What does "whatever touches them will be holy" teach about God's sanctification? The Biblical Text “Consecrate them so that they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.” – Exodus 30:29 The Setting Behind the Words • God is instructing Moses on anointing the tabernacle furnishings, altar, and priestly garments. • Once anointed, each object is declared “most holy.” • Anything that comes into contact with these consecrated items is likewise declared holy. What This Reveals About God’s Sanctifying Work • Holiness flows from God, not from the object itself. The oil only marks what God has already set apart. • Sanctification is a divine act. Human hands apply the oil, but God provides the holiness. • God’s holiness is powerful enough to “transfer” sanctity to what touches what He has made holy. • The statement underscores God’s desire for absolute purity in worship; nothing common may remain common in His presence (Exodus 29:37; Leviticus 6:18, 27). Holiness That Spreads • The altar, once holy, sanctifies the sacrifice placed upon it (Exodus 29:37). • Priestly garments, once holy, sanctify those who serve while wearing them (Exodus 28:41). • Under the Law, holiness could be ceremonially transmitted; defilement spread even faster (Haggai 2:12–14). Only God’s prescribed means could overcome impurity. Anticipating the Greater Sanctifier • Jesus fulfills and surpasses the type: instead of being defiled by sinners, He makes the unclean clean (Mark 1:40-42; Luke 8:43-48). • His touch transmits life and purity because “in Him all the fullness of God lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). • Believers are “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10), permanently set apart for God. Living Out the Truth Today • We approach God through Christ, the true Holy One, confident that His holiness covers us (Hebrews 10:19-22). • Daily life becomes an outflow of His sanctifying touch: – Our bodies become “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). – Our conduct, speech, and thoughts increasingly reflect His purity (1 Peter 1:15-16). – Fellowship, worship, and service are arenas where His holiness spreads, not by ritual oil but by the indwelling Spirit. Key Takeaways • Sanctification originates with God, is applied by His command, and transforms whatever it reaches. • The Old Testament objects point to Christ, whose holiness is now ours by faith. • Because whatever He touches is holy, those who abide in Him are called—and empowered—to live lives that display that holiness to the world. |
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