1 Thessalonians 5:23- Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV
I’m excited about today’s blog! If your week has been as busy as my week has been, then you can understand my excitement at spending time with the Lord through this blog. In today’s blog, I want to address the issue of sanctification.
In his letter to the church of Thessalonica, Paul prays that the God of peace will sanctify them completely, or as some translations state, “through and through”. The Greek word “hagiazdo” is translated “to make holy”, to set apart for God. We see this happening in the Old Testament as they are preparing the tabernacle of God in the wilderness, where they sanctify clothing, vessels, oil, and even Aaron and his sons for God. However, in this context in the New Testament, Paul is praying that the saints in Thessalonica are set apart to God in their entire being: spirit, soul, and body.
Christians readily agree that their spirit man is sanctified at the onset of salvation. Jesus sanctifies the believer through His blood:
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
Hebrews 13:12 NKJV
Jesus took on humanity in order to redeem humanity for God, to restore the relationship between God and mankind. Through Adam sin entered the world, and through Jesus (the second Adam) we are able to enter the presence of God after receiving salvation.
As a whole, Christianity is seen as a weak imitation of Jesus. Jesus lived free of sin, was able to walk away from temptation, and lived a powerful life before the world as a representative of God. Yet believers today, often spend the vast majority of their Christian existence struggling with one or another.
When Jesus returned to heaven, He left us as God’s representatives to the world. Yet, our witness often reflects more of the world than it does of God. Sanctification of our entire being will enable us to better represent God in this world. It’s not enough for our spirits to be sanctified (being born again) if we want to live a life of victory. In order for us to be a stronger, more effective witness for God, He must have the entirety of us: spirit, soul, and body.
Sanctification of the soul (or mind) happens as we are transformed in our thinking. In the book of Romans, Paul wrote:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
Conforming to this world is easy. We all have to be aware of the ways in which we conform to the world. Paul wrote that when our minds are renewed, we are able to be transformed, or changed into the person that God sees us capable of being. A sanctified mind refuses to linger on things that are not wholesome. Paul tells us to cast down vain imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. We are told to have the mind of Christ. My personal favorite verse on a sanctified mind is found in Philippians:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
Just like our spirits are changed through the Blood of Jesus, our minds are transformed through the word of God. God doesn’t drop the word into our spirits unless the word of God has already been deposited. His word enables us to be transformed, sanctified, or set apart for the glory of God. In Ephesians, Paul wrote:
That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word…
Ephesians 5:26 NKJV
This verse references the point that Christ gave Himself to sanctify and cleanse us, and He uses His word in the process of sanctifying our minds. I think we all understand that! It’s our responsibility to make the decision to trust Jesus for salvation. It’s our responsibility to renew our minds. And it is our responsibility to take dominion over our bodies.
As we commit our lives to Jesus (by getting saved), and we commit our minds to Him (by renewing it with the word), we must commit our bodies to Him. Paul told us that we are the temple of the living God. And he also told us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. The sanctification of our bodies is up to us! We can be saved from our sins and live a weak life before others because we refuse to sanctify our flesh.
In Galatians, Paul wrote these words:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV
Don’t walk in deception. You have a greater control over your flesh than your flesh wants you to believe! But only if you are allowing your life to be led by the Spirit of God! I know what modern theology teaches us about “everybody struggles with their flesh” and therefore none of us can have victory over our flesh! I understand that many have fallen, so much so that we all believe that we will! Once I asked God about this very thing. I wanted to know how could I avoid the entrapment of sin when so many people who were more spiritually matured than I was could not. I clearly remember what He said:
The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour. Don’t be the one he devours!
A word from God
I saw that as a warning that meant that in order for him to devour me, I had to give place to him. The New Testament is filled with scriptures that encourage us to crucify our flesh, to take dominion over thoughts, to walk in the Spirit and yet many believers think this is an impossible task. Many still believe that sin has a greater influence over us than we have over it. That’s not scriptual!
Because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 NKJV
Jesus lives on the inside of us. It should be easier for us to live this life for God than it was for any generation before the cross. The same Jesus who enabled Paul and the early believers to live a life set apart for God is the same Jesus we have given our lives to! The same God who empowered Jesus to resist temptation, is the same God who redeemed us! The same way Jesus walked in victory is the same avenue we have to walk in victory. It is being fully committed, fully submitted to the God who is able to keep us in every area of our being until He comes again! When we do our part, He promised to do His part! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 