As a child, there were days spent running, jumping and digging in so much dirt that at the end of the day when it was time for a bath, the water was so murky that the bottom of the tub was obstructed from view. Though soap and water cleaned most of the dirt away, there always seemed to be some dirt that remained. It might be behind the ears, under the chin, on the small of the back or in another hard-to-reach area. Yet even without missing a spot, rinsing the soap from the body with dirty water left at least a slight residue of scum. Though baths might be relaxing, showers give us a better opportunity to wash the dirt away.
As Christians, God has washed all of the dirt away for we are sanctified the moment we receive salvation. No matter what we accomplish in our lives for the kingdom of God and no matter how much sin we commit after that point, we are not more or less clean than other believers in the eyes of God. At that moment of salvation, God takes our sin away. Because Jesus received the punishment that we deserved, that sin will not be punished again. That sounds similar to our criminal procedure of double jeopardy. Sanctification is the Greek word hagiasmos, which designates that we are set apart. When God takes His children by the hand and leads them to the cross, from that time forward, we are to be set apart from the world for His use. As we all know, though purchased by God with the blood of Jesus, we can still fail miserably.
Sexual sin is one of the most common ways that Satan trips believers. Stephen Arterburn wrote a book entitled, “Every Man’s Battle,” describing the far-reaching magnitude of the sins of the flesh. Sadly, we all can recount stories of pastors who have stumbled, whether it is from personal knowledge or newspaper articles in some of the more high-profile cases. Often, men trade the glory of God and being used for His purposes for a moment’s pleasure.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
Paul uses strong language to remind us of the Lord’s even stronger stance on His children being lured into the same sins that enslave the world. When we choose to satisfy the flesh, we reject God! Along with that rejection of God comes an acceptance of Satan! How horrifying our sin can be, with its far-reaching arms. It does not matter if that sexual immorality is adultery, homosexuality, a fascination with internet pornography or any other relations outside of the marriage. All are displeasing to God. Though Paul uses sexual immorality as an example due to its pervasiveness, any sinful behavior to gratify the flesh falls into the same category. Drug and alcohol use and abuse also have become pervasive in our society. All of us have been affected by the destructive capabilities of these addictions. Yet God has promised us that because He purchased us at a price, we are no longer enslaved to our sins, but instead, are enslaved to Him.
The Greek word for servant is duolos. Unlike the negative connotation we immediately think of with the word “slave,” in Old Testament times, servants were not taken against their will. Instead, they worked for the master of the house for a time period of seven years. If they chose to remain after that seven-year period, their ear was pierced with an awl in a ceremony that demonstrated that they wanted to remain. In the same manner, we serve God, who only has His best for us. Why would anyone choose to serve a master who only will harm us, rather than a God who only will love us?
9 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, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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 Corinthians 6:9-11
If you have been washed clean by the power of God, do not jump back into the world and roll in the dirt again. That sounds more like the behavior of pigs, described as unclean animals. We have been positionally sanctified, as Christ has been made sanctification for each of us as believers. We also have received practical sanctification, meaning that the Holy Spirit continues the process of cleaning us. Because we are imperfect, God continues to do a work in us, and that work will find completion in our total sanctification. That future event will occur when we see the eyes of our Lord and Savior! He will remove any ability to sin from our lives, and we will not have to struggle with sin ever again. Hallelujah!
to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Acts 26:18
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