The Holy Nation

Sanctify them in the truth;
Your word is truth. John 17:17

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;
and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete,
without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23

Such were some of you; but you were washed,
but you were sanctified, but you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11




Have you been sanctified?
Are you Pure; and Holy; and Justified?


Okay, what does that mean; and why do we need to know? Well this verse: “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” is from the prayer Jesus prayed for you and me, shortly before He went to be crucified. Doesn’t it make sense that since Jesus prayed for each of us, that we should understand what His prayer means, and what He is leading us to do?

This can get pretty heavy so let’s look into the dictionary so that nobody can accuse me of being legalistic, prideful, ungodly, or a hypocrite. Sanctify means: to make holy; to free from sin; purify; to declare or render (something) productive of or conductive to holiness, blessing, or grace; to sanction (an action or practice) as religiously binding, such as: to sanctify a marriage.

For most of us, these are the definitions we would have given to the question: What is holy; but would we normally apply these definitions to describe ourselves? I don’t think so. When was the last time you called yourself holy? Well, from a human perspective, most of us would say that this would be prideful and blasphemous. But from a biblical perspective, you are holy … from the moment you were justified and purified by the blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

In fact; if you look at all of those secular dictionary definitions, they all apply to those who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. You are becoming more like God day by day and less attached to the world. If as a Christian this is not true, then something is wrong in your walk. What is the problem? Well the verse says: “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” This is the problem with many Christians. If we choose to not be transformed by the renewing of our mind, in our flesh we will remain a person who is conformed to the world rather than one who is transformed. With many of us the world and its priorities have remained our priorities. Some are playing Christianity and others have turned away from God and His Truth. We cannot judge others, but each of us knows whether we have renewed our mind and are sanctified by the truth of God’s Word or not.

Are you saved? Have you trusted Christ, or are you using Christianity and Jesus Christ when it’s convenient? Only you and God know these answers for sure. Ask yourself the hard questions and then either repent and totally surrender to Christ and His Word. If you are not a Christian, it is time to ask Jesus for forgiveness and receive His free gift of eternal life. The days are short. What do you think these earthquakes and wars throughout the Arab countries are all about? These are not strange coincidences. The days are short. Now … renew your mind and become Holy as you become transformed by leading of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Truth of God’s Word. It is time for you to become an ambassador for Christ with a ministry of reconciliation. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
2 Corinthians 5: 20-21

Now let’s take a quick look at what Clarke’s Commentary has to say about this verse: Thy word is truth - All that thou hast spoken - that is, all that is contained in the Bible. All the commands and promises of God; His representations of His own character and that of man; His account of the mission and death of His Son; of the grave, the resurrection, judgment, and eternity, all tend to represent things as they are, and are thus fitted to sanctify the soul. We have here also the testimony of the Savior that the revelation which God has given is true. All that God has spoken is true, and the Christian should rejoice and the sinner should tremble.

And here is God’s description of His Word that will purify us and make us Holy. “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:7-14.

Do you still think that you are not Holy? Well then, do you believe you are justified, past tense? This is either God’s Truth or it is not. If not, I have no use for the Bible or Christianity … whatsoever. Let’s go to a good science fiction movie instead. “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

I’m not good enough to be Holy, you say? I couldn’t agree more. None of us are good enough. Only by the Blood of Jesus sacrificed for our sins at Calvary can we be Holy. His Word tells us we are sanctified, pure and holy and that when we were saved and justified, we became a citizen of this Holy Nation at that moment: “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

You are either a member of this Holy Nation; or you are not.
Which is it? The choice is yours … get it right. BE HOLY!

Here are some more Truths about your holiness. There are hundreds of these Truths that you need to look into so that you may become the righteousness of Christ in Him; and more clearly understand who you are, and then stand on these Truths. Here are a few. Meditate, repeat, and memorize them; morning, noon and night. BE HOLY!

But, like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior. 1 Peter 1:15

So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:8

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 1:20

Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach Colossians 1:22

I could spend many words going into explanation of these verses, but that is not necessary. God’s Word of Truth is easy to understand with the guidance of the Holy Spirit who dwells within you. Do you really think that God would send the Holy Spirit to forever abide with you and be in you … if you were not HOLY? Think about it: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17.You are Holy! BE HOLY!

You are either a member of this Holy Nation; or you are not.
Which is it? The choice is yours … get it right.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Thessalonians 5:23
Be justified; Be sanctified; Be pure; Be the righteousness of God in Him; …. Be Holy!
God Bless you my friends, Bob