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Sanctifying Time through Divine Appointment in Christian Life

The Christian tradition of sanctifying time rests on the conviction that God alone possesses the authority to set apart moments, seasons, and occasions for holy purposes. Scripture records that God "sanctified and blessed" the seventh day at creation's conclusion [6], establishing the pattern that divine appointment—not human preference—makes time holy. This principle extends beyond the Sabbath to encompass all moments consecrated by God's word and received through faith.

Biblical Foundation for Appointed Times

The Levitical calendar demonstrates God's prerogative to designate sacred seasons. As Matthew Henry observes on Leviticus 23, "it is only his appointment that can make time holy; for he is the Lord of time" [6]. Human authority can establish "a good day," but only divine institution creates "a holy day" [6]. This distinction appears throughout Scripture, where God specifies festivals, new moons, and appointed feasts that structure Israel's worship and communal life. The New Testament extends this principle: Paul writes that believers are "called to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began" (2 Timothy 1:9) [3]. The calling itself sanctifies the time in which it unfolds.

The mechanism by which ordinary time becomes sacred involves both divine word and human response. Paul instructs that food "is sanctified through the word of God and prayer" (1 Timothy 4:5) [4, 5], revealing that God's declaration combined with faithful reception transforms the common into the consecrated. This pattern applies beyond dietary matters to the entire rhythm of Christian existence.

The Fullness of Time and Eschatological Urgency

Christ's ministry inaugurated what Adam Clarke calls "the time appointed for sending the Messiah," specifically fulfilling Daniel's prophetic timeline [7]. Jesus proclaimed, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mark 1:15), marking a decisive shift in redemptive history [7]. This "fullness of time" was not arbitrary but reflected God's sovereign plan, where "every thing that is done is according to a plan laid by the Divine wisdom, and never performed till the time appointed was filled up" [7].

The New Testament writers emphasize that believers live in an interim period charged with eschatological significance. Paul urges the Romans to recognize "the nature and shortness of the present season of life," noting that "eternal salvation, which is the object of our Christian faith and hope, and the great motive of our religion, is every day nearer to us" [9]. This awareness should intensify vigilance in Christian duty rather than induce passivity. The Tyndale commentary notes that "at just the right time," God will complete the salvation promised before the world began [10], positioning Christ's saving work within God's eternal purposes and making every present moment pregnant with divine intention.

Sanctification as Separation to Divine Service

Sanctification fundamentally means "separation to the service of God" [1], a work effected by God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit [1, 2]. It extends beyond moral reformation to encompass "the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration" [2]. This progressive work shapes how believers inhabit time itself. When Peter instructs believers to "sanctify Christ as Lord" in their hearts [8], he describes an inward consecration that reorients all temporal existence around Christ's lordship.

John Gill's commentary on John 10:35 distinguishes between sanctification as an eternal decree and its temporal manifestation, noting that Christ was sanctified in "the eternal separation of him to his office, as Mediator, in the counsel, purposes, and decrees of God" before his mission into the world [11]. This eternal dimension grounds the believer's temporal sanctification, ensuring that the Christian's daily rhythms participate in purposes established before time began.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sanctification — Is separation to the service of God -- Ps 4:3; 2Co 6:17. Effected by God. -- Eze 37:28; 1Th 5:23; Jude 1:1. Christ. -- Heb 2:11; 13:12. The Holy Spirit. -- Ro 15:16; 1Co 6:11. In Christ -- 1Co 1:2. Through the atonement of Christ -- Heb 10:10; 13:12. Through the word of God -- Joh 17:17,19; Eph 5:26. Christ made, of God, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Saints elected to salvation through -- 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2. All saints are in a state of -- Ac 20:32; 26:18; 1Co 6:11. The Church made glorious by -- Eph 5:26,27. Should lead to Mortification of sin. -- 1Th 4:3,4. Ho”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
  3. II Timothy “II Timothy 1:9 (BSB) — He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
  4. I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (ASV) — for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.”
  5. 1 Timothy “For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. -- 1 Timothy 4:5”
  6. Leviticus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Leviticus 23:1: Here is, I. A general account of the holy times which God appointed (Lev 23:2), and it is only his appointment that can make time holy; for he is the Lord of time, and as soon as ever he had set its wheels a-going it was he that sanctified and blessed one day above the rest, Gen 2:3. Man may by his appointment make a good day (Est 9:19), but it is God's prerogative to make a holy day; nor is any thing sanctified but by the stamp of his institution. As all inherent holiness comes from his special grace, so all adherent holiness from his special appointment. Now,”
  7. Mark (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Mark 1:15: The time is fulfilled - That is, the time appointed for sending the Messiah; and particularly the time specified by Daniel, Dan 9:24-27. Here are four points worthy of deep attention, in the preaching of the Son of God. 1. Every thing that is done is according to a plan laid by the Divine wisdom, and never performed till the time appointed was filled up. 2. That the kingdom and reign of sin are to be destroyed, and the kingdom of grace and heaven established in their place. 3. That the kingdom of God, and his reign by grace, begins with repentance for past sins. 4. Th”
  8. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 3:15: sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mat 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every man that asketh you--The last words limit the universality of the "always"; not to a roller, ”
  9. Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 13:11: And that, knowing the time - Dr. Taylor has given a judicious paraphrase of this and the following verses: "And all the duties of a virtuous and holy life we should the more carefully and zealously perform, considering the nature and shortness of the present season of life; which will convince us that it is now high time to rouse and shake off sleep, and apply with vigilance and vigor to the duties of our Christian life; for that eternal salvation, which is the object of our Christian faith and hope, and the great motive of our religion, is every day nearer to us t”
  10. 1 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Timothy 6:15: 6:15-16 At just the right time (cp. 2:6), God will complete the salvation promised to us before the world began (2 Tim 1:9; Titus 1:2), which Christ enacted in his first appearance (1 Tim 2:6; Titus 1:3). The saving work of Christ is positioned within God’s sovereign and eternal purposes. This thought leads naturally into worship of God our Savior (cp. 1 Tim 1:17). • This material might be quoted from a baptismal confession (see study note on 6:12).”
  11. John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 10:35: Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified,.... Not by making his human nature pure and holy, and free from all sin, and by bestowing the holy Spirit on him without measure, though both true; but these were upon, or after his mission into the world; whereas sanctification here, designs something previous to that, and respects the eternal separation of him to his office, as Mediator, in the counsel, purposes, and decrees of God, and in the covenant of his grace, being pre-ordained thereunto, before the foundation of the world; which supposes his eternal existence as ”
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