Those Who are Sanctified by Faith in Jesus

2004-03-15 11:16

If they cannot be sanctified by faith in the Lord Jesus, they are in another Jesus, another gospel or another spirit. The Lord Jesus, the Word became flesh, and he is the mediator of the new covenant; the Lord Jesus is the word of grace, that is, the gospel. Therefore, the Word surely sanctifies those who believe in the Lord Jesus. It is written, "Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises (Hebrews 2:11-12).'"

The Testimony says, "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32)." And also, the Lord Jesus said to his apostle, "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:18)." If we believe in the Lord Jesus, we are surely sanctified.

Therefore, the Lord Jesus is the firstfruits to holiness. Those who have the firstfruits by faith in the Lord Jesus will perfect holiness and inherit the kingdom of God among the holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. There are only the holy ones in the kingdom of God, as it is testified, "for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).'"

The Bible clearly says, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)." And also, "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27)."

Anyone who has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his old sins are not holy. He has not offered a whole burnt offering on God's altar. He has been redeemed from his sins, but he does not know the redemption of his body. The redemption of our body means what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. Christians should be the companions in the afflictions of Christ. They are afflicted for His body, which is the church--those who are sanctified.

The 430 years of slavery do not mean the end. Only after another 70 years of captivity, we can see the temple of God from which living water flows out. The 430 years are related to the matter of sins, and the 70 years are related to the matter of bodies. If we are not free from the 70 years of fleshly captivity--the lusts of our bodies--though we have been set free from the 430 years of the law of sin, our bodies cannot be members of the temple of God.

If we are free from the 70 years of bodily captivity and our bodies become members of the temple of God, every living creature will revive by the holy rivers, as it is written in the Bible, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38)."

The Bible says about the joy of bringing back the 70-year captivity of Zion, as well as the joy of the Exodus from the 430 years in Egypt. The joy of the Exodus is the joy of sinners, but the joy of Zion's coming back from the captivity is the joy of saints. Therefore, the Bible says, "from faith to faith" and "grace for grace."

Let's listen to the song of Zion escaping from the 70 years of bodily captivity, "Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. For this is what the LORD says: 'You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed (Isaiah 52:1-3).'" Amen, Amen.

The desolation of Jerusalem will come to an end only after the 70 years of the bodily captivity of Zion. It is written, "in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years (Daniel 9:2)."

Therefore, there is no gospel of truth without sanctification by faith in the Lord Jesus because Christ is imperishable seed, and he is surely the firstfruits to holiness. The Lord Jesus said to his faithful apostle about "forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Him."

Those who are sanctified by faith in the Lord Jesus are His body, which is the church. Only the church that is His body is the glorious church. If the head is holy, the body is also holy. The new Jerusalem, the spritual church from heaven differs from the natural church from the world. No longer will there be Canaanites (merchants) in the church. There will be only the holy ones in it because no filth will be in it. There will be no fear in it becuase no evil beasts will be in it.

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore (Psalms 133:1-3)." I hope that "there" will become "here." Amen. Thank you, Lord.

The least brother, Kim Yun-gu.