Children Sanctification

Since Catholics used sanctification in divergent ways we should look at their view of sanctification apart from faith. There are examples of children being set apart from birth. Examples below are some of the examples. In Exodus 13 God said to sanctify all the firstborn, so we know a person can be sanctified from birth. In infant baptism according to Catholics the sanctification is a few days after birth.

Infant baptism isn't on point with the sanctification of the firstborn. One is born into while the other is initiated into. One came as a command from God, the other invented by men using the true command as a precedent. They simply use the precedent of sanctification without education to say sanctification of babies is possible.

Under Jewish law the firstborn had to be given in service to God unless redeemed by a sacrifice. They were born belonging to God for service. They could be raised by family if redeemed.

The levites were chosen for the redemption process, but they had to offer themselves willingly. They had to go through a cleansing process and at age 25 were allowed to willingly serve.

The issue is, does sanctification mean forgiven? Does Holy mean forgiven? Ephesians 5:25 says Christ sanctified and cleansed the church through the washing of water by the word. We conclude sanctification and cleansing are different, but fulfilled in the same act of baptism.

1. Sanctification doesn't mean forgive. It means to set apart

2. Baptism is a part of both Sanctification and cleansing.

3. Sanctification of the Levites in redemption took 25 years to complete.

Certainly hearing the word and then being baptized would fit here. Sanctification can be of body and spirit. A person would need to be taught for sanctification of the spirit to be completed.

Peter's order  fits this well.

Sanctified = set apart to be taught through election.

Sanctification's end is meant to be obedience.

1Pe 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.

So looking at those set apart from birth, we can see sanctification does not imply completion as a baby, nor does elected for sanctification imply completion at infancy.

Paul was chosen from his mothers womb and was consequently raised at the feet of Gamaliel. He had to be baptized as an adult for his sins to be forgiven and sanctification to be completed. Acts 22:16

This shows sanctification can be a long project, from infancy to adulthood.

Samuel was set aside from his mothers prayer before conception. He wasn't called and anointed as a prophet until speaking age.

Old testament Levites set aside their children for priesthood, they did not receive atonement and serve until age 25.

Num 8:24  This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

The firstborn of Israel were to be sanctified.

Exo 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Num 8:17 For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.

All of the firstborn, even though sanctified or redeemed, still had to undergo John's baptism for the remission of sins.

Plus, all of those considered Holy from birth had to be baptized in John's baptism, or in Christian baptism.

Consider,

Luk 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Holy children were still required to be baptized.

Jesus as a firstborn was sanctified as a baby, but underwent baptism as an adult.

Jesus as a male child was Holy unto the Lord, but underwent baptism in John.

The point is sanctification is different from forgiveness and sanctification in baptism. Baptism, the process of education and completion, accomplishes sanctification and cleansing.

Sanctified as a babe did not imply baptism as a babe, which took place many years later. It shows sanctification in baptism would be accomplished as believers, not while unbelieving.