Sanctification in the Bible

  Image by Sabrina Eickhoff from Pixabay.

A lifelong process of sanctification where sinning goes on but keeps on decreasing is not what's taught in the Bible. But "without holiness, no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Thus, any day we need to be ready and holy for Jesus. Not 25% now and hopefully 100% by the day we die or the day Jesus returns. So, if we got to 65% by either of those deadlines, would there be a speedy sanctification to reach 100%? That is taught nowhere in the Bible. Instead, servants of God are so exhorted:

1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also BE HOLY IN ALL YOUR CONDUCT, 16 for it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Conduct = behavior = conversation (KJV).

It's not about getting to a threshold of holiness that is acceptable to God at the end of our life or at Jesus' return, but about remaining in the state of holiness that Jesus keeps his servants in as long as they remain faithfully obedient to Him (that is the essence of having faith in Him and abiding in Him). There is growth in that but in no case there is room for willfully sinning and using the idea of being in a lifelong process of sanctification as an excuse!

John 15:4-6, 10
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and withers; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

'Holiness' and 'sanctification' are English renderings of the same Greek noun:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G38&t=KJV

'Holy' and 'saint' are likewise translations of the same Greek adjective:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G40&t=KJV

'Sanctify,' 'be holy' and 'hallow' also translate the same Greek verb:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G37&t=KJV

The apostle Paul wrote like this of the new born again Christians in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you.* But you were washed, you WERE SANCTIFIED, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

*See verses 9 and 10 for their past sinful behaviors.

This passage also speaks of someone who for sure was sanctified:

Hebrews 10:29
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which HE WAS SANCTIFIED a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Sanctification has to do with consecration, the fact of being set-apart. There is nothing mystical about that. Biblical Israel was sanctified (set-apart) among all nations of the earth by Sabbath-keeping under the Old Covenant (Exodus 31:13, Ezekiel 20:12). Sanctification today under the New Covenant brought in by Jesus is by faith in Him (Acts 26:18), which means more than believing true facts, but is fidelity towards Him in obedience to his teachings (Luke 6:46-49, John 12:46-48). 

A sanctified person or saint or set-apart one (according to the Bible's definition) is called to remain holy or set-apart, never to return to unclean behavior as to one's vomit like a dog (2 Peter 2:20-22). That's foolish and leads to utter destruction, not salvation. Hence, the warnings in the Scriptures.

2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

At the end, every one will remain in whatever state he/she had maintained him/herself:

Revelation 22:11
He that is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," Jesus said in Matthew 5:8. There is no purity of heart if someone is taking pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:12), not hating it enough to cut it out as both an act of worship to God and an expression of love for God.

This word must be heeded:

James 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

So then this can be said of the FORMERLY wicked / unrighteous / sinning person who came clean with God in true repentance and started on a path of righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24, 2 Peter 2:21):

1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Only a formerly unrighteous person, an ex-sinner or ex-worker of iniquity can be on the way to heaven. Sin is not the way into which Jesus leads someone who is following Him (Mark 8:34). Jesus' way is the way that leads to eternal life. That's the way He calls everyone who is willing to follow Him to walk on and stay on.

Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

This is the solution for the problem of the sin-causing flesh: kill it / put it to death / crucify it.

Crucify the Flesh
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQKBVZh0-tlKdbQIK0XeRx9dpcPT-EJzE

That's what the Bible teaches, not to get better at managing it and its sinful passions.

Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts [desires].

1 Peter 4:1-3
1  Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2  that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for human desires, but for the will of God. 3  For enough time in the past has been spent doing the will of the unbelievers, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

Struggling with sin is struggling to put down an idol in one's heart, it's struggling to love God with all one's heart, all one's soul, all one's mind and all one's strength (Mark 12:30). That's the truth and "the truth will set you free" as Jesus said (John 8:32). He was talking about freedom from the death trap of sin which is what salvation is about (John 8:34-36, Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:18). [See Saved From What?]

This is the ministry that was given to the apostle Paul who was sent to preach the Gospel to the nations. It was a calling to him by Jesus "to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:18). 

50% sanctification + 50% still sinning willfully isn't sanctification at all and won't enter the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 22:11
He that is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

See also: 
The Essence of Faith
Repentance According to the Bible 

Jesus vs False Teachers

Study on Uncleanness

ADDENDUM

Luke 5:31-32
31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

There is no way of answering Jesus' call to repentance and remain a sinner, or in any case, not be converted to be what the Bible calls a righteous person or a saint.

SIN LEADS TO DEATH OBEDIENCE LEADS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO HOLINESS cf. Romans 6:16-19. JESUS SAVES FROM SIN cf. Matthew 1:21, John 8:34-36


This is a caricature of the endemic sin-rooted sickness of professed Christians:
I am still sinning and I twist the scriptures. 
-1 John 1:8 is my defense 
-Romans 3:10 is my shield 
-Romans 7:20 is my stronghold 
-Isaiah 64:6 is my cover 
(all used out of context) 


OBJECTIONS

The one who says, "I know Jesus", and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4). 

The one who does what is right is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous (1 John 3:7). 

The one who sins is of the devil... (1 John 3:8). 

The one who is born of God does not sin... (1 John 5:18). 

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid (Galatians 2:17). 

Revelation 22:11 
He that is unrighteous, let him be unrighteous still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 

If you remain in sin or return to sin after having been delivered from sin, you will be found unrighteous and filthy at Jesus' coming, not righteous and holy. If that's the path you are on, be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19), and stay obedient to the King of kings.

Repentance According to the Bible

  Image by Sabrina Eickhoff from Pixabay

The following are scriptures calling people to repentance or describing what God expects in making that call.

Isaiah 1:16-18
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. 18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson,They shall be as wool.

Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Jeremiah 8:6
I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle.

Ezekiel 14:6
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.

Ezekiel 18:20-23, 30
20 The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Ezekiel 33:11
11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Acts 8:22-23
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.

James 1:21-22
21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
 
James 4:8-10
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Read Jonah 3:10 to learn what Jesus was saying that the people of Nineveh can teach to our generation about repentance.

REPENT OR PERISH
Luke 13:1-5
1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Matthew 21:28-32
28 But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.' 29 He answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind, and went. 30 And he came to the other, and said the same thing. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you did not even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

So, Jesus taught that the people who believed John the Baptist's message repented and that showed that they believed him.

Jesus sent his apostles to preach repentance to all nations:
Luke 24:46-47
46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

On the day of Pentecost, people asked Peter and the other apostles what they must do to be saved and he answered to them:
Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not given to those who do not repent to turn from rebellion in sin to obedience:
Acts 5:30-32
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

The apostle Paul preached repentance:
Acts 17:30-31
30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to everyone by raising him from the dead.

Acts 20:20-21
(you know...) 20 how I did not hold back from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks (Gentiles) repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:19-20
19 "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds."

Many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). Don't listen to them and make the fatal mistake of either dismissing repentance or getting repentance wrong.

2 Timothy 2:15, 19
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, correctly handling the word of truth.
19 However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work [not sin!].

Repent! Obey Jesus! Turn away from sin! Be saved!


More:
Romans 2:4-7
4  Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5  But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6  who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”... (speaking for both Jews and Gentiles - verses 9-10)

2 Corinthians 7:9-10
9  I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10  For godly sorrow leads to repentance leading to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world leads to death.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Corinthians 12:20-21
20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you do not desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots; 21  that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.

2 Timothy 2:24-26
24  The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, 25  in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 26  and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.

Hebrews 6:1-6
1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, 2 of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put Him to open shame.

PS:
Comment on the understanding of repentance being a daily endeavor

That understanding is strengthened by the belief that being a slave to sin (John 8:34) has no end and that repentance does not in fact usher a new life (Romans 6) and a new walk in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:17-24). In Luke 15, Jesus gave three parables to show what repentance is supposed to accomplish: a return to God, reconciliation with God to be forgiven of past sins, and passing from lost to found and from being dead to being alive. The last parable is the well-known parable of the prodigal son who returns to his father. Remark that once he did that, his father made a feast for him. So, he was not going back to his same old paths that had dishonored his father the very next day to be lost again and find himself at a place where he needed to repent again for the same sins and return to his father over and over (and perhaps have a feast made for him each time). No! That would be a mockery of his father (a figure representing God). All this is to say that repentance, in the Bible, as a means of coming into a relationship with God, is not a daily endeavor. It accomplishes a reconciliation with God and then it's fellowship with God, walking in the light (1 John 1:5-7) going forward —not going backwards from that (Luke 9:62; Luke 17:32; 2 Peter 2:20-22). And by his grace (Titus 2:11-14; Romans 6:1-2, 12-15), one can indeed stand, walk with God and not go back to old sinful ways. The way forward is to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

 

 
PSS:
Comment on how many times a person may repent
People who are backslidden are called to repent to make things right with God (because they aren't). And since they were once saved from sin (John 8:36; Romans 6:5-7, 14, 18), they must have repented already once to get into a relationship with God in the first place. This was the case for the five (out of seven) churches that Jesus told to repent in Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 2:22, 3:3 and 3:19. They all received a warning to repent, and that meant they were facing a life and death situation because of their backsliding. They had to repent or they would eventually perish/be destroyed (not be saved). So, their backsliding wasn't a normal nor an expected situation. And it does not warrant that any believer today would need to be talking about being saved (set free from sin) and foreseeing multiple future instances of repentance right from the start of their relationship with God. That's not the picture to have of neither repentance nor salvation. Going back to sin after having repented and being saved from sin is not the plan. And this lines up with Jesus' words in John 8:35, saying that a slave doesn't remain in the house forever. That goes also for someone who was saved/freed from sin and went back to being a slave of sin by his/her own doing, selling him/herself back to sin.

People do fall away from the faith, from being previously in it and failing to endure to the end (Matthew 10:22, Hebrews 2:1-3, Hebrews 10:38-39, 2 Peter 2:20-22). And for those who are unable to repent an nth time (e.g. Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-29, Hebrews 12:17), there won't be any change of destination for them from the present time to the time of Jesus' return and of the final judgment. There is a point of no return for someone who would come to know God and believe a lie of the devil and turn away from that spiritual intimacy with the most blessed almighty God. 

See also:
Freedom From Sin

Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?

Repentance Teachings - video playlist

Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance

Repentance With Works Consistent With Repentance (Acts 26:20) - video 

The Essence of Faith

 

Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

Struggle with Sin and Double-Mindedness

 

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

The Myth of Casting Stones

 

Call to Repentance

 The Goal of Repentance

What is the Grace of God?

They Should Repent!

 

 

Stand Against Witchcraft

If you're in agreement with witchcraft that does not look wicked, you will have peace in your ignorance as you are submitting to a wicked agenda of the devil. He is a liar and a deceiver and will use you as a willing agent to destroy your own self and others. But the moment God reveals that same witchcraft to you and you choose to renounce having any part in it, you will suffer its attacks. You will see its ugly side once you're no longer in agreement with it.

You will know by close experience that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

1 Samuel 15:23a
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Seek God's ways in all then. Make sure you are not rebelling against God in the way you think of anything or in anything you do. Pray for that guidance about everything in your life. That's what surrendering your life to God means. He has a say in everything and desires also to be your light in all. Seek his voice and be obedient to Him. Follow his ways of righteousness and holiness. Come out of the world and be separate as God's servant. Whatever you have to suffer for that, choose God because you love Him above all. Trust that his ways are good and better than any other. Don't follow the world and its lusts. Allow no idols in your heart.

1 John 2:15-17
15  Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love is not in him. 16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not the Father’s, but is the world’s. 17  The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

Seek purity of heart which is pleasing to God. Be in agreement with your Father in heaven about all things. Call evil evil and call good good. Don't love anything that God hates. You must be actively seeking God every day. That is how you live. If you are his, you want to live for Him, you want his approval and blessing over every area of your life. So, have no tolerance for ignorance or indifference that would make you be happy following your own ways. Seek the wisdom that God gives, ask for it and you shall receive it (James 1:5).

1 Peter 1:22-23
22  Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from a pure heart fervently: 23  having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding Word of God.

You are called to be an overcomer of evil with Jesus in you.

1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

Luke 10:19-20
19  Look, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will in any way hurt you. 20  Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

May Jesus bless you!

Call to Repentance

 

Study on Uncleanness

Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, [**uncleanness**], lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 1:24-25
24 Therefore Elohim gave them up to [**uncleanness**] in the lust of their hearts, to disrespect their bodies among themselves, 25 who changed the truth of Elohim into the falsehood, and worshipped and served what was created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amĕn

Dishonor/disrespect of the body ←→ Uncleanness
When you understand sin that leads to death, you will understand mercy and righteousness that leads to holiness.
When you have a sense of your own uncleanness, you will understand:
– sanctification/being set apart by faith/obedience to the Messiah (Acts 26:18)
– the holiness of God:
"Be holy for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16)
"without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Hebrew 12:14).
– the fear of Yahuah, which is wisdom:
"the fear of Yahuah, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)
"Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Yahuah" (Psalm 34:11)
"And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17, right after 1 Peter 1:16... did Peter "get it" or what?)

Note that righteousness leads to holiness (Romans 6:19). So, no sinner can walk that path. You must be set free from your sins. You must depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). Your mind must be renewed so that you know that you are not a sinner (not merely tagging the word "saint" upon you). You know what you have been delivered from, and that is your testimony of salvation bringing you to where you are today, to endure in the faith until the end (Matthew 10:22; John 15:4-6; Romans 11:22). If your mind is not renewed (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:23-24) to the point where you know that you are called righteous, a saint of the Most High and not a sinner, you need to swallow your pride and obey the truth: REPENT and BE CONVERTED (Acts 3:19).

(( Romans 6:16-19
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. ))

Other passages on uncleanness:
Romans 6:19
I speak as a man, because of the weakness of your flesh. For even as you did present your members as servants of [**uncleanness**], and of lawlessness resulting in lawlessness, so now present your members as servants of righteousness resulting in set-apartness (holiness).

weak flesh ←→ uncleanness 
(the weakest link ☞ thou doest well to eliminate it: crucify your flesh as those that are Christ's do - Galatians 5:24-25, through the Spirit - Romans 8:12-13)

Colossians 3:5-7
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: 6 whoring, [**uncleanness**], passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you also once walked when you lived in them.

members ←→ uncleanness
This is not a listing of members but of the fruit of the members, which are body parts in which no good thing dwells (Romans 7:18). So then remember Romans 12:1: "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Ephesians 4:17-19
17 So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer walk as the gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having been darkened in their understanding, having been estranged from the life of Elohim, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart, 19 who, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecency, to work all [**uncleanness**] with greediness.

Indecency ←→ uncleanness
Ephesians 5:1-4
1 Become, then, imitators of Elohim as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Messiah also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and an offering to Elohim (→→→Romans 12:1←←←) for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But whoring and all [**uncleanness**], or greed of gain, let it not even be named among you, as is proper among set-apart ones (saints) – 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving.

Whoring ←→ uncleanness
e.g. being a whore/whoremonger, fornicator, adulterer (incl. one who defiles oneself with another's spouse); involvement in prostitution, pornography, the sins that may accompanying masturbation and that start in the heart (impure heart/impure thoughts, shameful imaginations - Romans 6:21, Matthew 7:15, Mark 7:21-23);

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
1 For the rest then, brothers, we beg you and call upon you in the Master Yahusha, that as you received from us how you should walk and to please Elohim, you should excel still more, 2 for you know what commands we gave you through the Master Yahusha. 3 For this is the desire of Elohim: your set-apartness (holiness)! – that you should abstain from whoring, 4 that ***each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in set-apartness (holiness) and respect,*** 5 not in passion of lust, like the gentiles who do not know Elohim, 6 not to overstep and take advantage of his brother in this matter, because the Master is the revenger of all such, as we indeed said to you before and earnestly warned. 7 For Elohim did not call us to [**uncleanness**], but in set-apartness (holiness). 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but Elohim, who also gives us His Set-apart (Holy) Spirit.

Uncleanness <> (contrasted with) set-apartness (holiness)
2 Corinthians 12:19-21
19 Again, think you that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. 20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as you would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the [**uncleanness**] and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

Lasciviousness ←→ Uncleanness ←→ fornication (whoring)
(found together)
Galatians 5:19-21
19 And the works of the flesh are well-known, which are these: adultery, whoring, [**uncleanness**], indecency, 20 idolatry, drug sorcery, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, wild parties, and the like – of which I forewarn you, even as I also said before, that those who practice such as these shall not inherit the reign of Elohim.

Romans 12:1-2
1 I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart (holy), well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.

1 Corinthians 3:17-18
Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place (temple) of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you? If anyone destroys* (KJV: defile) the Dwelling Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart (holy), which you are.

*The weaker word 'defile' found in the KJV is translated from the same word that means to 'destroy'. 

What is a vessel? (a quick look)
"each one of you should know how to possess his own **vessel in set-apartness (holiness) and respect" (1 Thessalonians 4:4)

"In the same way, husbands, live understandingly together, giving respect to the wife, as to the weaker **vessel, and as being heirs together of the favour of life, so that your prayers are not hindered." (1 Peter 3:17)

Vessels were found notably in the holy place (tabernacle/temple). The priest/high priest dealt with various kinds of vessels in their service. They seem to be mere "utensils" that serve a purpose at the hands of the one who uses them. It's the same word being applied to a person in the new testament. If you have/are a vessel yourself, being a member of the body of Messiah, which is the temple of Elohim, that's a good reason to remain humble and in fear. What are you? Be what you are called to be in order to be useful to the Master. 

2 Timothy 2:19-22
19 However, the solid foundation of Elohim stands firm, having this seal, “Yahuah knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the Name of Messiah turn away from unrighteousness.” 20 But in a large house there are not only VESSELS of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some unto value and some unto no value. 21 If, then, anyone CLEANSES* HIMSELF from these matters, he shall be a VESSEL UNTO VALUE, HAVING BEEN SET APART (SANCTIFIED/MADE HOLY), OF GOOD USE TO THE MASTER, HAVING BEEN PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. 22 And FLEE FROM THE LUSTS OF YOUTH, but PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, BELIEF, LOVE, PEACE with those calling on the Master out of a CLEAN HEART.
 
What is defilement?
I argue that defilement can only be understood from a perspective of un-defilement, that is, cleanness.

2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says Yahuah, and do not touch what is [**unclean**] (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm…), and I shall receive you. 

1 Corinthians 7:13-14
13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he thinks well to live with her, let her not send him away. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been set-apart in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been set-apart in the husband. Otherwise your children would be [**unclean**], but now they are set-apart (holy).

That is a great mystery...

Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly (the church) and gave Himself for it, 26 in order to SET IT APART (sanctify it/make it holy) and CLEANSE IT (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm…) with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, 27 in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE or any of this sort, but that it might be SET-APART (holy) and BLAMELESS.

John 15:3
You are already CLEAN (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm…) because of the Word which I have spoken to you.
Our heart/thoughts must be guarded clean/pure, or we open the door to uncleanness in them... 

Philippians 4:8
For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is CLEAN (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm…), whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise – think on these.

Guarding our heart/thoughts implies controlling also what we let in through our senses (e.g. our eyes, ears...). And that, my friends, is very tricky. What I am seeing here is another level of tricky, along with a better appreciation of the call to holiness. It is prudent then to confess sins that we may not know of, like David thought to do in his wisdom (Psalm 19:12-13). The aim is to be cleared of all pollution that we may have allowed in ignorance (lack of knowledge destroys God's people - Hosea 4:6), or that we have inadvertently entertained, or that we have suffered by merely being exposed to uncleanness in our environment. That is the takeaway for me. Through this study, my mind has been renewed on this matter and transformation is effective immediately. May God help us all. 

Psalm 19:12-13
12 Who discerns (his) mistakes? Declare me innocent from those that are secret, 13 Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous ones, Do not let them rule over me. Then shall I be perfect, and innocent of great transgression.

James 1:27
Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained (unspotted: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm…) from the world.

☞ Therefore pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14). Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), and strive to be holier than thou (thy old self).

Bible topic search: unclean/uncleanness

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=KJV&quicksearch=unclean*&begin=3&end=3

Original publication date: 2015-09-27

Last modified: 2020-09-10