“Sanctify them through Your Truth. Your Word is Truth.”
John 17:17
It begins at the moment of the New Birth; it ends when we finally see Him face-to-Face.
Sanctification.
Such a big word. Hard-to-spell word. And, even harder to understand word.
Yet, Jesus. . .God’s own living, “the Word made flesh” Savior (Jn. 1:14). . .simplifies it for us in today’s Manna by showing the relationship between God’s Word and this process of “being set apart, made holy or transformed into Christ’s likeness.”
Taken from the Greek root word “hagios,” we also get the words “saint” and “holy” from it. Likewise, it’s sometimes translated “to hallow, venerate, purify, consecrate, sacred, etc.” Thus, it’s a beautiful word of that which is dedicated to the Divine. And, in our case, it’s the way in which Christ’s followers are “transformed” from sinful “creatures of clay” into “God’s workmanship and vessels fit for His use” (Eph. 2:10; II Tim. 2:21).
Now, again, we should remember this is a process, not an instantaneous, overnight reality.
When we’re born again, Jesus comes to live within our hearts through His Holy Spirit. From that moment of spiritual birth as an adopted, pardoned child of God, we begin a daily pilgrimage of faith—yea, an inward civil war between our old nature (Adam’s) and our new nature (Christ’s). And, Paul would tell you it’s definitely a “struggle of the soul” (Rom. 7:7-25)!
But, thankfully, the Lord Jesus simplified this for us by reminding us that “eternal life is knowing the only true God and Him, God’s Son” (Jn. 17:3). And, it’s “through His Truth, the Word, that we are transformed or made holy.”
We must remember there was no New Testament when Jesus spoke these words—for the Gospels, Acts and the Epistles wouldn’t be written for many years. Thus, for them, God’s Word was the written record of the Old Testament. Yet, even then, through those words in the Pentateuch, Psalms, Proverbs and prophets, true believers were able to see how to become a “friend of God” like Father Abraham (James 2:23) and “one after God’s own heart” like David (I Sam. 13:14).
And, so it is with us, dear Pilgrim. In studying God’s written Word. . .both in the Old and New Testaments. . .we’re able to catch a glimpse of God’s eternal Salvation Plan. In studying the Gospels and the red print, we’re able to see this Plan fulfilled through Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection. Through the Book of Acts, we’re able to see the emerging Church and her spread throughout the known world. And, through the Epistles and the Revelation we’re able to develop a pragmatic faith and enduring Hope of what still awaits us.
That’s why it’s important for us to “study to show ourselves approved unto God” and “hide His Word in our hearts” (II Tim. 2:15; Ps. 119:11). In so doing the Holy Spirit is able to develop the “mind of Christ” within us (Phil. 2:5) through a daily “renewing” (Rom. 12:2) and “capturing of our thoughts” (II Cor. 10:3-5). Don’t be duped by the devil or world’s “enlightened” philosophies, Pilgrim. His Word is Truth. Rest and rely on it/Him.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated October 2, 2010
