Definite Sanctification

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: (Jude 1KJV)

The word 'sanctified' here in Jude 1 is in the perfect participle in the Greek, which means that it is a completed action in the past, with present effects. It refers to definite (complete) sanctification and not progressive sanctification. When a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, they are set apart for God's exclusive use and unique service.

Let me give some examples from the Bible to clearly show what the word 'sanctified' means in this verse. In the Book of Genesis 2:3, when God created in six days, and He rested on the seventh. The seventh day was sanctified (set apart) from the other days because God has rested from His Work. Then we see in the book of Exodus, when God gave the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, God gave a commandment to keep the Sabbath Day holy, which means to sanctify the Sabbath Day, to set apart from the other six days. They were to do their work on six days, but set apart the Sabbath Day, and do no work. It was to be set apart from the other days.

Another example would be the Tabernacle and the furniture. God's Tabernacle and its furniture in the Old Testament was sanctified, set apart as the place of God's presence and for worship. The Tabernacle and its furniture were set apart for God, not like other tabernacles and furniture.

When we come to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, He was sanctified by God the Father as the Christ, the Anointed One. Jesus was set apart for the Father's exclusive use and purposes. The Book of Isaiah calls Him, 'The Suffering Servant'. Christ came to do His Father's will. He was set apart to be the Saviour of the World.

So just like the Sabbath Day was sanctified, the tabernacle and its furniture, and the Lord Jesus Christ was sanctified, believers have been sanctified for God's exclusive use and unique service, not just for one day (the Lord's Day) but for every day. Believers have been set apart by God for Him.

Now understand that Jude is not speaking about sinless perfection, or having complete sanctification, in the sense of no longer able to sin, but Jude speaks here about our position that God has placed us in, positionally set apart in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Every true believer has been born again in Christ Jesus, born from above, has been sanctified by God the Father. Every believer has moved from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the kingdom of the devil to the everlasting kingdom of Christ. The Bible says a true believer is a new creation in Christ (2Cor. 5:17). This is the reason that all true believers can say, 'I am sanctified in Christ', which speaks of passed sanctification, positionally set apart.

Here is one more example- When a man and a woman get married and become husband and wife, they are set apart for his or her exclusive use and purpose as a husband or as a wife, completely, wholly and totally. The same with our Lord, believers have been set apart for Him, and not for this world. The Church (who is the Bride) has been set apart for the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Bride-Groom.