Being set apart for God's use

Sanctification has been a subject that is often the source of disagreements among various Christian groups.  In the long run, it probably doesn't make any difference what you believe about sanctification, as long as you, by the Holy Spirit, are constantly trying to life a life that is Christ like.

The word Sanctification actually means Saint and according to Wikipedia the definition is:  the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy. ... To sanctify is to literally "set apart for particular use in a special purpose or work and to make holy or sacred.

That seems simple enough so where does the disagreement come?  Well, some believe that sanctification is completely  progressive or that we are a work in progress once we accept the Lord and believe and have faith in Him.  They believe that the Holy Spirit influences us to work toward becoming more like Christ.  

The Assembly of God statement:  Sanctification is "an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God". It occurs when the believer identifies with, and has faith in, Christ in his death and resurrection. It is understood to be a process in that it requires continual yielding to the Holy Spirit.

Just so you know, that is what I believe.

Then there are those who believe we can actually achieve complete sanctification while on earth and stay sanctified from then on.  If you believe that sanctification is just being set apart for God's work, then that seems to make sense.  But can you be sanctified, as some people view it, totally Christ like, never to be un-sanctified again. Is it just semantics?

Then there are those who believe you can achieve complete sanctification during crisis but that you then will continue to sin and your sanctification becomes progressive again.  

I feel that as soon as you say, "I am sanctified", then you aren't anymore.  It is like saying "I am now just like Christ", saying it makes it not so.  

In my thinking the word sanctification is not even necessary.  We can just say that once we believe and follow Christ we are continually striving to be like Christ and when we see Him, we will be like Him (or Sanctified).

In a writing by Horton this statement occurs:  "Other Pentecostals (like those who later formed the Assemblies of God) argued that putting one's faith in Christ's forgiveness is the only precondition for receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They downplayed the importance of a second (or third) work of grace in which Christians are entirely sanctified, and instead viewed sanctification as process."

 What do you think?  Again, I say it probably doesn't mean a thing in the long run and I am a long long way from an expert on this subject but I would certainly like your views.

Here is some of what the Bible has to say.

Sanctification is God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 4:3). The word sanctification is related to the word saint; both words have to do with holiness. To “sanctify” something is to set it apart for special use; to “sanctify” a person is to make him holy.

  John 17. In verse 16 the Lord says, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it,”  “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (verse 17). “You are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption”

(1 Corinthians 1:30, ESV) (Hebrews 10:10)  Acts 13:39) (1 John 1:10) (2 Peter 3:18)(Philippians 1:6) (1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 12:14)  (John 17:17). 

 “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (John 17:18–19, John 10:36).  (Hebrews 10:14, ESV) 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV).  (Colossians 1:27) “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).  “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).