Sanctified

2 Timothy 2:15-22 KJV

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

The problem that many who go wrong on sanctification and holy living have is they seem to not understand that sanctify just means separate.
When we are saved, we are immediately sanctified, meaning we are separated, or set apart from the unsaved. They still retain their eternal damnation, while we are set apart for a separate eternity. The sheep/goat judgment is just the heavenly finality of earthly choices made by men that results in their eternal separation, either to or apart from Christ.

But in the above verses, sanctified is referring to our personal holiness. It sets us apart for the Master's use.
There really is not a lot to expound on here. It's just simple to the man who desires to please God.

The odd thing is that the heretics say that our desire to be holy is because of our pride. One such heretic calls it performancism. He decides to judge Christians who choose to please God as being sinfully proud, focussing on themselves. But the one putting the focus on himself is the one who has chosen to live however he chooses, disregarding God and his desire for us to please Him.

You see, my focus IS on God. When I see God, the world and it's pleasure is out of focus. When I see God, He causes me to examine myself and see if I am keeping myself fit for his use.

I'll give an illustration : A preacher spends a lifetime serving God. He was sanctified as a saint upon his salvation. He then grew in knowledge and holiness and the Lord called him to service. Even while serving, he continued to grow in holiness. Many souls were won to Christ through his ministry.
The peak of his ministry was when both his holiness and his results were high.
Then came temptation. At first it was the money. While his visible holiness might have appeared intact to most, God saw his heart, and his personal sanctification all but disappeared.
While he remained sanctified from the unsaved, for purpose of eternity, he became of no use to God. So God shelved him. He was no longer set apart, sanctified for the Master's use.
Refusing to regain that personal sanctification, he fell into more and more sin until God had enough and took him home.

While an illustration to most, that man is real to me and played a major role in my salvation. I bet if you could call heaven and ask him the importance of personal sanctification, he'd say sanctify yourselves! Keep yourselves clean, holy, separated.

How sad that some, in an attempt to justify their lack of wanting to please God, choose to disregard the need for personal sanctification.

"Be ye holy; for I am holy"

For proper context and clarification that it means exactly what I have blogged about:
1 Peter 1:3-16 KJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.