Sanctification in Leviticus

"Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you." (Leviticus 20:7-8, ESV)

This morning I am relishing this truth from Leviticus. As the Lord lists ways in which the people of Israel are to respond to his redemption, ways of holiness, he declares who is accomplishing change and righteousness in them.

'Be holy for I am the One that saved you from Egypt and have given you promise. Respond to the great gifts and provision I have given you and live well. And along the way know that it is I that sanctify you.'

Notice the command is not for the people to sanctify themselves. They do have a role, work to do, to be holy because of who God it and what he has done. But the work of sanctification, the progress of making them holy, is done by the Lord himself.

In Christ this truth remains. We live holy lives in response to the salvation we have been given and as we live out his command, Jesus is the One that sanctifies us. Live right and rest easy my friend, Jesus is sanctifying you. 

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