SANCTIFICATION

"For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb10:14)

Devotion 12 of 16

OUR ROLE IN SANCTIFICATION
Abstinence from moral impurities

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication" (1 Thess 4:3). For our generation, this is a very timely word! We have witnessed a lapse in moral standards even among the professed people of God. It is not unusual to hear of "ministers" falling into immorality. "Elders" and other assembly leaders are often reported to be guilty of fornication. Such individuals are out of the will of God, and in jeopardy of damnation. The word of Jesus to this generation is, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt 10:28). Those who elect to give in to the pressures of a decadent society are not far from eternal judgement!

In a time when the church prefers to listen to psychological jargon, there are far too many attempts to explain immorality, and a failure to be sanctified by abstaining from fornication. There are no satisfactory explanations for involvement in immorality. In salvation delivered from such things, because it simply is not possible to inherit eternal life and remain in them. God's Word is clear on this matter. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor 6:9-11, NKJV). These words are to be taken seriously, and will not be retracted. Further, woe to the person who has been delivered from such things, only to return to them.

Our bodies belong to Christ! That is the express word of God. "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid" (1 Cor 6:15). Note the unreasonableness of fornication. Such people have taken what belongs to Christ and given it to an harlot. That is a serious rebuke. Yet, it is heard little today while fornication has become common.

"That every one of you should know to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor" (1 Thess 4:4). We are dealing with personal purity. None are excluded! Not men, not women, not young people! Further, it is taken for granted that a general understanding of purity exists. if it does not, it is the church's business to clearly define it from God's Word.

This is sanctification from our perspective, and it is to be taken seriously. In the matter of life and godliness, nothing is really learned until we learn this: how to keep under our bodies, bringing them into subjection (1 Cor 9:27). This is not a popular message, but it is a necessary one. Young people must learn this truth, and learn it well. The contemporary approaches to sexual impurity that focus on the dangers of disease and psychological disorders is completely out of order. There is no way to make fornication "safe." It puts one "in danger of hell fire" (Matt 5:22). No person is useful to God that is involved in this sin. They may maintain positions in the church, but they are alienated from God. They are NOT to be countenanced under the fleshly veil of sympathy and concern. God speaks plainly to us on the matter. "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; not even to eat with such a person" (1 Cor 5:11). Take that word seriously, and God will take you seriously, undergirding your personal sanctification.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Christ, I ask for grace and strength to be personally pure in Your eyes.

-- TOMORROW: SET THE LORD APART IN YOUR HEART --