Thanks for the answer, David. Why do you think
Jesus did not say, "And for their sakes I give them the example of myself, that
they also may be sanctified by truth"? He said that sort of thing at other
times, but not here. Instead he said, "And for their sakes I
SANCTIFY Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth." I
agree with what you say pertaining to the word of truth being the sanctifying
agent (along with the Holy Spirit of course) as far as we are concerned. But why
in Jesus' case must it be any different? It was in and through the
sanctification of his own humanity via these things that he defeated sin, death,
and the devil, -- in other words, he is much more than an example to us --
and this in order that we might now be in a position of being able to be
sanctified by the Truth through the work of the Spirit in our lives. Do you
understand the distinction I am drawing and what I mean when I make it? Tell me
what you think of it.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 12:06
PM
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Original
Sin
> > 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
>
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