Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Heb. 13:12
I began writing on sanctification and the subject seemed to present itself before me in some way. There was much to write about. I don't mean there was a long article, but closer to a series of books. I have not set out for that task but humor me. My prayer is you would see the monumental need in our day in this concern.
If we were to be presumptuous there is soon to be only a small remnant of sanctified believers left. With God all things are possible, so we should never be fatalist about anything no matter the darkness. However there are many examples in scripture about only a small remnant. Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:9. Why would God providentially only leave a small remnant? That is probably the wrong question. The correct question should be what can God do with a small remnant? God's sovereignty gives man a free will. His characteristics of love and holiness demand that true love would be by choice.
He is not looking for elitism but sanctificationism. In other words the Christian society will not be helped by powerful talented people, but by people who sanctify themselves so that God can work inside of us, empowering us to be overcomers of the world. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: I Peter 3:15.
This will not excite the sensual, carnal, worldly believer. Why? The Bible is filled with religious experiences. These visions, miracles, provisions, and theophanies did not create carnality but humility and sanctification. Carnal worship in our churches has created not sanctification but discontentedness. There must always be something aesthetically pleasing, or something that pleases their taste. Pretty soon the well of sensuality will run dry. What's next? Is the flesh ever satisfied?
These religious experiences to those who received them in faith showed that even the greatest worldy pleasures that we could enjoy did not compare with the glory that should come. Jesus' disciples were progressively were sanctified in truth. (To be clear we are positionally sanctified at the new birth, and wholly sanctified at the moment of the Rapture. Along this journey we are prayerfully progressively sanctified.). They believed He was the Messiah. They also were very content to show Him the temple, boasting of of its glory. They challenged Him "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Mark 4:38. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Why did Jesus go outside the gate to be crucified? This was in order to fulfill Jewish law, which He came to fulfill and became the perfect sacrifice so that we might be sanctified, suffered withoutt he gate. Read on with me in this passage.
let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach. Hebrews 13:13
Sanctification allows us to be identified with Christ and leads us to higher spiritual ground. Sensual worship is never given any credence in scripture, but bearing His reproach does. Believers have become sick and tired of bearing His reproach signaling apostacy and a falling away. How can we keeps ourselves from heading down this path? By gladly bearing the reproach. Whether it costs us much or little, we are following Him wherever He goes. The world hates Him, and hates His Church, we go outside the camp with Him. The world persecutes Him and crucifies Him, we are persecuted and crucified unto the world. The world misunderstands Him, and writes Him off for dead, we are misunderstood and written off with Him.
Is it realistic to think that we would follow Jesus Christ, and constantly learn of Him, be near Him and not be sanctified and not now stand out among the world? Do you really think that? This is precisely what me must allow God to do if we expect not to be deceived in these last days. Sanctification is when God sets us apart to holiness and purity by purification. Those who have continued to be faithful to God's house know beyond any shadow of a doubt that Christ is continuing His work to this very day. When the dust settles in our local churches will you be found faithful?
The doctrine of the Rapture is not understood for its pragmatism. The the hope of the Rapture is sanctifying to those who are able to hope in it for we are to be constantly ready for His coming at any moment. This constant preparedness rooted in hope progressively sanctifies us throughout the course of our Christian walk. It is an abiding hope. We who have received Jesus by faith have this divine nature that lives in hope of future events. Jesus is not held within the boundaries of time.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:18
We are not held in bondage to the powers of this world, or current events. If we understand that we are in the last days of the last days then we also understand that current events will get worse every year. This would be discouraging if we are not rooted in hope. Why else would so much of the future have been revealed to us? I consistently hear of people who have absolutely no business in a ministerial position in leadership. This is precisely in line with the falling away. Not sanctified, not called, novices will fall headlong into pride and the snare of the devil teaching doctrines of devils. Or if we want to deny scripture we could call this progressivism. There is a better reason the future is revealed to us besides allowing us to identify falsehood.
We who have been touched by the glory of the future are not held captive by current events. The glitter of this world is only a veneer covering of broken lives and dreams. You enjoy your Maxwell coffee while it lasts, but I'll have by Starbucks coffee now. John R. Rice was convinced that the things which God prepared for them that love him begin in this life and are meant for our enjoyment in the nasty now and now and will continue right on into eternity. Put that in your pot and brew it. Sanctification does not make you a beggar void of enjoyment. It draws you closer to the person of Jesus Christ. Only then do we learn of the joys and pleasures that last forever.
When the church's message is that the path is no longer narrow, and has been opened up so that different groups of people will be more likely to walk down it, mark it down that is a false path. The gate is small and narrow and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14). The strangest thing about mankind is how fiercely they avoid this path. They build the grandest gateway they can, and allure as many as they can to follow. It is large and wide and intimidating, but all who follow this path are led to destruction. Don't be ashamed of your sanctification, It sets you apart, it attracts persecution and scorn but it likens you unto Christ. It allows you to learn of Him, this meek and lowly gateway to heaven. It separates you from the wrath to come and keeps you unspotted from the world.
The world has a shortage of people who will tell the truth. Women wouldn't like to be told when they are having a bad hair day and some truths are not meant be focused in on or weaponized against people. However a person on a pathway of destruction or on their way to hell needs the truth. God uses His sanctified servants for this business. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17. This believer is empowered to tell the truth in love, sanctified by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. The New Testament is covenanted and sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ. May we not count sanctification by the blood of Jesus Christ an unholy thing but continue in this dark hour walking in the truth.
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