Sanctify Them by Your Truth

To sanctify, as it is being spoken about in verse 17 by our Lord Jesus Christ, means to be set apart to God's purposes. It is to be set apart to be changed and transformed by the grace of Christ so that we will become more holy and more like our Savior. The prayer here made by the Lord Jesus was not being made so that the Apostles alone should be sanctified, but also that you and I who believe in Christ today, might be sanctified. Verse 20 confirms this. Jesus says, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.” The primary instrument which God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ use in this good work of sanctification is the Word of truth. “Sanctify them by your truth,” Jesus says. “Your word is truth.” And so on this Communion Sunday we want to focus on 3 things that the word of God does to sanctify us so that we are not worldly people, in the way that we live our lives. 1st – The word of God is the primary instrument given us by God to make us different from the world. (Verse 14) 2nd – The word of God is the primary instrument given us by God in order to keep us from the evil one. (Verse 15) And 3rdly – The word of God is the primary instrument to make us other worldly. (Verse 16) I will open up these truths in light of our partaking of the Lord's Supper in just a few minutes.