Q&A Home > S > Sanctification Would you please explain "sanctification", "holiness", and "purity"? - Sanctification: This term simply means "being set apart" to God. The Holy Books of II Peter chapter 1, Romans 6:22, Romans 15:16 are Holy Scriptures which address this term specifically. Sanctification is a process of growth in the Lord Jesus Christ in which the believer is made holy, as God is Holy, through the Holy Spirit.
- Holiness: This term also means "being set apart" or separated unto God; it can further be defined as blessed, righteous, and sinless. God is the source of all Holiness, for the Church, the Holy Sacraments, worshippers of the One True God, and those of outstanding virtue. Those who are transformed by the Holy Spirit become holy, as God is Holy. The Holy Books of Romans 12:1, I Peter 1:14-16, and I Peter 2:9 specifically address the term "holy."
- Purity: Purification is a topic that extends back to the Old Testament rites. It is an Old Testament rite whereby one is cleansed of ritual impurity caused by such things as contact with leprosy or a dead body, or sexual functions. The cleansing itself consisted of making a sacrifice or being sprinkled with "water of purification". The Lord Jesus Christ Himself liberated the faithful from these rites. Christians are purified by the Holy Sacraments and by the process of continuous spiritual efforts to transform their passions. Many Holy Scriptures address purity: Holy Book of Leviticus 12:6, Holy Book of Numbers 19:9-21, Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 15:11, Holy Gospel of St. Luke 2:22-33, Holy Book of Acts 10:9-16, Holy Book of Acts 15:1-29.
Recommended readings on these subjects include: Paradise of the Spirit (late Bishop Youannis of Gharbia) the eight chapters from Part I of this volume.
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