THE VERY GOD OF PEACE SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLY
I THESSALONIANS 5:23-24–PART I
John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Introduction:
When we trusted Christ as our Savior, the Lord sanctified us. This word means to render pure, or to cleanse from sins, 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
It consists in his becoming more like God and less attached to the world. However there is a cost that we pay to be more like Christ.
I. THE COST
A. Are we PREPARED for what sanctification will COST?
1. It will cost an INTENSE NARROWING of all our interests on earth, Philippians 4:6-9, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
2. It will cost an IMMENSE BROADENING of all our INTERESTS in God, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
3. It will cost EVERYTHING that IS NOT OF GOD in us, Ephesians 5:26, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”
B. Sanctification means intense concentration on God’s point of view, HOLINESS, Romans 6:19, 22, “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
1. It means every power of body, soul and spirit chained and kept for God’s purpose only, Romans 6:13, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
2. Are we PREPARED for God TO DO IN US ALL that He separated us for? Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
a. This is NOT by moral persuasion, but by HIS OWN POWER, 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”
b. We are to BE STRONG IN the Lord, Haggai 2:4, “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and WORK: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:”
c. We were CREATED to do GOOD WORKS, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
d. We have been equipped, Ephesians 6:13, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
II. THE STANDARD
A. After His work is done in us, are we prepared to separate ourselves to God even as Jesus did? John 17:19, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
B. Sanctification means being in TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH Jesus, John 17:22-23, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
1. That the DISPOSITION that ruled Him WILL RULE US, Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
2. Are we prepared to say, “Lord MAKE ME AS HOLY as You can make a sinner saved by grace?” 1 Peter 1:15,“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;”
PART TWO WILL FOLLOW OF: “THE VERY GOD OF PEACE SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLY”