The Word that Sanctifies Us

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17: 14-19).

How did Jesus give God’s word to His disciples? In word and deed Jesus was consecrated and sanctified for the ministry of sharing God’s word with the disciples… “For their sake I consecrate myself”. The word translated “consecrate” is the very same word translated “sanctified” in the same sentence… “That they also may be sanctified in truth”. It is the Greek word transliterated hagiazō and it means to hallow, make holy, purify, venerate, consecrate, or sanctify. Jesus fully expected that as He set His life apart by embodying the very word of God through His words and actions, the truth of God’s word would penetrate the hearts and transform the minds of His disciples, and as they embraced God’s truth they too would be set apart from the rest of the world just as He was… “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world”. In this discourse Jesus reveals truth about the word that sanctifies us.

What was Jesus truly consecrated and set apart from? On the surface, it is obvious that Jesus was set apart from the physical, temporal world. He was virgin born… “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). He lived a holy life above and untouched by the sin and temptation of this rebellious world… “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

There is truth in God’s word that can empower truth embracing disciples to fulfill the expectations of the Savior by living a consecrated and sanctified life just as He did. First, we too have a supernatural birth… “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). While we are not begotten of God like Jesus is, we are born of the Holy Spirit like He was at His incarnation… “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Second, God’s word reveals truth that gives us victory over sin. Yes, we often lose the battle and succumb to temptation, but when we repent Jesus offers forgiveness and cleansing that leads to increasing victory over the sin of this world… “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). And one day we will enjoy ultimate and complete victory over sin because we will be like Him… “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Now for the deeper truth... Jesus was not only set apart from this temporal world, He willingly consecrated Himself from something far greater. Jesus set Himself apart from heaven. He left the comfort, perfection, beauty, and glory of heaven to come into our world. We too are citizens of heaven… “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). But truth-embracing disciples are called to imitate Christ by leaving the comfort of our sometimes church filled and controlled lives to enter into the troubled lives of others in order to reveal God’s truth in our words and deeds… “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Sometimes we are called to imitate Christ in revealing God’s glory by letting go of our comfortable life and clinging to His truth through suffering as He did at Calvary… “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13). Embracing God’s truth sets us apart for His work.

As we grow up into Christ we are more available to share His truth and glory as we are set apart by…

The Word that Sanctifies Us.