“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins IS A SLAVE OF SIN. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, YOU ARE TRULY FREE.” (John 8:31-36)
When we are born again, saved, redeemed or forgiven – when we ask Jesus into our hearts, our sins are forgiven. But that is just the first step! Now, we need to have POWER OVER SIN and that happens when we ask Jesus to sanctify us. Sanctification is the second work of grace and we receive that second work when we ask Jesus to sanctify us. To sanctify: is, to make holy or to set apart. When God sanctifies us, He makes us holy and sets us apart. “…as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (1 Pet. 1:15-16)
This is one of the things God will speak to us about, removing sinful thoughts and behaviors from our life because they are destructive to us. The Bible tells us of unholy lives and the sins committed because of this unholiness, “…that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were SANCTIFIED, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corin. 6:11)
“You were taught, with regard to your FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to PUT ON THE NEW SELF, (the sanctified self) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24)
-Bill Stockham..