Sanctification? The Department of Social Services!

And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:19) But of Him [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—  that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  (I Corinthians 1:30-31)

If we were sinners at 10:00am, then we accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior at 10:01am, now we're saved sinners!  Nothing much has changed in regard to our behavior, character and way of thinking.  The main two things that have changed is that now we are sanctified,  and we have an Advocate. One of the better world system to demonstrate this truth is the Department of Social Services.  If a child is living in an abusive home, DSS sends a social worker to remove that child from that environment.  God has done the same for us through His Son, And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.  (I John 4:14)

The only changes that occur in the child's life immediately is that he is removed from the abuse environment, and placed in a safer environment; but the house he lived in still exists, and the abusers he lived with are still living.  The same with us who accept salvation, we are All inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth: (Isaiah 18:3) but ...you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,... (John 15:19) Through Christ Jesus, we are sanctified, set apart and declared holy. We who are saved are saved from our sins and are "sanctified", which means through our faith in Christ Jesus, He will ...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)

We are still living in this world and sin still exists, and we're still tempted by it.  Just as the social worker will get the child help, usually through therapy, God does the same for us by filling us with His Holy Spirit: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) The purpose of therapy for the child is to help him learn to think and behave a different way, that will help him function in and be a postive contributor to society.  The purpose of The Holy Spirit in us is to help us do the same: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,... (Philippians 2:5) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

But maybe the most important thing the social worker does for the child is becoming that child's intercessor, mediator and advocate, between him and his abusers to try and insure that the rest of the child's life doesn't end the way it began.  That's what Christ Jesus is for us: For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,  who gave Himself a ransom for all,... (I Timothy 2:5-6) It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:34) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

The child won't change over night, but in time and with much help, the hope is that he will not be permanently scarred by the life he once lived.  We who are saved don't change over night either.  We still are tempted and more times than not give into sin, but Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:13) However, ...if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  And He Himself is the propitiation [payment in full] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (I John 2:1-2)

Just as the child or someone else had to call on the child's behalf to get him out of the situation he was in and into a better place, so also we have to make a call to God on our own behalf, and trust Him to get us into a better place, through our faith in His Son: ...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek [non-Jew], for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10, 12-13)

Come as you are today!  We can never make ourselves good enough, but once we accept Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, He will become our sanctifier, intercessor, mediator and advocate!