SANCTIFICATION

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

Devotion 15 of  16

RESERVED FOR GOD!
God's people
     Those that are in Christ belong to God! They do not belong to the church, nor are they the property of a leader. Sanctification involves the ownership of God. This has been accomplished legally through
Christ's vicarious atonement. It is effectualized, however, through your willing separation from defiling influences. "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Cor 6:16).

     Satan has raised up a false church. He has sought to make it as  nearly like the real thing as possible. He allows for Bible preaching and  teaching, evangelism, and even missions. But he has not been able to  offer spiritual life. His monstrous fabrication is the "Babylon" of the apocalyptic Gospel, Revelation. God's people are commanded to abandon religious pretense. If they do not do so, they will themselves suffer the judgement of God against "the great whore" (Rev 17:1; 9:2). "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev 18:4).

Peculiarly His!
     From the standpoint of sanctification, Jesus "gave Himself" to make us God's own people. "Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). Our purification from sin qualifies us to be the people of God, "the planting of the Lord" (Isa 61:3). A "peculiar people" is not a society with odd traits. The word "peculiar" speaks of uniqueness, not oddity. We are peculiarly His! He has no people beside those in Christ Jesus. They belong exclusively to Him, and His best and most productive work is through them alone. 

     Peter states the case for us. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet 2:9).

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank you for making me Your own in Christ Jesus. In His blessed name, I ask for grace to bring satisfaction to You, as You have brought to me.

-- TOMORROW: THE ROLE OF THE SPIRIT IN SANCTIFICATION --