Set Apart

"Set Apart" – John 17:17 Christians "are not of the world, any more than Christ was of the world". We should remember this when we are tempted to engage in a worldly pastime or enter "worldly associations" in which the name of Jesus is "not welcomed".

I. To sanctify is to set apart.

A. God's word has a sanctifying effect on believers.

1. It reminds you that an alloy is a homogeneous mixture (same, identical, similar) of two or more elements (ingredient, piece) of which at least one must be metal.

2. The word sustains us, makes us firm, constant; for this reason; God's word has a sanctifying effect on our lives.

3. By reading and obeying it, they are (we) set apart as vessels "fitting" for the Master's use.

4. This is exactly what the Lord asked here; Sanctify them in Thy truth; Your word is truth.

5. He wanted a people set apart from God, "separated from the world," useful to God.

6. Your word is truth, Jesus said.

7. He did not say, as so many say today, "Your word contains truth," but "Your word is truth."

8. (1 Corinthians 1:30) First and foremost, Christ has been made wisdom to us from God.

9. He is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24) The One whom the wisdom of God chose as the way of salvation.

10. When we fear Him, we have positional wisdom that guarantees our full salvation.

11. Second, He is our "righteousness."

12. "Through faith" "in Him" we are "reckoned righteous" by a holy God."

13. Third, "He is our sanctification."

14. In ourselves we have nothing in the way of personal holiness, but in Him we are positionally sanctified and by His power we are transformed" = from one degree of sanctification to another.

15. Finally, He is our redemption (deliverance, salvation) and this undoubtedly speaks to us of the redemption in its final aspect (in that it comes into view) when the Lord will come and take us to be with Him always in His home, when we will be redeemed—spirit, soul, and body.

16. (Ephesians 5:26) "At the present time," His love for the church is shown in His work of sanctification: "to sanctify her, having purified her by the washing of water by the word."

17. Sanctify means "to set apart."

18. Positionally (it is placed) the church is sanctified; Practically, it is being sanctified "day by day".

19. It goes through a process of moral and spiritual preparation.

20. The process of sanctification is accomplished by "the washing of water by the word".

21. In simple terms, this means that believers' lives are purified by "hearing" Christ's words and "obeying" them.

22. (John 15:3) Jesus said to the disciples, "You are now clean" by the word that I have spoken to you.

23. (John 17:17) And He linked sanctification with the word in His "high priest" intercession prayer.

24. Just as "the blood of Christ purifies us once and for all from the guilt and penalty of sin," so God's word continually purifies us from the "defilement" and "impurity" of sin.

25. This passage teaches us that the church is being bathed in the present, but not with literal water, but with the purifying agent that is the word of God.

26. (2 Timothy 2:21) He is counseled to separate himself from the wicked and to avoid defilement by evil doctrines.

27. If someone keeps himself free from bad associations, "he will be a vessel for honor" (honesty, integrity, dignity, prestige).

28. God can only use clean vessels in holy service.

29. (Isaiah 52:11) "You who bear the vessels of the Lord."

30. Such a man will also be "sanctified" in the sense that he will be "separated" from evil for the service of God.

31. It will be useful to the Owner (Lord) this quality much desired by all who love the Lord.

32. Finally, "he will be ready for every good work."

33. It will always be ready to be employed in all that its "Owner can dispose".

34. (Hebrews 13:12) The animals burned outside the camp were a type (model, example); the Lord Jesus was the antitype.

35. He was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem.

36. It was outside the camp of organized Judaism that He sanctified the "public by His own blood."

37. Type: animals = Jesus was the antitype = He was the true model. Amen