Sanctify Them Through Your Truth (08/06/2000)

Sanctification as God’s Work in John 17

Turn with me to John chapter 17. I want to speak to you this morning about purifying yourselves. Would you turn the volume down just a hair Greg? Just just a little bit. Thank you. Now after what happened in Sunday school, I want to be careful now to define our terms.

We're gonna talk about in time a while today in time planet Earth. Sequence and we're walking a walk and Talk with brother Otis and some of the rest of you just coffee and different things and and it seems to me that We're gonna have sequence even in eternity future if that makes any sense.

Because God's created us that way but I want to talk to you about a couple of Verses here in John chapter 17. Let's read them together first and then we'll Discuss it. Let's look at. Let's start with verse 16 and just read a couple.

Let's start with verse 14 and read down through 17 John chapter 17 verse 14. Remember this entire chapter is a prayer. It's the Lord Jesus Christ praying to the Father the whole chapter. And he says 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. Now in verse 17, that's our main verse. We're looking at this morning sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Just in the grammar of that sentence. Would you say that this is something that you do to yourself or for God?

Or would you say this is something that God does in you and to us and in us? Which is it? Who is Jesus praying to? The Father and what is he asking the Father to do? To sanctify them which the them is us and so.

If you don't believe that's us turn that turn the page there. Let me show you something. Look at verse 20. There's probably no passage of Scripture that is more clearly written to all of us than this passage.

Because verse 20 says neither pray I for these alone. In other words the believers that were with him that day. But for them also which shall believe on me through their word that takes it all the way out to us this morning.

Doesn't it? And so what did Jesus ask the Father to do to us? To set us aside to sanctify us and. So this is a fact that out of all the scriptures in the Bible that discuss this topic nine out of ten of the times It will speak of it as something that God does to us.

This morning I'm going to talk to you about that 10th time. Because there are some verses in the Bible where it speaks as a command to God or from God to us and he tells us to sanctify ourselves and. That's what I want to talk about this morning.

But I want you to keep in mind that really as we discuss from a theological point of view the idea of sanctification. It is something that God does to us. So it is interesting to study these few little verses that Seem to be as if God is telling us to sanctify ourselves and see how that fits in his whole plan.

So that's what we aim to do this morning. First the let me give you a couple of Greek definitions for the word sanctification. It comes from the Greek word hagi odds, oh. Which means to make holy? So that in itself shows us that it's something God does to us.

He makes us Holy, it means to purify or consecrate but it comes from a another Greek word a root word high eos, which means an Awful thing as that peculiar an Awful thing in the sense of an awesome thing.

And so this holiness that God Gives up to us positionally at the point of salvation. But then through sanctification begins to build into us is truly an awesome thing. Because it comes from God. So it carries the meaning of sacred physically pure morally blameless or religiously consecrated all in one word.

Now we can look at a couple of related Hebrew terms as we look at this word used in the Old Testament and then sometimes what we can do is look at the the Old Testament Septuagint which is written in Greek that particular translation and so we can see what Greek words they use to in exchange for certain Hebrew words but a couple of the Hebrew words that are used to talk about sanctification one of them is cog which means a festival or the victim that's used in the feast and then another Keyword in the Hebrew is called Gog which means to move in a circle.

Specifically to march in a sacred procession to observe a festival by implication to be giddy. Now, what does it mean to be giddy? Maybe I should ask brother Russ since he's a Jewish believer. What were the Hebrews doing when they were being giddy?

I Should have told you beforehand so you'd have a little better answer. No, no. Say it again. Leave the part about the wine out because we are Baptist. But what was the other part? Not a break dance, but so they were in a circle.

Dancing in a circle and they were giddy. Celebrating. What do you suppose they were celebrating? This sanctification because it's the same word if you want to say sanctify in Hebrew you say Dance in a circle and be giddy.

Why would they be so giddy about being sanctified. Because you defined it as being set apart. Set apart from the entire world. Set apart from everything else in God's creation. Unto God. What a wonderful thing it carries the connotation of being set apart for God's use and.

So we come to John chapter 17 in verse 17 and Jesus prays and says sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Now notice the connection there with the Word of God. Because What we're going to see as we continue our study this morning is that God uses certain means it is God who sanctifies us, but he uses certain means to accomplish that and.

So I haven't seen him lately right in the sky with an airplane or with his finger either one and say I'm here do what? I say be different than everybody else. He doesn't do it that way. He uses means now.

He might do it that way tomorrow. So I'm not saying he can't. They really make me look terrible. Wouldn't it fall the sudden we looked up there and I'm here. But there are means that he uses now, let's look at a couple of these things first of all look at John chapter.

Verse 19. We're in chapter 17, but let's go to verse 19. Jesus says and for their sakes I sanctify myself. That they also might be sanctified through the truth and in verse 17 If you remember it said sanctify them through thy truth.

Thy word is truth as if we needed to have a definition of what truth was we do need to understand it's his word. So the first means that God uses to sanctify us his children is the Word of God. Now a little bit later when we get to some of these verses where he tells us to sanctify ourselves.

Do you think then that that might be telling us get in the word more? The more you get in the word the more this means will be used as a means to make you different from the world and. So the Word of God is a great tool that God uses to sanctify us in Acts chapter 20 and verse 32.

Don't need to turn to that one because I'm gonna read right through it quickly. But it says and now brethren I commend you to God and to the Word. I Commend you to the Word of God to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and in an Ephesians chapter 5 in verse 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it meaning the bride of Christ the church with the washing of the water.

By the Word. Now what is the end if that's the means if the means is the Word of God in this case? What is the end verse 27 says that he might present it in the church to himself a glorious church? Not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish.

I'm gonna steal. I hope I don't steal one of brother Otis's future studies. But I want you to notice something in verse 27. That he might present it to himself. You know how we spend so much time talking about the fact that God chose us for himself before the foundation of the world.

Why did he do it Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 6 says? Not because we were anything. In fact, he said I chose Israel not because they're the greatest nation because they're the most nothing is what the Hebrew says.

They are the most nothing. I Chose them because I had already loved them. It's in the past tense. I had already loved them from the beginning. But there is a step that goes beyond that and that is seen very clearly here in verse 27 that he might present it to himself a glorious church.

He loves himself, too. Did you know that then one reason I had a slight advantage and I hate to admit this since he's cool this morning I knew now we Otis and I had not discussed the topic that was under discussion but we had talked about this idea a little bit and I was sitting there thinking about that and What I'm thinking is God did not Bring us to himself because of anything in us.

He brought us to himself for the same reason you had children now. Think about it a minute. Did you have children for the children or did you have children because you wanted to. Now be honest about it.

Did you do that for them or for you? That's right, that's why I had children and Five of them at that like to have had five more. My dad says no stop. But I did that for me because I love babies. Just I'm probably one of the only guys that there may be a few other but most guys like them when they get up like About three where they can talk to them.

I like them before they talk. I mean, I like the babies the baby stage. I like them after they talk a little bit. But Father we're going at all man. Don't talk so much. I'll cure them. But you know what if that's true, what is wrong with God having children because he wants to for himself and he says that this whole process of sanctification is that he might present something to himself.

It doesn't say for us. Doesn't say so that we might be happy and rich and prosperous. Now Those may be byproducts of some of this if God wills. But it's not the predominant purpose. The prominent purpose is for himself.

Isn't that beautiful to see? He birthed us because He wanted us for himself. Now the second means of sanctification. Let's look at Matthew 23 19 go ahead and turn to that one. I want you to think about this a moment.

It gets into some of the Old Testament Sacrifices and some of the types that we can see in those sacrifice some of the things we can learn. From what was going on all throughout that time period? Matthew 23 19 Jesus is correcting.

That's a nice way to put what he's doing because he says you fools and blind is how he starts his sentence. Correcting them. He's whooping on him actually. But he's correcting these Pharisees because they're not understanding the very things they're doing.

And he says you fools and blind what? For whether is greater the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift. They had everything turned around Backwards, but Jesus is saying it's the altar that sanctifies the gift.

When you lay the gift on that altar that had already been sprinkled with what? Forever ever since the whole process started and had been cleansed and sprinkled with the blood. Then when you lay the new gift on that altar the altar sanctifies the gift immediately before it's offered and That's what Jesus was teaching now.

Let's look at Hebrews 10 and verse 10 because the second means that God uses to sanctify us is He places us upon the altar and the altar is that which sanctifies us. But what is our altar in? Hebrews chapter 10 verse 10 by the which will we are Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

For by one offering he hath perfected forever. Them that are sanctified now turn forward to Hebrews 13 in verse 10. And it ties this in and tells us that his body is the altar. Upon which the blood was sprinkled and the blood was his as well.

So his body is our altar and his blood is the blood of the offering. Hebrews 13 10 we have an altar. Where are they that means that those Judaizers who were? Maintaining that they need to keep doing the law.

They have no right to eat. Which serve the tabernacle? For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood suffered outside the gate.

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. The first means of sanctification is the Word of God. The second means is the very body of Jesus Christ and his blood and that's what we call positional sanctification.

Because it's a done thing. You are sanctified forever. You are preserved forever because of the blood and his body and the fact that. As we'll see if you'll turn to Acts chapter 26 and verse 18 that the third way, of course.

It ties in with this and also in 1st Corinthians 1 2, we'll see that we are in Christ. But acts 26 18 says to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light. Sometimes it seems like quite often in the morning when brother Russell comes in to pray with me before the Service and all of all of you men are welcome to come in if you'd like.

But Russell is always there and I appreciate that. It's a strength to me, but it seems like very often It'll come to my mind. Where would we be? Without a Bible without the written Word. Where would we be.

What kind of darkness if there had never been a revelation from God at all and imagine the darkness and This says to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan and to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and Inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith.

That is in me. So a third means of sanctification is faith. God gives us faith as a gift. Whose faith does he actually give us? The faith of Jesus Christ and This acts to sanctify us. I think of this idea of the Word of God and not having it in the book that I just have read about William Carey the father of modern missions I Stated last week that he translated the Bible into I think I said, what did I say 11?

Languages or so. Actually, he translated into parts of the Bible 44 languages. Not the whole Bible, but at least part of the Bible into 44 different languages in his lifetime. He only lived to be 72. I think 72 years old now you think about that.

Why did he think that was something he should give his life to? Because he thought about the darkness that they were in in India. He thought about the darkness that they were in in China. He thought about the darkness they were in in Afghanistan and all the different languages that he translated all or part of the Bible into because all of a sudden they had what we Have now whether they made use of it or not, you know it's not in his hands, but he put it out there where they could and then.

So we have the water of the Word. We have the altar of the body and blood of Jesus. We have faith that God has given us all these things are means that God uses to Sanctify us and set us apart and make us more and more like Jesus in this world.

And then the fourth thing is in first Corinthians 1 to unto the Church of God. Which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Jesus Christ and called to be saints so we are placed within the body of Christ and That again gives us this positional sanctification something that we you know.

What we do doesn't have a thing to do with this. This is something God did to us. He placed us in Christ and therefore we are sanctified. He applied his blood as he places on that altar and therefore we are sanctified forever and preserved forever.

And then the fifth thing is the Holy Spirit is a means of sanctification. Look at 1st Corinthians 6 11 and Such were some of you. But you are washed. But you are sanctified. But you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

2nd Thessalonians 2 13 also discusses this that we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. But I want you to turn to 1st Peter 1 2 because this is going to then take us into the next thought. All of the Verses we've looked at certainly have to do with God doing the work in our lives.

Now as you as you find 1st Peter 1 2, I also want you to look at 1st John 3 3. I'm going to read that one first and we're going to think about 1st Peter 1 2. 1st John 3 3 says and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.

That's the first place. We've looked at where it's. It's written as though we do something to ourselves. We purify ourselves and I'll tell you this the Greek word that was translated purifying that verse is the same word for sanctify.

Exactly the same word. In fact, it could have easily been translated sanctify sanctifies himself. Even as God is pure. So I want us to think about that for a little bit this morning. What can this mean if it is a work of God in our life?

Then how can God turn around and command us to purify ourselves and let's look at 1st Peter 1 2 because it really brings the two together and our I should say it launches us out into this other thought of Us walking in time in our life on this planet and God commanding us to sanctify ourselves.

1st Peter 1 2 begins to speak about what God does to us, but then it goes in and points out where we're headed here elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit.

Unto obedience and I want you to kind of underline that in your mind at least if not in your Bible this phrase unto obedience. And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ graced unto you and peace be multiplied.

Notice that the Bible says that we are elect Through sanctification of the Spirit. So this is the means by which God brings us to actually to know that we're his own. He brings us to the place of salvation.

Just like the Apostle Paul on the Damascus Road was not going out looking to be a Christian. Was he? Furthest thing from his mind. He was not looking to be one he was looking for some Christians so that he could slaughter them and he was not seeking Jesus and he would never put a bumper sticker on his Chariot that said I found God or I found Jesus.

What he would say is Jesus found me, you know and so it's through sanctification and It goes on and says through sanctification of the Spirit, but look at the next phrase unto obedience. So part of the result of the sanctifying work of God in our lives is unto obedience on our part.

Now it begins to create a little cycle if you think about it because what happens is we are saved by God. Salvation is of the Lord. He gives us birth because he wants to and we're born in this world. It has nothing to do with what we do or what we would have done or what he could have seen that we would have.

Done and it may be for another study someday. You might even note that first Peter 1 2 where it says elect according to foreknowledge of God. Election is not really according to foreknowledge and we'll prove that at a later date.

But what's interesting about it is he says it's unto obedience. So we have God Sanctifying us fulfilling a sanctifying work through the Word of God through the Holy Spirit of God through the altar in the blood of Jesus Christ and We see that he comes in and he gives us this gift of faith and that begins to sanctify us and we were in Christ.

We're in the body of Christ and because of that we are sanctified and now in the middle of this He says it is unto obedience. And so we then are able to obey God for the first time. You see children are not born because they call out from the womb and say mom.

I'll obey you if you'll give birth to me. They're born because the mom and dad want the birth and. They are born because the mom and dad caused that to happen. But you know what when they're born into this world it presents then the possibility of obedience, doesn't it?

It also presents the possibility of disobedience from time to time. But it gives the chance for obedience for the first time and that's the same way with salvation now it is God who sanctifies us. Jude 1 clearly says Jude the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to them who are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called and.

Yet there are many verses in the Bible where he tells us to sanctify ourselves. Let me give you a couple of those. Let's think about it for a minute in Numbers chapter 6 and verse 12 He says he shall consecrate unto the Lord the days of his separation.

This is talking about the Nazarite vow. So God commanded them to consecrate their days unto the Lord in 1st Chronicle 29 5 through 8. It says and who then is willing to consecrate now this word consecrate is like a synonym of the word Sanctify so we're talking about the same thing who then is willing to consecrate his service this day into the Lord so it talks about God telling them to consecrate their service and.

Then in Leviticus 11 44, he says for I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves and ye shall be holy for I am holy. So now he talks about their time and their service now. He says give your whole self to me.

Sanctify yourself to me. God commands them to sanctify Themselves. Joshua 3 5 it says in Joshua said unto the people Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow. The Lord will do wonders Among you if you want to see God do wonders then God's Commands us to sanctify ourselves.

Why do you think it is that in so many church services across the country today where the Word of God is truly being preached? That you don't see wonders happening. You don't see the power of God come down in the sense that people sense his presence so much that some weep and some laugh and Some fall on their faces now that happens from time to time even here.

Last Sunday was a good example. But why is it that sometimes you don't see that in a church ever? I mean some of you may be like me and you were a member of a church for years where you never saw it happen.

Not one time. Not one time it ever happened. Why? Well, God says to Joshua have the people sanctify themselves and then they'll see God do wonders. So that gives us a hint doesn't it in Second Chronicles 29 34, but the priests were too few.

So that they could not flay all the burnt offerings. Wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them till the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified Themselves for the Levites were more listen to this.

They were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests were. Now this is Second Chronicles 29. You might want to make note of it verse 34. It's a very fascinating passage. Now You go on to the next chapter of Second Chronicles 30 in verse 3 for they could not keep it at that time.

They couldn't keep the Passover when it was time for the Passover because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently. Neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. They were disobedient to the Lord and then in verse 15, then they killed the Passover later it says on the 14th day of the second month and the priest and the Levites were ashamed and Sanctified themselves and brought in the burnt offerings.

Why were they ashamed? Because they did the Passover. What month later than they were supposed to because they weren't ready when it was time to do it and they were ashamed. They had not sanctified themselves.

Now, let me ask you this was God at work in their life sanctifying them. You better believe that he was. But Had they sanctified themselves? No, the obedience that is supposed to be a response to God's work in our lives and in their lives was not there.

And they had not performed this in the New Testament. There are several places where it speaks of this. 2nd Timothy 2 21 if a man therefore purge himself from these. Purge himself notice the phrase doesn't say if you let God purge you from these it says if you'll purge yourself from these He shall be a vessel unto honor.

Sanctified and fit for the master's use and prepared for every good work. So I have to ask the question would we prepare be prepared for every work today on this day? Right now as we sit before God, are we prepared to meet God and worship today?

Because We have purged ourselves From everything that's unclean. We have even purged ourselves from brothers who are unruly. It's really what the context is in this one are from the lost. Are we unequally yoked together in certain areas of our life or have we obeyed God in that area?

And are we like the priests who are ashamed and say I have not sanctified myself. I'm not ready to meet God today. I'm gonna have to wait till next week. We'll wait till next Sunday, I'll be ready next Sunday, but man, I'm ashamed and Then James 4 8 says draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you cleanse your hands.

He centers and purify your hearts you double-minded. He commands us to purify our hearts and then we come back to first John 3 3 that we read earlier and every man. It hath this hope in him purifieth himself.

Even as God the Lord Jesus is pure same word for as the word translated into sanctify. Now I'd like for you to turn to first Peter chapter 1 in verse 22. Remember in first Peter 1 in verse 2 it tied in the work of God of Sanctification with this fact that he says it leads to obedience on our part and when we move into that area I think we're in the area of where we're supposed to be sanctifying ourselves we're supposed to be taking advantage of the means that God gives such as his word and to study the word and to meditate upon the word and To sanctify ourselves.

First Peter 1 22 seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth now notice the grammar here. You have purified your soul. So this is a different teaching than the positional sanctification that God does to us.

Some scholars call this experiential Sanctification or some of them call it experimental which it means something you're doing in time in your life. It's something that you're doing. It's something you're living.

You're not just being hearers of the word. You're being doers of the word and so this Experiential sanctification means something that you are doing in your life seeing that you have purified your souls.

You purified your soul and obeying the truth. But you know what God does in the next phrase. He brings us right back to the fact that there is no way you could do that. In and of yourselves because he says through the Spirit and that amazing.

So even as God commands us to sanctify ourselves He gives us the means by which to do it. Which is the Holy Spirit of God which lives within us the sanctifying Holy Spirit of God. Seeing you have purified your souls and obeying the truth.

Through the Spirit unto unfeigned love, etc, etc. Well, let me have you turn to Isaiah chapter 37 and verse 30. Now it really helps to understand the context of this passage before we read the verses.

This is a time when the king of Assyria had vowed and even written a letter To the nation of Israel and said we are going to destroy you and we've destroyed every other nation. We've come across and He said don't believe your God.

The letter literally said do not believe your God who has promised to save you and then he names all the other nations and their Gods and said did any of their gods save them? That's found in as in Isaiah chapter 37 starting with verse 10.

He's literally says let not thy God in whom thou trust deceive you saying Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria and Especially don't listen to the Prophet who said you won't be.

He's lying and he's saying I will come and destroy you. You know that one of the greatest things the enemy uses in our lives is fear. He uses fear in our lives all the time. He tempts us to act as if God is a deceiver when he tells us he'll take care of us.

He then comes into verse 11 of chapter 37 gives many Examples of others who have fallen and you'll find your mind from time to time going towards other human beings that you know in your walk of life.

Who have quote fallen from good graces with the Lord or who have given in or have turned back the other way? And it brings doubt in your own heart about yourself sometimes and this is what's happening here.

This is one of the things that the enemy does. Well what Isaiah did and what has actually what Hezekiah did the king in verse 14? Was he took this evil letter this evil message from the enemy? And it says in Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord.

That's the best thing to do with your fear is just spread it before the Lord. Now notice we learn some things from this prayer in verse 15 and Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord saying now notice Who he prays to?

Oh Lord of hosts God of Israel that dwellest between the cherubims. Thou art the God even thou alone of all the kingdoms of the earth. Thou has made heaven and earth. He prays to God who dwells between the cherubims.

Who is that the Father the Son or the Holy Spirit? That's the Father. That's who we ought to pray to. I've heard people before I've even heard preachers teach you ought to pray the Holy Spirit sometimes and The Bible says pray to the Father.

You know, the Holy Spirit always points to the Lord Jesus Christ. He never points to himself and Jesus. Who did he point to? The Father. And We pray to the Father and this is shown very clearly here. But we need to realize that when the enemy attacks he is really attacking God.

Look at verse 17. He says Lord incline thine ear O Lord and hear open thine eyes O Lord. And see and hear all the words of Sennacherib which hath sent to reproach the living God. Now Sennacherib Was talking real ugly about God's people and about God's prophets and about the king of Israel.

But really who was he reproaching? God himself. So when the enemy attacks you don't be so prideful as to think he's really attacking you because he's really attacking God. Can Satan do anything to God?

Well, let me ask you this if you had a choice between Dying today in a car wreck or having one of your children killed in a car wreck. Which would you choose? Mm-hmm. Yourself, so if I could attack one of your children Would I attack you.

And that's what the enemy does. He's he could care less about you or me. He wants to get God. He hates God. He hates God with a passion. If it means he has to destroy one of God's children and their whole families or try to do so.

Then he will do so because that's really as far as he can go, isn't it? But that's his attempt and. So we need to realize that when the enemy's attacking he's really attacking God. Therefore whose battle is it.

That's right recognize that the reason others have failed also as. The enemy came and brought up all these kings who have fallen before him because their gods didn't help them. The very reason they fell is because they were trusting other gods.