I have been thinking more seriously lately about the topic of sanctification. In particular, I have been considering Jesus' words in His high priestly prayer of John 17, especially the verses 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17:15 I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one. 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. 17:18 As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 17:19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. These words were spoken about the apostles, but the verses that follow expand the scope of the prayer to all believers. Nevertheless, vv.14-19 can be applied in many ways to all of us in Christ, too, since we are a part of the church that has been sent out into the world.
Our sanctification begins and ends with Christ's own sanctification: He set Himself apart unto God's service by His life and His death on the cross in order to take away the sins of the world, and in doing so He became our sanctification which we receive freely and unconditionally as a gift. Baptized into Christ, we put off our old selves and put on our new selves that have been created in Him. Our lives are ones of repentance and self-sacrifice for the sake of our neighbors as unto the Lord---something that we naturally tend to run away from but something that we also heartily embrace in the Spirit (it's difficult to be a sinner and a saint at the same time!). As children of God who are already saints, we look forward to the day when we finally experience the fullness of God's glory, and with that hope we purify ourselves now and also try (by speaking, working, etc. in our various callings) to bring as many of our friends and family as we can along with us to heaven.
Here are some verses that talk about these things:
(Part I)
John 1:29, Colossians 1:19-23, 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, Hebrews 10:5-18, Matthew 22:34-40, Matthew 25:31-46, Acts 9:1-22, 2 Corinthians 1:3-11, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, Colossians 1:24
(Part II)
Matthew 16:24-25, Romans 6:1-14, Ephesians 4:17-32, Romans 8:12-17, Philippians 1:29-30, Philippians 2:12-13, 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1, Romans 14, 1 John 3:1-18, Philippians 3:7-16, Hebrews 12:1-2, Revelation 21:1-8
I can't think of a better, more touching, secular song than this one to express our lives of faith in the service of our neighbors:
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all...all...
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you (ooh)
I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down...
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel (listen here) |
