Tag: Holy

Jesus Prayed: Be Sanctified

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

John 17:13-19 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

‘Out of the world’ – He does not pray for them to die and leave the world, nor seclude themselves in deserts or separate themselves from the world in communities and monasteries to escape temptation, but to live as lights and examples of God in the world (Matt. 5:16; Php. 2:15; Tit. 2:11-14; 1Cor. 5:10) and not to love the things of the world or socialize with worldly people (1 Cor. 5:9-13; 1 Pet. 4:3-4; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; 2 Jn. 1:9-11).

‘Sanctify’ the Greek word hagiazo which means to separate from a profane to a sacred use; to consecrate yourself wholly to God and His service. The primary meaning is separation, not making holy. It means to make holy only when the person or thing sanctified needs to be cleansed from sin or defilement in order to be fit to be separated unto God and His service. Material things such as a day (Gen. 2:3); the tabernacle (Ex. 29:43-44); clothes (Lev. 8:30); houses (Lev. 27:9-29); or the temple (2Chron. 7:16-20) must be cleansed from all defilement in order to be fit to be presented to God for His holy uses. God’s name (Ezek. 36:23); God (1Pet. 3:15); Christ (John 10:36; 17:19); or the already cleansed disciples (John 13:10; 15:3; 17:2, 6, 14, 16) need not be cleansed from sin.

‘As thou has sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world’ – this being sent as God had sent Him applies to all disciples, for Christ is not praying “for these alone, but for them also which belief on Christ through their word” (Matt. 28:20; Mark 16:15-20; John 14:12; 20:21). This ‘sent into the world’ is to do whatever one chooses as their calling in life and then to daily implement the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:10-18) and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, so that wherever we go on a day-to-day basis our ‘walking’ will demonstrate a life in Christ (1 Pet. 2:21-23) so that others will be drawn unto Him.

‘I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.’ Jesus separated Himself unto God to do His will, even unto death, so that all disciples may benefit through His salvation for them and be sanctified continually as they get to know the Word (1Jn. 1:7; Eph. 5:26).

Do Not Conform To This World

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom. 12:2 KJV

Note the two commands of this verse: We are warned not to conform to this world and THEN to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Conform is the Greek word suschematizo (GSN-<G4964>) and means to conform to another’s example.  The warning here is to not follow that which is in the world, to go after their example.  As Christians or followers of Christ, we are to follow in His example and in His footsteps:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps 1Pet. 2:21

When we conform to this world, Eph. 2:2 we are representing all that it stands for and can thus not represent Christ – we cannot serve two masters! Mt. 6:24; Lk. 16:13 Satan is the god of this world 2Cor. 4:4; Jn. 12:31 and we follow him when we conform to it as we love the things thereof. Col. 2:8 Our God is not in this world and if we love the things of the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – we are not serving Him and are not doing His will!

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that do the will of God abide forever. 1 John 2:15-17 KJV

Our second commandment is to be transformed – the Greek word metamorphoo (GSN-<G3339>) which means to be transformed or transfigured by a supernatural change – by the renewing of our minds – as we think upon the things that were given to us by God in His Word – we are continuously being renewed Tit. 3:5; 2Cor. 4:16; Col. 3:10; Heb. 6:6; Eph. 4:23 and this enable us to confirm what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is!  There are six things that constitute to this acceptable and perfect will of God:

  1. To present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God 12:1; 1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:20
  2. To make the body holy 12:1; 2Cor. 7:1
  3. To make the self acceptable to God 12:1
  4. To render reasonable service 12:1
  5. To not be conformed to the world 12:2
  6. To be transformed from the world 12:2

I will present my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is my reasonable service. And I will not conform to this world, but will be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may confirm what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Having on the Breastplate

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

… having on the breastplate of righteousness Eph. 6:14b KJV 

Continuing on the armor of God that we are commanded to put on to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might; we are also commanded to have on the breastplate of righteousness – covering our vital organs, we need to always ‘be in right standing’ with God.  Romans 6:13-20 describe this instruction clearly:

Neither yield you 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.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.

A RIGHTEOUS MAN is dead to sin and freed of it; Rom. 6 a new creature 2 Cor. 5:17-18 and has crucified the flesh; Gal. 5:24 imitates Christ Php. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21-22; 1 Jn. 2:6 confesses Him Rom. 10:9-10 and are His servants, Eph. 6:6 and the servants of righteousness. Rom. 6:19  He is holy and without blame, Eph. 1:4 kind and tender hearted, forgiving and merciful Eph. 4:32; Ps. 37:21 patient and longsuffering, Col. 1:11 prayerful. 1 Tim. 2:1-4  A righteous man hates lying Prov. 13:5 abhors wickedness Ps. 101:3-4 quits evil Isa. 1:16-17 sows, Hos. 10:12; Gal. 6:8 seeks Matt. 6:33  follows Heb. 12:14 and hungers for righteousness. Matt. 5:6

I choose to be like a tree planted, cultivated, and well-watered; that bring forth fruit in season; my leaves shall not wither; and whatsoever I do, I shall prosper! Ps. 1:3 Cleanse me from secret faults and keep me back from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD. Ps. 19:12-14