Welcome to Tuesday's Things Unseen, where all this week we're planning to think about one big Bible word, sanctification, being set apart from the world for the Lord, becoming his possession.

I think it's important to put it that way.

Sanctification is not just a matter of being separated from sin, although that very definitely comes into it.

Sanctification being a saint is not only something that's true of some Christians, but true of all Christians,

because sanctification is simply that our life is now reserved for the Lord.

In other words, it means belonging to the Lord Jesus, living with Him and for Him.

And so at the end of the day, since we become like those with whom we live, it means becoming

like the Lord Jesus.

As Paul says in that great verse, Romans 829, that's the purpose that God has for us, that

we should become like His Son.

I think seeing holiness in these terms really helps us.

For one thing, it protects us from some of the false ideas about sanctification that we can

encounter. For instance, we know that holy people will do holy things. But this personal dimension, being like Jesus, means that being holy isn't

just a matter of doing the right things, performing in the right ways. That can be very mechanical

and even metallic, and sometimes it's not very appealing.

Can turn you into a rather cold fish of a Christian.

You might not realize it.

But when you're in the presence of others, instead of warming to you, people stiffen up and

feel uncomfortable.

I remember hearing that the famous Scottish minister, Alexander White, once said there's such

a thing as sanctification by vinegar.

It hardens you, and it's not very attractive.

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