Power to Commit:
Entire Sanctification – Part 2
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28
Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
Yesterday we concluded the devotional with the understanding that God sanctifies us through and through. The Greek word that Paul uses is “holoteles” which literally means perfect, complete in all respects. This is where theologians get the phrase entire sanctification. God’s work of separation from the profane and cleansing from evil is complete in our inner beings!
What does life look like after we make the commitment and God does His thorough work in us? Are we “mini gods”…perfect in all our ways? It is pretty obvious that is not the case in any human being, no matter the level of their commitment. No, the work God does is done where the human eye cannot see. As that work begins to transform our external behavior, others start to see the side effects of God’s work. We and the people around us slowly begin to experience the changes in our lifestyle. The work of God in our inner being happens in a moment of time. The outward evidence of this work takes a lifetime to come to full bloom. Even in a lifetime, we are not perfect in our performance. That will come in heaven when we are glorified. This inner work of God creates perfect and holy intentions and desires, but the flesh still frustrates their full expressions.
Father, thank you for your work in me. Help me to continually grow stronger in the outward expressions of your inner work! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.