The concept of sanctification as separation flows directly from understanding what it means to be called by God and to be designated a saint. Being a Christian begins with a divine summons that, at this time, is not extended to humanity generally but only to those whom God has chosen to draw to Himself, as Jesus Christ explains in John 6:44 and 6:65, where He states that no one can come to Him unless the Father grants and draws that person. This calling is so precious that Paul urges the Ephesians to walk worthy of it and prays for the Thessalonians to be counted worthy of it, indicating that the call carries with it a high standard of conduct. To grasp the nature of this calling, one must understand the meaning of the word "saint," translated from the Greek hagios, which is most commonly rendered "holy." Both I Corinthians 1:1-2 and II Timothy 1:9 confirm that believers are called to be saints, or holy ones, and the New International Version captures this by translating the phrase as "called to be holy." At its root, holiness simply means being separate, set apart, or different. This contrasts sharply with common religious notions of sainthood, such as the idea of a super-righteous individual or the Catholic practice of posthumous canonization and veneration. Scripture instead uses "saint" primarily to denote one who has been set apart, regardless of that person's moral condition at the time of separation. This is demonstrated by the Corinthians, who were addressed as saints even while displaying considerable carnality; God had declared them holy based on their position before Him, not because of achieved personal righteousness. This raises the essential question of what saints are actually separated from. Ephesians 2:1-2 supplies the answer, identifying three things from which God has set believers apart: their trespasses and sins, the course of this present world, and Satan the Devil, described as the prince of the power of the air who works in the sons of disobedience. However, sanctification as separation does not end with this initial act of being set apart. God requires that believers remain separate from these three influences going forward. Having been redeemed from Satan's dominion, believers must guard against reopening the door to his influence. Likewise, they must remain free from the defilement of sin and continue walking according to God's ways rather than reverting to the course of this world. This ongoing responsibility to maintain separation, rather than merely possessing an initial declared status, forms the foundation for the growth and preparation necessary for future responsibilities in God's Kingdom.