“And for their sakes I
sanctify myself, that they might also be sanctified through the truth.” – John
17:19
We all come into this world as sinners. Sinners condemned before Almighty God. Then by God’s grace, we find ourselves under
conviction which hopefully leads to repentance.
Repentance deals with sins committed, but not the very thing that causes
you to commit them. To cleanse from all
sin, you need to be sanctified.
When you are born into this world, you are born
with a desire to disobey God. This
desire has been passed down since the fall of Adam. Every single human being is born into this
world with this sinful (carnal) nature.
That carnal nature is too powerful for mankind to combat on his own. This carnal nature will pull you towards
sinful things. “When lust has conceived it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is
finished bringeth forth death.” Like
a fish on a hook, you are drawn away by something shiny and attractive, and
once you decided to partake you are hooked.
This is the whole of sin that currently plagues mankind. The desire, and the action. If left alone it will destroy your life and
send you to hell. God did not intend for
us to remain in sin. He wanted to redeem
us from all iniquity. He wanted to bring
us back to full fellowship with the Father.
Repentance cannot do this, only the blood of Christ can accomplish this
when you are “baptized into His death” thereby resurrected unto new life, which
will be witnessed to your heart by the Holy Ghost. This Holy Ghost will now live within you as
an eternal “keeping agent.” One that is
ever guiding and keeping you along the way of holiness. If you heed the Spirit’s direction. The way of holiness will be contrary to the
way of sin, and as such, the way of self.
This is sanctification, and sanctification gets rid of that pesky carnal
nature that drives you to sin. It gives
you the power to keep you from sin, it leads you down the “path of righteousness for His name sake”, and it purchases your
ticket to a home in heaven. It does not
take you out of the world but it “keeps
you from the evil of the world.”
When you are birthed into the experience of sanctification, all the
clubs, bars, and booze don’t disappear, but the desire for the clubs, bars, and
booze will disappear. It changes what you
don’t do, and it changes what you decide to do.
Your heart changes, therefore, your actions/reactions change. When you’re sanctified, you still battle
temptation without, but you do so with the power of Jesus Christ within! Praise God!
He is glorified, you are sanctified, and the old man of sin lives within
you no more. It is a beautiful
arrangement.
The blessing of sanctification was purchased
with the blood of Christ. It pains me
when I hear preaching that says the blood covers all sin, and that we can sin,
and sin, and sin again because Jesus blood covers. Not only does it cheapen His holy sacrifice,
but it promotes sin. The gospel of Jesus
Christ is a gospel of holiness, of righteousness, and godliness. It is “Christ
in you the hope of glory”. While you
seek it, remember Jesus died for it.
While you preach it, remember, Jesus died for it. While you live it, remember, Jesus died for
it. He sanctified himself, so that we
could be sanctified. That we might be sanctified.
