OUR LORD WHO SANCTIFIES US

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.   

                                - 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 23

The Lord Jesus died to pay for our sins. He died to redeem us. He died to pay our ransom so that we could be released out of the captivity of the kingdom of darkness. This is the beginning of the process.

Our spirits are born again when we believe in the work Jesus did for us and we trust in His willingness and ability to save us.  We are filled with His Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit takes residence in us, a process of turning us into the likeness and pattern of Jesus is now underway.

Our souls and our bodies are to be brought under the Lordship of our God who saved us. As we grow nearer to God by being with Him and serving Him, our minds are renewed and our bodies brought into subjection of the cross of Jesus.  Whatever parts of our sinful selves remain, they are systematically obliterated and what is left of us is a creature who is sanctified by God and who is led exclusively by Spirit of God and no part of us is yielded to the kingdom of darkness to perform the deeds of darkness.

This means that our souls cannot be tricked into participating in evil and our bodies are dead to sin and cannot participate in the activities of darkness.

In this state of sanctification, the Christian is living in Christ and is living for Christ. No selfishness or sinful inclinations have dominance in us such that can be used as platforms to be operated by the kingdom of darkness.

Our God undertakes this work of sanctifying His people and He who began a good work in us will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Bless His holy name.

Amen.