Here is every text in the New Testament where the words “sanctify”, “sanctifieth”, “sanctified”, and “sanctification” are used. Study each reference in its context. Believers are said to be sanctified by the Word of God, by God the Father, by the blood of Christ, by the Holy Spirit, and by faith. Never once are we said to sanctify ourselves by something we do. The only exception is 2 Timothy 2:21, where a pastor is said to be sanctified by purging himself from that which is dishonorable. But the context makes that work of sanctification to be a matter of separation, not a matter of being righteous or holy. And not one reference speaks of the believer’s sanctification as a progressive work. Sanctification, as taught in the Bible, is altogether a work of grace.

John 17:17  “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

John 17:19  “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

Ephesians 5:26  “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”

1 Thessalonians 5:23  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 13:12  “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”

1 Peter 3:15  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Matthew 23:17  “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?”

Matthew 23:19  “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?”

Hebrews 2:11  “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”

Hebrews 9:13  “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:”

John 10:36  “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?”

John 17:19  “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

Acts 20:32  “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Acts 26:18  “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Romans 15:16  “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”

1 Corinthians 1:2  “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

1 Corinthians 6:11  “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

1 Corinthians 7:14  “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”

1 Timothy 4:5  “For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

2 Timothy 2:21  “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.”

Hebrews 2:11  “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”

Hebrews 10:10  “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Hebrews 10:14  “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

Hebrews 10:29  “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Jude 1:1  “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:”

1 Corinthians 1:30  “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

1 Thessalonians 4:4  “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

2 Thessalonians 2:13  “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

1 Peter 1:2  “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”

Don Fortner

http://www.donfortner.com/bulletin_articles/topical/Sanctification%20Texts.htm