Bill Taylor wrote: > Hey, David, would you tell me how you > interpret Jesus' words in the following > verses (feel free to draw from a larger > context if you like)? > > John17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. > Your word is truth." > John 17:19 "And for their sakes I sanctify > Myself, that they also may be sanctified by > the truth."
In a nutshell, this passage teaches us that the word of God is truth, and it changes our hearts from that with which we were born. It causes us to be set apart as a peculiar people, a spiritual people, holy before God. This transformation occurs as we hear his word and believe his word, which is what trusting in Christ is. This passage also speaks about Jesus being our perfect example. He walked in this sanctifying process first, before us, that we also might be sanctified by the truth. It is by seeing how this worked itself out in the life of Christ that we know that we can do it too, and we can know what kind of response we will get in the world as we walk like this. This is the power of the incarnation. We might also observe here that it is not some magical work of Christ that sanctifies us, but rather we are sanctified by the word of truth that finds root in our hearts. We are sanctified in the same way that Jesus was sanctified -- by the word of truth. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
