Yahweh Mekaddiskem

**I want to propose that the reason we experience this frustration, guilt and and spiritual exhaustion so often is becasue we are trying to be the primary agents of our own sanctification.***

The topic of sanctification, and it’s place in the Christian life can also be confusing

Three tensions of sanctification:

Ongoing process vs. completed in the past

We are called to be holy and actively walk in obedience vs. The Lord who sanctifies

Running the Race vs Resting in Christ

Exodus 31:12–13 ESV

12 And the Lord said to Moses, 13 “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.

Original Context this name is used is

(confirming the sabbath)

What was the Sabbath? One day a week. No work was to be done (didnt even cook meals). Day of rest

But why? The sabbath was institued by God as a way to distinguish his people

Observing the sabbath involved intentionally setting aside time for worship

Obsering the sabbath demonstrated a reliance on God’s provision

Observing the sabbath involved intentionally setting aside time for worship

Observing the sabbath symbolized Israel’s “separateness” from other peoples

A sanctified (or set apart) day for his sanctified (set apart) people

**Consider the seeming contradiction between the idea of Sanctification or Holiness and Rest (we will come back to it)

Let’s take a moment to discuss the other names in the booklet

Yahweh Shalom: The LORD is my peace

Yahweh Tsidkenu: The LORD is my righteousness

How are these names and attributes related?

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 ESV

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

We find peace with God through the imputation of Christ’s righteousness in Justification. This leads invariably to sanctification.

(Verse 11 is key)

Washed - cleansing from guilt (forgiven)

Sanctified - made holy (set apart)

Justified - declared righteous (perfect standing)

God does this in Jesus Christ and by the Spirit

We ought to undertand the important relationship between Justification and Sanctification/Holiness - two parts of salvation (don’t get it twisted)

Uniqueness of the chrsitan faith compared to other religions

Budhism: 6 perfections to reach the highest plane of existence (Nirvana)

Islam: Good deeds versus bad are weighed on a scale (no assurance)

But Paul Calls the Corinthians saints (despite how messed up they were)

Christ has become their righteousness AND sanctification/holiness ()

**It appears that Paul is saying Sanctification was something that occured in the past. However we often think of it as progressive and ongoing. So which is it?

Ongoing process vs. completed in the past

We are called to be holy and walk in obedience vs. The Lord who sanctifies

Sabbath Rest vs Running the Race

To explore this further let’s turn to

Hebrews 10:10–14 ESV

10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:10-

However we tend to think of it as progressive and ongoing. So which is it?

Context: Priestly rituals of continuous sacrifice (echoed in catholic mass)

Many priests, many sacrifices, repetitious and insufficient

Jesus once for all! Jesus sitting down points to completion and sufficiency

Completed Sanctification (language used most often)

Our holiness is rooted in the completed work of Christ on the cross

- Paul calling the Corinthians Saints (despite how messed up they were)

Christ has become our righteousness AND sanctification/holiness ()

Our holiness is rooted in Christ’s redeeming work on the cross

Verse 14: teteleioken: “has perfected” vs Hagiazomenous: “being made holy” - present and continuous

Ongoing Sanctification:

“…who are being sanctified”

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

Training: teaching, learning, growing, exercising, failing, succeeding, setbacks, injuries, peaks and plateaus

Run to win the prize

The pursuit of holiness is a proccess. A long one.

Can be a slow process

Can be a painful process (Paul in Romans 7)

And it involves effort

So we have Positional Holiness AND Progressive Holiness

Kevin Deyoung in The hole in our holiness, says “Sanctified is what we are AND what we must become”

Finally there is perfected Sanctification (this is when Christ returns)

“but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”

Which brings us to the second question: Who does the work in our progressive sanctification?

Which brings us to the second point of tension: Who does the work of sanctification?

Is it us or Yahweh Mekkadishkem?

We are called to be Holy, work out salvation with fear and trembling

: “make every effort” virtue, knowledge, self-control, godliness...

1 Peter 1;5-10

V10: Be diligent to confirm your calling and election

Spiritual Exercise

The Word of God (

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 ESV

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Ongoing process vs. completed in the past

We are called to be holy and walk in obedience vs. The Lord sanctifies

Sabbath Rest vs Running the Race

1 Thessalonians 5:14–24 ESV

14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1 Thes 5:

Is it us or Yahweh Mekkadishkem?

We are called to be Holy, work out salvation with fear and trembling

: “make every effort” virtue, knowledge, self-control, godliness...

V10: Be diligent to confirm your calling and election

Read Verse (14-22)

God communicates to us what we should and should not do in order to be holy

It’s not just a subconcious work: God uses commands and we are expected to respond

God uses his word: “Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth”

Level of expectation IS high - stop pretending it isnt

God uses his word: “Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth”

What holiness looks like

We look more like Christ in every sphere of our life: Family, Work, Neighbourhood etc..

We seek to obey God’s commands

We see the fruit of the Spirit grow and develp within us

Read Verse 23: Paul prays that God will complete this work of sanctification for the day of Christ’s return.

It’s only in God’s strength that they will be able to fulfill this calling

Read Verse 23:

God promises us that he will sanctify us (v24)

God has promised to conform all his children to the image of Christ ()

Your holiness is on God’s agenda for your life

If he called you, He WILL do it!

***Therefore we need to trust in God for our sanctification

We do not trust in our own abilities for holiness but God’s faithfulness: Assurance isnt based on our best/worst day

And when we trust in Him we find rest in Him

Which is why rest and sanctification aren’t opposed but go hand in hand

2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

2 Thes 2:13

Sanctification isn’t achieved through exhausting ourselves, but by resting in his grace

Biblical rest (not binge-watching netflix and ordering a pizza) involves quietening our busy lives

Busyness is not a virtue

Many of us need to add moments of silence into our lives in order to hear from God

Increase communication with God through prayer, be convicted of our sin, be prompted by the Spirit to good works

Grace is more than just forgiveness

Piper: “Grace is not only the pardon that passes over our badness; it is also the power that produces our goodness”

This isn’t a “you do your part and I’ll do mine” type of scenario. How could it be? His work is behind all that we do.

We strive against sin that is already forgiven

**Analogy of parent holding the child’s hand

The ongoing process of santification involves our activity but that activity depends on the eternal will of the Father, the completed work of Christ and the ongoing indwelling and empowering of the Spirit.

The Spirit graciously changes our affections towards the law of God so that his commands are no longer burdensome but freeing

So we no longer need to rest FROM God’s work but rather we can find rest IN God’s work (both in what he accomplished through Christ AND what he continues to do through us by His Spirit).

The moral character of God and the demands for holiness from God remain unchanged

- But by grace, our reason and ability to walk in holiness has changed

But obedience is no longer about trying to impress or apease God. It’s about living the life of the holy people that we already are.

We no longer live in fear of failing to earn the Father’s favour

But in gratitude we glorify God by growing in his grace

You might ask: “But arent our good works filthy rags?” ()

Holiness is not MERELY rule keeping, checking boxes on a list, moral improvement (moralism)

Context: empty religious grandstanding of Israel who were wicked and neglected the poor

The NT talks about many good deeds which please God:

Increasing in the knowledge of God ()

Presenting your body as a living sacrifice ()

Looking out for your weaker brother ()

Obeying your parents ()

Teaching the Word ()

Praying for your governemnt ()

Supporting family memebers in need ()

Sharing your abundance with others ()

Obeying his commandments ()

What holiness looks like

We look more like Christ in every sphere of our life: Family, Work, Neighbourhood etc..

We seek to obey God’s commands

We see the fruit of the Spirit grow and develp within us

This isn’t a “you do your part and I’ll do mine” type of scenario. His work is behind all that we do.

We strive against sin that is already forgiven

Two main kinds of people who struggle with this idea of holiness:

Piper: “Grace is not only the pardon that passes over our badness; it is also the power that produces our goodness”

**Analogy of parent holding the child’s hand

Two main kinds of people who struggle with this idea of holiness:

Those who are exhausted in the day-to-day struggle for holiness

God is in control, he will give you strength (even if that means you continue to struggle), rest in his promises

Those who have tried and failed so have given up (content with their unholiness)

Go to God because that’s a BAD sign

So many of us have a corrupted view of Sanctification/Holiness in which we see a triesome and futile attempt to remain pure, to live up to a standard we can never achieve...

And to that I say take that burden and lay it at the feet of Christ who says: “come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Growing in holiness is a worthwhile pursuit but it’s not a path we walk alone. It is established, empowered and guaranteed by the all-powerful God of the universe.

**This is how you and I can run to win the prize while resting in Him**

So we no longer need to rest FROM God’s work but rather we can find rest IN God’s work (both in what he accomplished through Christ AND what he continues to do through us by His Spirit).

The moral character of God and the demands for holiness from God remain unchanged