How does understanding Jesus' sanctification impact our pursuit of holiness today? Key Verse: Jesus Outside the Camp “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to sanctify the people by His own blood.” (Hebrews 13:12) The Meaning of “Sanctify” in This Verse • To sanctify (hagiazō) literally means “to set apart as holy.” • Jesus’ own blood, shed outside Jerusalem’s walls, is the decisive, once-for-all means by which God legally declares His people holy. • The action is completed; its effects continue. What Jesus Accomplished for Us • Hebrews 10:10 – “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” • Hebrews 10:14 – “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” • 1 Corinthians 6:11 – “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Taken together: 1. Our position is settled—holy and accepted. 2. Our identity has changed—no longer common but consecrated. 3. Our confidence rests in His finished work, not in our fluctuating efforts. Why This Shapes Daily Holiness 1. Assurance fuels obedience. • Colossians 1:22 – Because He already “presents you holy,” you can tackle sin from victory, not for victory. 2. Union with Christ means death to the old self. • Romans 6:6 – Our “old self was crucified with Him,” freeing us from slavery to sin. 3. Holiness becomes relational, not merely behavioral. • John 17:19 – Jesus “sanctify[ies] Himself” so we share His set-apart life. Practical Ways to Walk in the Sanctification Granted • Abide near the cross – Keep Hebrews 13:12 in view; gratitude propels purity. • Stay “outside the camp” with Him – Be willing to bear reproach, resist cultural compromise, and embrace distinctiveness (Hebrews 13:13). • Pursue moral purity – 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “It is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality.” • Saturate your mind with Scripture – Ephesians 5:26 – He cleanses “by the washing with water through the word.” • Cultivate corporate holiness – Encourage and admonish fellow believers; holiness is a community project (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Endure hardship as discipline – God refines those He has already declared holy (Hebrews 12:10-11). Supporting Passages That Echo the Theme • 1 Peter 1:15-16 – “Be holy, because I am holy.” • Ephesians 5:25-27 – Christ’s love purifies His church “to present her to Himself…holy and blameless.” • 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “Let us purify ourselves…perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Summary: Resting and Running Because Jesus literally sanctified us by His blood outside the gate, we rest in a completed status and run after practical holiness with confidence. The once-for-all act empowers the ongoing pursuit. Holding both truths together keeps us from despair on one side and complacency on the other, forming a life that is both secure in grace and zealous for godliness. |
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