Sanctify You Completely
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."
When the church speaks of the sanctification process, it is often with fear and trepidation. The general belief is that the work of sanctification is hard work, ongoing work, and that it requires great sacrifice from the believer. Paul's words here strongly contradict that line of thinking. Here, Paul says that God himself sanctifies the believer, not partially, but completely. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses a person, makes him holy and righteous and able to stand securely before the Lord without fear of judgement and condemnation. And how does Paul describe God in this work? The God of peace, not the angry God or the disappointed God or the demanding God. The God of peace. God fully understands his children, our propensity to sin, and our inability to please him on our own. That is the very reason that the Lord did not give ten more commandments on how to get it right this time or God's list of disciplines that will make the way to heaven. Instead, God the Father chose to send his Son to make the perfect sacrifice for our salvation. The way is made, and the way is clear. In Christ, we are declared righteous, holy, and set apart as God's beloved children.
Paul sought to assure the believers in Thessalonica that they were secure. They were ready for the second coming of Christ. Security and assurance would be found not in what they were doing or would do but in what Jesus had done for them. Paul longed for these believers to rest in their salvation and to delight in that salvation. The Lord's promises were true and trustworthy as the Lord was faithful. He would finish what he started. Rest, peace, assurance, hope - all these things were available to the believers in Thessalonica and are still available to us today.
Reflection:
Are you resting in the salvation that was given to you in Jesus Christ, or are you still trying to earn the love of the Lord, the acceptance of the Lord, and the security of your salvation? The Lord would have you to know that he is the one who is doing a good work in you, and he will continue that work until the end. You are accepted, loved, and perfectly secure in your salvation and sanctification.
When the church speaks of the sanctification process, it is often with fear and trepidation. The general belief is that the work of sanctification is hard work, ongoing work, and that it requires great sacrifice from the believer. Paul's words here strongly contradict that line of thinking. Here, Paul says that God himself sanctifies the believer, not partially, but completely. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses a person, makes him holy and righteous and able to stand securely before the Lord without fear of judgement and condemnation. And how does Paul describe God in this work? The God of peace, not the angry God or the disappointed God or the demanding God. The God of peace. God fully understands his children, our propensity to sin, and our inability to please him on our own. That is the very reason that the Lord did not give ten more commandments on how to get it right this time or God's list of disciplines that will make the way to heaven. Instead, God the Father chose to send his Son to make the perfect sacrifice for our salvation. The way is made, and the way is clear. In Christ, we are declared righteous, holy, and set apart as God's beloved children.
Paul sought to assure the believers in Thessalonica that they were secure. They were ready for the second coming of Christ. Security and assurance would be found not in what they were doing or would do but in what Jesus had done for them. Paul longed for these believers to rest in their salvation and to delight in that salvation. The Lord's promises were true and trustworthy as the Lord was faithful. He would finish what he started. Rest, peace, assurance, hope - all these things were available to the believers in Thessalonica and are still available to us today.
Reflection:
Are you resting in the salvation that was given to you in Jesus Christ, or are you still trying to earn the love of the Lord, the acceptance of the Lord, and the security of your salvation? The Lord would have you to know that he is the one who is doing a good work in you, and he will continue that work until the end. You are accepted, loved, and perfectly secure in your salvation and sanctification.
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