The Treasure Series | SANCTIFIED

We as humans are all about “self improvement.”  The libraries and bookstores are filled with self help books. Whether we are reforming our image, our health, our marriage, our parenting skills, there is within us a need to have an ongoing project designed to make us better.  Good news, God is also in the process of improving our lives.  We call it self improvement, He calls it sanctification.  In Christ, God eliminates that futile, hopeless process of trying and striving to do better to be better.  

For years I didn’t understand the whole idea of the blood of Jesus, what did blood have to do with anything, and then I was challenged to study the purpose and power of blood.  It quietly moves through our bodies cleansing out impurities and bringing life.  It simply sustains us, protects us from “invaders” and gives life giving oxygen, while removing carbon dioxide. And it does it all day long, 24 hours a day.

That visual helped me understand the concept of “the blood of Jesus”.

John tells us in 1 John 7.

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The writer of Hebrews says in chapter 9:14 says

How much more will the blood of Christ . . . cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.

During my research regarding the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all unrighteousness, I “stumbled upon” an amazing video for taking us through a little journey through the Word of God regarding the blood of Jesus.  We have posted it below for your edification.  It is truly a work of art, combining the word of God, beautiful music and amazing scenes of nature.  And all the digging and studying has been done for us.

This brings us to S— SANCTIFICATION in our treasure box.  Because we have been redeemed and adopted into the family of God, God through Jesus sets us apart and makes us holy.  He makes us a vessel fit for the Master’s use.

Paul sums it all up quite nicely in his letter to Titus.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Yes, we are in an ongoing process of being set apart for the purposes of God, and the miracle of it all is that we don’t need any self help books.  We just need to cooperate with the process.  Paul explains how we cooperate with the process in chapter 3 of his letter to the Colossians.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Through the cleansing blood of Jesus running through our veins, we are being changed from a life of self gratification to a life filled with Jesus, his character, his mercy, his love, his grace, becoming more and more like Him every day, because the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness and make us fit for the Master’s use.  What a treasure we have been freely given.

Hope you will check out this amazing song Refiner’s Fire and the quick study of the blood of Jesus and rejoice today that God is transforming you into the image of His Son, setting you apart and making you holy!