NOW THAT YOU ARE BORN AGAIN - PT. 7

A SET APART PEOPLE

'By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.' - Hebrews 10 vs 10

Take note of the saying, we are sanctified!

Now, what does it mean to be sanctified? According to the Word, the word 'sanctified' as used in our opening Bible passage was translated from the Greek word hagiazō, which means to make holy, to consecrate, to be dedicated to a religious purpose or a god, to be separated or set apart from something unto something or someone else. That's the word sanctified. Now we are told in the Word that we are sanctified. Meaning, we have been separated or set apart to God. Separated from what? Set apart from what? Let's see:

'If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.' - John 15 vs 19 {KJV}

• I have chosen you out of the world

That word 'chosen' used in the above verse suggests the same meaning as the word 'sanctified' which we have seen. That word 'chosen' was translated from the Greek word eklegomai, which means to select, to choose out. So we have been chosen out of this world. You see, that's the same idea of the word 'sanctified' as we have seen, to be set apart.

So the Believer has been set apart from the world. Waow! Let's see our opening Bible passage again:

'By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.' - Hebrews 10 vs 10 {KJV}

• through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ

So, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ set us apart unto God. Waow! As a child of God, you need to know this! Remember I have explained to you already in other parts of this teaching that now that you are born again, it's important you know the details, nature and characteristics of your new birth in Christ, because that's how you can know how you ought to live in this world. If you don't know who you are, you will live a lie - meaning, you will live in a way that you are not, because you don't know who you are.

You can't live a life that is unto God until you know that you have been separated unto God! You can't live out what you don't know, you cannot manifest what you are ignorant of. You cannot live a life that is unto God if you don't know that you have been set apart unto God. Now you know that you have been set apart unto God, you have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus shed for the remission of your sins. Now you know. What does that do for you? It enables your mind to set up your conducts in such a way that proves of one who has been set apart unto God. Remember the words of the Lord, He has chosen us out of this world. That's the sanctification I'm talking about: set apart unto God, for God.

'But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:' - 1 Peter 2 vs 9 {KJV}

• a chosen generation
• an holy nation

The above are sanctification terms, they speak of the same things. 'A chosen generation', 'an holy nation', these both speak of been set apart. Remember the words of the Lord which we read already, we have been chosen out of this world {John 15 vs 19}. 'An holy nation' simply means a separated people, a set apart people unto God.

Beloved, just to think that you have been set apart unto God does a lot to how you live on earth. It changes your quality of life and manner of living, it imposes your divine nature on your conducts, and causes your life to align with the righteousness of God. Always know that what you believe controls your life; the information in your mind will give direction to your life.

'And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.' - Romans 12 vs 2 {KJV}

• be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind

This shows us that the things in the mind will decide how a man lives. That means, transformation of character will happen to a Believer if he begins to re-orientate his mind on who he is. Beloved, now you've got to start telling yourself who you are in Christ, by speaking forth these realities which I show to you of who you are in Christ. You have been sanctified by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, meaning, by the offering of His body, He has set us apart unto God. Believe this! Accept it! Declare it that that's who you are, one who has been separated unto God, for God. When you see things from this perspective, your manner of life on earth can never be the same; you become God conscious all day long, and that will show in your conducts - what you do, and what you don't do; it brings the fear of the Lord into your life, and ultimately aligns you with the will and righteousness of God. Hallelujah!

This is how a Christian's character is transformed into his very divine nature in Christ. As he beholds in the written Word who he is in Christ, he is changed into that very same image, from glory to glory. Meaning, for every glance at the Word he gets better! As he looks, he is improved! That's growth. Glory to God.

'But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.' - 2 Corinthians 3 vs 18 {KJV}

Three words to pay attention to in this verse:

• beholding
• are changed into the same image
• from glory to glory

You see... As you behold your realities in Christ - the realities of your new birth in Christ, your character and attitude is changed into those realities that you are beholding. And he says, that change/transformation happens from glory to glory. Meaning, the growth will be progressive. The way you are today in Christian character will not be the same way you will be in the next month - there will be visible progress of spiritual growth from time to time. That's what he means by 'from glory to glory'. Hallelujah!

So therefore dearly beloved, know this day that you have been separated unto God for God! You are a property of God, solely for Him. The Lord has chosen us out of this world, we are no longer members of this world; we have been separated from the world. Beloved, let this separation show in what you do, in how you do what you do, in what you say, and in how you behave yourself amongst men. Remember, the growth is from glory to glory. Begin to make a practice of who you are in Christ! Begin to practice the set apart life which you have in Christ. Start now. Make visible progress of Christian transformation in your character. It's on the revelation of this sanctification (setting apart) that we have in Christ that the Apostle Paul thus admonished Timothy:

'Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.' - 1 Timothy 4 vs 12 {KJV}

• be thou an example of the Believers

Then he went on and stated what he should exemplify, and one of the areas he stated for Timothy to be an example in is In conversation.

This word 'conversation' was translated from the Greek word anastrophē, which means behaviour.

So he was saying to Timothy to be an example of the Believers in behaviour. You see... There's a way a Believer should behave himself in this world, because he has been sanctified (set apart) unto God. Hence, he must reflect that sanctification in his conducts! He must show that he has been set apart unto God in the way he behaves himself amongst men.

'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' - Matthew 5 vs 16 {KJV}

• before men

It's important you know that it is before men that we are expected to manifest the realities of our Salvation, and not before God. It is men who need to see that you are a follower of Christ, not God! God already knows that! The Lord clearly tells us how our Salvation will be made known to men, He says "that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." So how we live before men is a testimony of Salvation to men, and a pointer of men to God. Through your life, God wants men to know that truly Jesus saves and delivers! - Think on these words

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel

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