Positional Sanctification

Positional Satification

1 Corinthians 1:2

Sanctified: from the Latin sanctus or sacred; set apart

“We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.” New Hampshire Baptist Confession (1833)

Sanctified means dedicated, consecrated or set apart.

Houses were sanctified.

And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.Leviticus 27:14

Possessions were sanctified.

And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.Leviticus 27:16

Temple vessels were sanctified.

Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.2 Chronicles 29:19

Firstborn children were sanctified unto the Lord.

Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.Exodus 13:2

Jeremiah was sanctified before birth.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.Jeremiah 1:5

Jesus was sanctified.

Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?John 10:36

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.John 17:19

The church is sanctified. Ekklesia means “the called out ones.”

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.Acts 20:28

Positional sanctification is immediate at the moment of salvation and requires no action from us.

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:1 Corinthians 1:2

We are declared righteous.

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:Romans 3:22-24

We are set apart for a holy purpose.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.Hebrews 10:10

We are adopted into the family of God.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.Galatians 4:4-7

We are called saints or the holy ones.

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:1 Corinthians 1:2

Positional sanctification comes about from Jesus’ death upon the cross.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.Hebrews 10:10

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

We are no longer in our sin, we are in Christ.

Every Christian is a chosen vessel that has been set apart to glorify God.