Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Authenticity of the Word of God

St. John 17: 17 - 26

Vs.17 -19: Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes, I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

The root word for sanctify in Hebrew is “to be Holy, set apart to and for a sacred purpose”. Jesus sanctified himself as in John 17:19 because he alone was qualified for the whole work of redemption.

There is a further meaning in the use of the word sanctify in reference to man, because of the presence of sin, of evil, in man, and in the world, this word not only means separation TO a sacred and holy purpose but separation FROM that which is sinful and evil as in 2 Corinthians 7:1

There are twofold aspects of being sanctified

  1. We are positionally sanctified and 
  2. We are progressively sanctified

Hebrews 10 verses 10 and14 talks about positional sanctification - we have BEEN sanctified because what Christ has done is positional, because of what Christ has done for us, and because we have accepted him as our Lord and Savior.

The second is BEING sanctified which is a continuous and daily process and should be progressive to be conformed to the image of Christ who is the Truth and the Word of God, and this can happen only if we totally yield ourselves to him. Progressive sanctification is a process that we need to do intently every day every moment.

For the world to know the authenticity of the Word of God, we need to provide proof of this sanctification by living in unity as in John 17:21-22, also seen in 1 Corinthians 12:12, so that the world may see the love of God through us.

Prayer
Lord as you have called us and set us apart, we pray that you will purify us in your Word and help us to completely surrender to you and to submit to one another in love. Amen.

Thought of the Day
 Jesus, Master, whose I am,
Purchased thine alone to be
by thy blood, O spotless Lamb,
shed so willingly for me,
Let my heart be all thine own,
Let me live to thee alone
(Hymn by Frances R Havergal)

Dr. Marina Joseph
Boston

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