Set Apart

I previously talked about how believers become justified in God when they accept His gift of salvation. I wanted to touch base on it again, before I continued on to sanctification. So, justification is something that happened in someone's spirit. Notice i said happened, in past tense, which is because it's a past reality. Justification occurred on the cross when Yeshua died and became applicable in our lives when He rose again. An easy way to remember 'justification' is 'just as if i had never sinned.' Because Yeshua went to the cross and rose again, we are saved from the penalty of sin. Sin no longer has that power and dominion over us, so knowing that we're justified, it allows us to walk fully into God's will and plan that He has for our lives. Of course, our flesh gets in the way...and that's what i want to talk about next: sanctification.

Sanctification is an ongoing process that occurs in the soul, which comprises of your mind, will, emotions and personality. I want to be clear that this is something that I, as a believer, need to work on every day in order to be more like my Savior. However, this process is just as beautiful as justification, because while justification saved us from the penalty of sin, sanctification saves us from the power of sin. Isn't that amazing? We have the Messiah living in us, which gives us the ability to overcome the temptations of sin. I wouldn't want anyone else on my side as I battle Satan and all his trickery and lies. Satan knows our old ways, our flesh, really well - what makes us tick; then, he attacks those areas. So, as important it is to know that we have power of sin, it's equally important to understand that sanctification is where most of the work lies, when it comes to our relationship with the Lord (as you know, it's a two-way street). Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," (NKJV). Here, Paul is writing to the Philippians about serving Yeshua and having joy in doing so. This verse is actually pretty important because it talks about what we need to be doing in order to have that process of sanctification: we should have the mind of Yeshua in our own minds. What does this mean? Quite literally, it means that if we think like Yeshua did, then we will act like Yeshua because right thoughts means right actions. All of our actions stem from what we really think about something. If we think something is wrong, then we most likely won't commit that action, however, if we think like Yeshua, who was perfect, then all of our actions will also become like that of Yeshua. This is why it's constant work, because our flesh affects the way we think, feel, and choose and so it becomes a spiritual battle within ourselves that we fight every single day.

However hard it is for us believers, we still have that power to overcome and renew our thoughts every day. It's a choice, though. We need to start with the mind, and our actions will follow through. But thank God that He sent His Son to give us strength to battle (Philippians 4:13)! Romans 12:2 further talks about the renewing of our minds and conforming, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Change occurs in the heart as well as the mind, because a spiritual walk with God starts in the heart. Satan likes to attack the flesh, though, which includes the mind, but our salvation begins in the heart, not the mind.

If your mind is focused on the things of the world and its culture and what you can get out of it, then your life is going to be all over the place because the world changes too much, and your life can change with it. 

If you dedicate your mind to the Word of God, then your life has a firm foundation, since Yeshua would become the cornerstone. This allows us to have hope for eternal life, and resisting temptations just becomes easier. When we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us, our thoughts and behaviors become renewed and He teaches us to meditate on His Word. This is a process. I pray that we don't get discouraged by our flesh or our will, and allow sanctification to occur in our souls through the power of the Holy Spirit and watch our lives change little by little.

Because the soul is how we communicate with the world around us, (the spirit is how we communicate with God), this kind of renewing and the process of sanctification will make our actions look different than the world's. That is literally the whole point of the life of Yeshua. He was so different from the world and its theologies and rules.

He came to earth with one mission: to save humanity. 

But, He also did that by following God's will completely and fully and fulfilled everything that was prophesied regarding Him as Messiah. He must have been an intriguing Person, as He shared love to everyone He crossed paths with. Only love and grace and mercy and compassion reigned in His actions as He humbly walked this earth. He didn't have to come, but He definitely wanted to. He was also Someone who frustrated the Pharisees, who were so bent on their rules and laws, but He came to give a new commandment. He was different, set apart since He looked nothing like the world. And in this way, He saved us. In this way, He strengthens us. His walk on earth gives us hope. He was and is perfect in every way. And now, we have the honor and privilege to do the same through Him and change the world around us. This is our calling as the body and bride of Yeshua: to be set apart and follow God's will and purpose that He laid out for our lives since before the beginning of time. Learn to be different; the world needs us.

Be blessed, beloved ones.