Bible Study (Sanctification)

By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD

GOLDEN TEXT

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

LESSON NOTES:[1]

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[1]  Range, C. F., Ed. Official Manual Church Of God In Christ. COGIC: Memphis, 1973.

1. WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION? That gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Ghost by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God and enables him to perform good works.

Romans 6:4; 5:6, 11, 12

Colossians 2:12; 3:1, 2

Galatians 2:19

1 Thessalonians 5:23

2 Corinthians 5:17

1 Corinthians 6:15, 20

Jeremiah 31:34

John 6:45

Ezekiel 36:25-27

Philemon 2:13

Galatians 5:24

Titus 1:15

Hebrews 9:14

2. PREREQUISITE FOR BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST — The Holy Ghost is received through faith in Jesus Christ an honest and prepared heart is the necessary prerequisite for Baptism of Holy Ghost. Before a believer can be filled with the Holy Ghost he must first be sanctified.

3. WHAT DOES SANCTIFICATION DO? Sanctification denotes ethical purification with the idea of separation; namely, "The separation of the spirit from all that is impure and polluting, and a renunciation of the sins towards which the desires of the flesh and the mind lead us."

4. HOLINESS IS A REQUIREMENT. In receiving salvation the Scriptures command the believer to be Holy and perfect to follow the example of Christ who did not sin.

1 Peter 1:16

Matthew 5:48

James 1:4

1 Peter 2:21

5. IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE PERFECT? When the Bible speaks of believers as holy and perfect it does not necessarily mean that they have no faults or failings. In some cases when the believers are described as perfect it means they are full grown.

1 Corinthians 2:6

Hebrews 5:15

6. FULLY EQUIPPED. Perfection also means that we are fully equipped for their task 

2 Timothy 3:17

7. PRAYER FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:

"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.

"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."