"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (I Peter 3:15)
"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate ...." (Hebrews 13:12)
" ... that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word ..." (Ephesians 5:26)
Sanctify is one of those words with several meetings, all of which can be applied herein. First, sanctify is to set apart because the Lord God is the reason for the hope in our hearts. Second, sanctify is likened to purify, wherein we are purified by His own precious blood which He shed on the cross for you and I. It is for this reason that "He is precious!" as the Word states. Third, sanctify makes us legitimate and binding in God's eyes, approved and authorized, because we have been washed of water by the Word.
That is, water baptism in the precious Name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. (Acts 2:36-41; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21-22; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 22:16) And for clarity, water baptism follows repentance of the heart, wherein we ask the Lord Jesus to forgive us of our sins, and we ask Him to be both Lord and Christ in our hearts. (Acts 2:36) Thus, when we go into the water, we are buried with Christ. When we come out of the water, we are resurrected with Christ. (Romans 6:3-4)
You see, when we study the Word to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word, we should not be carried away with divers and strange doctrines for we will know the truth that sets us free. Thy Word is truth. (John 17:17) This is the hinging point for our salvation. If we love the Lord with everything we have, and continue gladly in the apostle's doctrine, we will know too, that the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus -- that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant will make us perfect in every good work, His will working in you. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
Thus, by Him therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually -- that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name. (Hebrews 13:15) What is His Name in this current dispensation of grace? His Name is Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
"For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace ..." (Hebrews 13:9)
Stand in the offering plate.
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