money, not to go to any stores, gathering to worship and pray, and doing things of leisure. In so doing the Israelites were making good of God’s promise to make them holy. “This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.” (Exodus 31:13)

- Background: God has been going into more detail involving the law. These instructions make up the climatic seventh address of the section, and form an appropriate conclusion of the worship provisions. The previous chapters go into detail on how the people should be consecrated, how they must worship, and so following that they are now being told when they should worship.

- Scripture by Scripture: This passage ties with several Old Testament passages that focus on specific laws.
Verse 13  Exodus 20:8; Leviticus 11:44, 19:3,30; Ezekiel 20:12,20
Verse 14  Numbers 15:32
Verse 15  Exodus 20:8-11; Genesis 2:3; Exodus 16:23
Verse 17  Genesis 2:2-3
Verse 18  Exodus 24:12, 32:15-16; 34:1,28; Deuteronomy 4:13; 5:22
There are also several links specifically with New Testament passages dealing with the Sabbath day, such as Hebrews 4:1-13.

 Leviticus 20: 1-11, 22, 24, 26
“The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. I myself will set my face against him and will cut