And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
For their sakes Christ set apart and gave Himself for His disciples and all who would believe, so that they also might be made holy and set apart for service through the truth. His setting Himself apart was His whole devotion to the work of redemption unto offering Himself to God for sin as substitute and surety to restore what was lost. The truth that sanctifies is God's Word, the Scriptures and Christ's teaching, including the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law, and there is no sanctification apart from it. That sanctification is perfection of soul, body and spirit after the divine likeness, received by loving the Word, surrendering to Christ, and letting it cleanse the heart and govern the life until character is transformed into obedience and true holiness. It brings believers into living union with Christ and the Father and into oneness with one another patterned on the unity of the Father and the Son, which bears witness to the world that God sent Jesus. Those thus sanctified are not taken out of the world but kept from evil and sent into it, distinct from it yet living among people to uplift and save them as Christ did.
Prayer Setting and Scope
This was the last intercessory, high-priestly prayer with His disciples to the Holy Father, offered in the upper chamber alone with the eleven after Judas left, spoken aloud in their hearing after the instruction of John 13-16. It was uttered just before His betrayal by Judas, rejection, agony in Gethsemane where the world's sins rested on Him, trial, suffering, humiliation, crucifixion and separation, with the cross before Him and solicitude not for Himself but for those He would leave to carry forward His work. He did not want them to think they were left as helpless orphans when He was about to leave them.
It was words of comfort, counsel and prayer pointing first to the great object of His mission and His joy that His humiliation would glorify the Father. They stayed hearts through disappointment and trial but were not fully understood until after His resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit. It remains a lesson containing essential instruction and eternal principles to be carefully studied, believed and practiced, received into the treasure-house of the soul and made the daily lesson of life, with time short amid increasing satanic power. It means much more than is realized.
The prayer embraces not the first disciples alone but all who will believe through their word to the close of time, including present believers and all who hear, accept and repent. It foresees their trials, dangers, dissensions and divisions that distract and weaken the church, and looks on them with deeper interest and tender compassion than an earthly parent toward a wayward afflicted child. He bids them learn of Him, trust Him, and open their hearts to receive His love, with His pledge to be their helper, desiring that all be saved through faith.
Spoken before His sacrifice, it illustrates His continuing intercession after completing it, standing at the Father's right hand within the veil as officiating High Priest and direct Advocate with no dead prophet or saint between. With bruised hands bearing the wounds of cruel spikes He pleads for pardon through His atoning sacrifice, having graven His church upon the palms of His hands. His intercession prevails with power to take away sins, give power to become sons of God, keep the obedient from falling and give life because He lives. It concerns being kept from sin and made loyal rather than wealth or preferment, and it is the help of the truly penitent in every emergency for fresh grace and the Spirit's power as they humble their hearts, fast, pray and repent.
Christ Sanctified Himself
For their sakes He set Himself apart, consecrated Himself and gave Himself for His disciples and all His followers, that they also might be made holy and set apart through the truth, for to be sanctified is to be set apart for special service. This setting apart belongs with His sending, for as the Father sent Him into the world so He sends those sanctified through the truth to the millions destitute of the knowledge of God who walk in darkness and the shadow of death. His sanctification was for the work of restoring what was lost through the fall, offering Himself to God as a sacrifice for sin and giving His life for the life of the world. His self-consecration was part of His complete offering for them, and the promise of their sanctification belongs to the fullness of what He provides.
In that self-sanctification He died to make atonement for sins, taking upon Himself responsibility for human guilt and as humanity's substitute and surety bearing God's wrath against sin and sin's punishment. This fulfilled His prior commitment made before the foundations of the world to offer Himself as a complete sacrifice to bring life and healing. He now stands at His Father's right hand pleading for sinners, and that intercession illustrates the lesson that will stand the test of ages to guide action to the end of the world.
It was whole devotion to the work of human redemption unto righteousness, wholly giving Himself and consecrating Himself to that mission and dedicating Himself to rolling back the darkness that covered the world. He devoted Himself to save people from sin and turn the rebellious to righteousness, giving all His powers to that end. As the Father's representative He left heaven's glory and the royal courts, laid aside crown and robes, clothed divinity with humanity and became one with people from babyhood to manhood, taking poverty and human experience so He could be tempted in all points like humans are. He made it His food to do the Father's will and finish His work, humbled Himself and endured sorrow, shame, reproach, abuse, denial, rejection, trial and crucifixion without discouragement. Though having all the strength of human passion He never yielded to temptation to do one impure, unelevating act, never wasted words or feelings or actions, but gave the whole of Himself in infinite sacrifice, controlling words and temper, watching and praying continually, in wholeness of life and character to redeem the world. He mingled with all classes high and low, rich and poor, as friend of publicans and sinners not to encourage evil but to uplift, ennoble, honor with tender solicitude and share blessings, establishing the cross between God and humanity for reconciliation. That devotion expresses the love and benevolence of the plan of salvation devised before time for all whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, and that combined humanity and divinity is the only hope giving power for humanity to grasp divinity.
He did this as head and representative of the human family and as humanity's Elder Brother, identifying His interests with fallen humanity and interceding on humanity's behalf. He shared human infirmities, weakness and temptation in every way, yet remained without sin while seeking the Father's help for them. His coming in humanity makes it possible for humanity grasped by divinity to be sanctified through divinity, so that people may believe in Him and be sanctified and become one with Christ in God. That self-consecration, even to the giving of His life, brings all believers into inward living union with Himself and with the Father and binds brother with brother in peace and love and unity, so that heaven is represented upon the earth.
His self-giving life is the pattern for those who receive Him, for the Teacher is what His disciples are to become, and God worked through His humanity, which He took to teach humanity how to live and to die on their behalf, so that they might receive life and immortality through His life and death. His self-sanctification meant living in human nature the life His followers must live in order to be saved, living without sin, doing what is just and right in all things, loving righteousness and hating iniquity, which is why He was exalted above His associates. His life, example, teaching and words showed the Spirit's sanctifying work and gave correct views of truth by showing its principles in His character. His followers are therefore to give themselves to God's work with self-denial and sacrifice, work as He worked, give themselves to saving others, do as He did and love sound principles and sound doctrine, while iniquity means whatever is crooked and twisted out of the right line.
Truth That Sanctifies
The truth that sanctifies is God's Word, the Scriptures, the Bible, Christ's teachings received as spirit and life, counsel and spiritual food, and union with Christ who is the truth. The surrounding words identify God's Word as truth, and sanctification through it belongs with protection from evil and being sent into the world to witness. It includes the great principles of righteousness embodied in God's law, which is truth, holy and just and good, a transcript of divine perfection. The Word makes known Christ who is life, and through knowing Him as represented in the Word the Word becomes a living agency that sanctifies. Christ set Himself apart for His followers' sake so they could be set apart and made holy through that truth, and His self-giving serves their sanctification.
There is no sanctification apart from the truth, and no error can make the soul holy. Sanctification comes only through believing the truth grounded in the sure Word of promise. The Word must be cherished, upheld, correctly known as the foundation of true education, received and walked in, understood by everyone and taken as the lesson-book able to make wise unto salvation. This stands against teaching for doctrine the commandments of men, as with the teachers and Pharisees who were ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God. Profession of greater light, greater truth, God's law and a higher standard than others is of no advantage unless the truth received sanctifies, and it would be better never to have seen the light than to profess to accept it without sanctification.
Sanctification through the truth is perfection of the whole person — soul, body and spirit — unto holiness and perfected character. It forms character after the divine likeness, changes the sinful heart, makes sinners partakers of His perfection and the divine nature, escaping corruption through lust. It is the standard for all who believe and belong to God's family, required for entering the heavenly city and the abodes of bliss, and a defense bracing believers against Satan's deceptions. The truth received must produce deeper consecration and devotion, greater perfection of character, and purer and holier lives that exalt sacred and eternal things and shine light to those in darkness. Christ's life, example, teaching and words showed the Spirit's sanctifying work, God working through His humanity taken to teach humanity how to live and to die on their behalf so they might receive life and immortality.
It comes through God's Word and the Holy Spirit guiding into truth and through His guidance and power. Believers love its pure principles, surrender to Christ, exercise trustful faith kept in exercise by diligent, persevering study, search both Testaments carefully and prayerfully, daily eat the Word as flesh and blood and spiritual nourishment making it part of self as physical food gives strength, let truth work by love, daily resist lustful thoughts and sinful practices, and make unreserved surrender with continuous progressive increase until grace is lost in glory. The Word received cleanses the life, strengthens moral power, reveals defects, and advances daily in holiness and knowledge of Christ in a lifelong education after Christ's likeness. Power to glorify God comes by studying and practicing this Word and receiving it by faith. Truth sanctifies the soul when grasped and put into practice, forming a healthy living church and calling God's people away from conformity to the world whose practices and love of display weaken the church.
It is truth received in the heart and carried out in life, not mere outward show, partial acceptance or profession. Rejecting part leaves no room for Bible sanctification, and mere hearing, reading, receiving or explaining Scripture is not enough. Its teachings must become personal experience and practice with humility, kindness and consecration, transforming from idolatry into cleansed, refined temples for the Holy Spirit, bearing fruit in obedience, righteousness and true holiness. To be sanctified through the truth means to obey the truth, with the fruit of obedience seen in the life, forming characters that honor God and share in Christian fellowship and oneness. Those who unite with Christ and put Him on are changed by beholding Him, truth fills them, and they join Him in that transforming work.
Genuine sanctification is seen in lives marked by purity with sin neither excused nor cherished, corrupt appetites, passions, licentiousness and natural depravity thoroughly cleansed. Hearts are cleansed and made white by the Lamb's blood through faith that works by love and purifies the soul, giving power to become God's children and overcome sin. Reason is guarded, gratitude shown, selfishness emptied and cleansed, love and harmonious action glorifying God with each strengthening the other. It reaches soul, body and spirit and is joined to learning from Christ and to genuine faith, not through a high estimate of self, preparing for unity in the church. It is shown in the unity Christ prayed for, disciples one in heart and belief of the truth and in sympathy, courtesy, compassion and grace reflecting the union of Father and Son, displayed to the world including proclaiming the third angel's message in unity from one Source.
Christ kept His Father's commandments and always did what pleased Him as the perfect example of a character formed by obedience to that law. His life demonstrated that human nature united with the divine can obey God's law completely, and His humanity was perfect, controlling words and temper, watching and praying continually and speaking no word that could give accusation opportunity. Sanctification is His work in the heart making believers complete in Him when in communion and spiritual conformity with His life, the principles of His character made the principles of human character. Self is humbled before God, obstacles to service removed, truth practiced, instruction accepted and one's own way given up for God's way, with personal preferences given up and refusal to divide over disagreements while Christ rules heart and mind. Church members are thus to cultivate self-control and build character according to His pattern, and by grace form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law, which is Bible sanctification.
Oneness and Witness to World
Christ's prayer for oneness belongs inseparably to this verse, for sanctification through the truth produces unity patterned on the unity of Christ and the Father — that all may be one as the Father is in Christ and Christ in the Father, one in them and perfect in one, with Christ in them and the Father in Christ. This oneness shares the glory the Father gave Christ, which is character changing believers from stage to stage to be like Him, having the Father's love and Christ Himself in them and partaking of the divine nature. Sanctification and oneness with Christ are God's purpose for His people, securing a people sanctified through the truth who place themselves under God's rule with will submitted at every step in preparation for His coming in clouds with power and glory, molded by Christ living in them through the Holy Spirit after the divine likeness to work in complete harmony with God, not as independent atoms but united by gospel principles and drawn by love to Christ the center. His recompense after finishing the Father's work and returning to pre-world glory is His ransomed church as chief source of His glory — hated by the world because not of the world, kept from evil and sent even as the Father sent Him, who will at last be with Him where He is to behold His glory.
That oneness does not merge or erase distinct personality and identity; Father and Son remain distinct persons, and believers made one keep individuality and own identity while united in shared action and perfected character. This unity was Christ's great desire and burden, and His oneness with the Father was constant joy to God because in Christ God saw His own character perfectly reflected without misrepresentation. It can be shared only by giving up one's own way for God's way and leaving behind self-willed, unsanctified dispositions.
Unity in faith and practice, in Christian fellowship and love as one body under one Head, exists in proportion to illumination and sanctification; the more fully the enlightenment of the divine Spirit is received, the more nearly believers harmonize in understanding what is truth and are united in judgment, with confidence in one another, peace and harmony, believing and speaking the same things with one heart and one mouth glorifying God. The early church after resurrection and ascension showed this fruit under the Holy Spirit in prevailing union of one heart and one mind, and even the difference over circumcision and admission of uncircumcised Gentiles was soon settled through divine illumination and sanctification until believers were perfectly joined in the same mind and judgment. This unity is the power of truth sanctifying the soul, worked by the Holy Spirit cleansing and restoring sinners, joined with the flow of God's love and power into their lives, and spiritual gifts are Heaven's appointed means to secure it for perfecting saints and edifying the body till all come in unity of faith.
The prayer is not yet answered while those proclaiming the gospel remain envious, full of strife, variance, evil surmising, discord, destitute of love and revealing worldly characteristics, dishonoring Jesus and misrepresenting Him before unbelievers. Such difference and disunion dishonor God, and pulling apart and living at variance is incompatible with being branches of the True Vine; the only hope of reaching heaven is to be one with Christ, and then in and through Christ to be one with one another, with no one called to walk alone or assigned a different path. The chapter makes no division giving miraculous powers and signs to apostles alone, since signs shall follow believers in every age.
It is answered when believers repent and are converted, put away variance and discord, confess and forsake sin, remove what stands between them and God and brethren, cherish love, pray with and for one another, present an unbroken front, and devote heart, soul, mind and strength with unity of purpose to work holy in God's sight while seeking the Holy Spirit. Then His Spirit bears witness that they are His instrumentalities, God enters their assembly to commune with and bless them, angels repeat the words with deepest power, and a powerful influence goes forth from God's commandment-keeping people when the words are believed and practiced. Where there is unity there is strength and a oneness all the powers of hell cannot break, while all who bring weakness and sorrow and discouragement upon God's people by perverse ways and tempers work directly against Christ's prayer, which Satan labors to make of none effect by creating bitterness and discord.
Sanctification and unity bear witness to the world with convicting power that God sent Jesus to save sinners and loves believers as He loved Jesus, testifying that the Word of God is the safe rule of life. Through them God's manifold wisdom is made known even to principalities and powers, giving their words power to convict souls, bring conversion of unbelievers, save sinners and give success to workers. When believers are thus sanctified, hearts filled with love and compassion and conduct marked by Christlike tenderness and courtesy convince the world that God sent His Son to die for sinners, for sanctified lives joined to Christ and one another bind them in love under the same Spirit, make them kind, tender and faithful, expel evil and draw the world back to God. If profession of greater truth and higher standard does not lead to being sanctified by it with deeper consecration, greater perfection of character and purer holier lives exalting sacred things, it is of no advantage, and it would be better never to have seen the light than to profess to accept it without sanctification, since every member must labor to preserve harmony, union and love as the convincing evidence.
Answering it requires ceasing criticism, evil speaking, backbiting, discord, strife, petty and political differences, variance and contention, putting away perplexities, discouragements, fretfulness, impatience, rivalry, selfishness, jealousy, evil surmisings and evil thinking, and bringing even thoughts into captivity to Christ. It requires esteeming others better than self, showing appreciation, helping with hope and cheer, encouraging the heavy-laden with love, respect, sympathy, courtesy, compassion and grace, linking with one another and with Christ, praying for union and then living so God can answer, learning meekness and lowliness, and building one another up in humility and harmonious action. When selfishness, rivalry and strife give way to humility, love and unity, God can bless the work with the Holy Spirit's grace, with Christ as Comforter abiding in the heart making joy full and imparting His Spirit and the glory of His character so He appears in true disciples.
Seeking this sanctification brings toward oneness while distractions from genuine truth and fixation on obscure questions lead away; it requires divine enlightenment, attention to revealed truths, and allowing Christ to rule heart and mind. Truly agreeing on principles of the Word removes clinging to hereditary and cultivated traits, special ideas, preferences, ways and opinions, enabling workers of different character, likes and dislikes to blend in harmonious action instead of letting differences become mountains of difficulty, through critical self-examination, placing self under Christ's discipline, making the Bible director and lesson book, and practicing religion in all details of life as His witnesses. This unity removes barriers of selfishness, distinction, color and caste and brings believers to completeness in Christ under heaven's harmony, as they receive the Holy Spirit and bind interests together in love; it requires esteeming and improving each one's gifts and refusing to divide over disagreements or hinder a worker who differs in method.
Sent to Save World
As the Father sent Christ into the world so Christ sends His sanctified followers into the world to continue the special work He began amid obstacles. They are not taken out of the world but kept from evil, not of the world even as He is not of the world, distinct in principles and interests yet living among people as He lived among them to uplift them. They preserve the world from corruption as salt-like saving agents, save from crime and work reformation through vital connection with God. This makes plain the duty to the millions destitute of the knowledge of God who walk in darkness and in the shadow of death, to go to them as those sent and sanctified through the truth to witness to Christ.
His great purpose is to secure a people sanctified through the truth who place themselves under God's rule with the will submitted at every step, inquiring His way and methods in preparation for His coming in the clouds with power and great glory. Through the Holy Spirit Christ living in them molds the soul after the divine likeness so they work in complete harmony with God as Father and Son are one, not as independent atoms doing as they please but united by gospel principles and drawn by love to Christ the center. This calls them away from conformity to the world, whose practices and love of display weaken the church, and brings a deep experience with God, a life in harmony with Christ's teachings, refusal of worldly practices, and understanding of the mystery of godliness, Christ within, the hope of glory. What He gives through words and unselfish service saves from sin and turns toward righteousness, forming a healthy living church as truth grasped and practiced works by love.
After finishing the work the Father gave Him He claims His recompense in returning to the glory He had before the world was. His recompense is His ransomed church as the chief source of His glory — hated by the world because not of the world, kept from evil, sent, made perfect in one with the Father's love in them and Christ in them, through whom God's manifold wisdom is made known even to principalities and powers, that the world may believe and know the Father sent Jesus and loves them as He loved Jesus. They will at last be with Him where He is to behold His glory given from before the foundation, with the Father's name declared so that the Father's love and Christ Himself may be in them. His self-consecration even to the giving of His life brings believers into inward living union with Himself and the Father and binds brother with brother in peace and love and unity so heaven is represented on earth, and Christ and the church become one with Christ in His people united to God their great Head.
Sanctification is not for personal benefit alone but equips believers as channels of light to help others, represent Christ, convey sanctifying power, and do the same work Christ did. The word they bear is to lead others to Jesus, so it must be clear and truthful. Their sanctification is tied to the holy work to which they are sent, a high attainment reached as His prayer is worked out in cooperation with God, preparing them for their appointed work. His mission to seek and save the lost and bring them light is entrusted to everyone who receives Him, to be carried with spiritual help and divine power from Jerusalem to earth's ends, reproducing His character, aims and purposes with earnest zeal, self-denial and continual service to win souls ready to perish, and living out its pattern brings good fruit and reveals to the world that the Father sent Christ to save sinners.
His self-giving shows believers' great value to God, purchased by His blood, chosen, heirs with Christ, set apart for service, made one with Himself and dear to His heart. Through grace they receive moral courage to accept unpopular truth and suffer reproach, so to cast disparagement on their character is not after His order. When thus sanctified the sinful heart is changed, sinners partake of His perfection, character is formed after the divine likeness, hearts are filled with love and compassion, and conduct is marked by tenderness, courtesy and compassion. This calls them to unselfish love rather than seeking supremacy, to love and value one another, to put self aside so that when selfishness, rivalry and strife give way to humility, love and unity God can bless the work, and to treat even opponents with deference and respect, for their unity convinces the world and gives power to convict souls and bring conversion.
Call to Holy Living
The prayer means far more than is commonly realized and is to be received into the treasure-house of the soul as the daily lesson and rule of life. It is to be read often, studied word by word, deeply believed, prayed and acted upon, with God's will plainly outlined in it and in John 13-17 to guide the church. This living out belongs before fellow ministers, in church, institutions and home, where the Word shapes conduct, softens disposition and wins souls. To take any other course is to walk in sparks of human kindling and lose vital godliness, while sanctification joined with unity and love bears witness to the world.
It teaches justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ, opening the treasure-house of truth to fill the soul with joy, peace and love. It gives hope, courage and strength to faith, keeps souls in God's love and in the simplicity of pure Christlikeness, and guards against getting above that simplicity. It convicts backsliders of their own fault, exposes leaving first love, and moves them to seek conversion and to ask forgiveness from others. Its possibilities strengthen faith and show what Christians may become as they strive to answer it, setting forth covenant privilege and the greatest gift within reach that must be availed of and improved, so that neglect will require answer in the great day.
Christ's self-giving is the principle for prayer and life, for prayer is not selfish asking for personal benefit but asking in order to give. It means the same devotion, self-sacrifice, submission and obedience to the claims of God's word seen in Christ, glorifying God by working with Him to save sinners. Receiving heavenly treasure depends on passing it on, asking for blessing from God in order to share it with others rather than to serve or please self. To pray is one thing and to live out prayers is another, yet when need is felt and asked for God supplies from abundant fullness, the sincere prayer of faith from felt need is never in vain, and duty is to be done not only because it is duty but from love of right.
The chapter stands on record as requirement and standard for leaders now, meaning a higher, holier sanctification of soul, body and spirit is needed before one can lead or instruct. It calls ministers, presidents and workers to sanctify themselves through devotion and self-consecration, losing self and selfish interest in Christ, being reconverted, watching unto prayer, daily emptying self, and depending wholly on Christ. It requires humility of mind, teachableness, walking in the light, taking counsel with God and with older and more experienced brethren, and refusing to lay plans by one's own wisdom, self-wisdom or self-confidence lest the cause be imperiled and hindered. Keeping Christ the Pattern constantly before the mind forms new habits, subdues powerful hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, lays self-esteem in the dust, resists old habits of thought and overcomes love for supremacy by esteeming others better than self, so that learning His meekness and lowliness under His yoke He becomes wisdom, sanctification and righteousness; for people generally rise no higher than their minister or president, and a devoted example lifts them while defects are reproduced.
Those who minister in sacred things while the antitypical atonement goes on in heaven must be holy, clean, pure in life and conversation, examples to the flock and ministers of righteousness wearing Christ's yoke in justice and integrity. They are to be one as Christ is one with the Father, drawing together in orderly sanctuary service directing people to God's presence, respecting and loving one another. They are to give themselves to the Lord for purification and sanctification, consecrating soul, body and spirit and relying on Christ's grace so words and works are done in God, living by truth rather than worldly ambition, plans or principles. As they humble themselves and consecrate service God works through them, letting Him work through words, devotion, sacred character and conduct to represent truth, convince unbelievers, guard souls ready to perish without stumbling block, work in harmony with angels and Christ, and present every person perfect in Christ.
The same work lies on every teacher of children and youth and on all Christians to sanctify themselves so those they serve may be sanctified. It calls for no haphazard work but deliberate labor with much of Christ's grace and the subduing of self, teaching Christ crucified for sins and Christ risen, ascended and interceding as the science of salvation, correctly representing the gospel as the power and wisdom of God. Educators must rely on grace, discipline character, let truth transform them, bring spirits under Christ's control, and avoid reproducing fretfulness, provocation, criticism and evil-thinking in those who cost so much. This consecration embraces soul, body, spirit and all God-given powers, keeping the soul pure, cultivating moral principles, confronting dishonesty and licentiousness, sanctifying eating, drinking and every word and deed, setting powers to work to uplift, ennoble, elevate and press upon humanity to bring souls to Christ while kept from evil under constant watchfulness as faithful sentinels.
Parents as teachers in the home are to follow that pattern to lead children to cooperate with God and be sanctified, themselves made holy by obeying the truth. They must live as they want children to live, giving example of steadfast principles, self-control and self-denial for others' good, teaching honesty, truthfulness, kindness and patience. They are to manifest kindness, courtesy and love without blind affection, let truth control conscience, understanding, word and deed, be as faithful in home life as in worship, dedicate children to the Lord and guide them toward conversion and Christlike character. As the Word shapes family life and prayer deepens impression of the promises toward perfecting holiness in the fear of God, dissension and disunity can be removed through truth and the Spirit.
Young people working with Jesus are to share His self-denial, and every follower's consecration is shown in meekness, grace and commitment to unity rather than criticism, accusation or dissension. Devotion to God should influence every part of conduct at home, in church and in work, with conscientious fidelity in trust and training others by teaching and example. Christians are to seek sanctification through the means of grace, attend to them and live so their need is clear to others, making holiness visible and representing His life and character by wholly devoting self to redeeming the world. This puts aside self in devoted service, giving up self-glory even unto suffering, shame, imprisonment or death, with righteous works showing holiness.
The sanctifying power appears in daily practice exalting the gospel and testifying to the power of the Word by keeping the commandments, with each believer responsible for individual influence so that the disciple simply voices Christ's words to be received as His own. It exalts the spiritual above the temporal, refuses the enemy and self-promotion, brings people to Bible truth and stands firmly on the platform of eternal truth of loving God wholly and neighbor as self. It strains to high holiness with unconscious influence, empties selfishness and accusation, does appointed work with best effort, and lives purity, love and true righteousness in dealings with sympathy, courtesy, compassion and grace in oneness of heart and belief reflecting the union of Father and Son; for lowering the standard forms characters that will not meet heaven's approval.
Heeding the prayer is the direct way to reform and changed principles when discernment is perverted, for sanctification comes through God's truth received into good and honest hearts, reaching the mind and transforming mind and character through belief and reception of the Holy Spirit to share divine love and unity in Christ. These words are to be received in every home as God's message showing how to possess Christ's grace, to be carried out in the testing time when God proves who is worthy of admittance into His family through united consecration in one great work. That practice must begin in the home, where members are measured by what they are, living Christ's pattern life with heart-binding love, tender respectful regard, working His works so the lamp burns brightly to give light in darkness and lead men to glorify the Father, extending to the church as a symbol of heaven's family. It calls for the Spirit to cleanse unkind talk, judgment and self-assured conversation as by a living coal, to stop strange fire, and to read 1 Corinthians 1 into living experience as faithful stewards with righteousness before and glory behind while God builds character, lest counsels become death unto death and refusers be unworthy when He comes in glory.
For their sakes Christ set apart and gave Himself for His disciples and all who would believe, so that they also might be made holy and set apart for service through the truth. His setting Himself apart was His whole devotion to the work of redemption unto offering Himself to God for sin as substitute and surety to restore what was lost. The truth that sanctifies is God's Word, the Scriptures and Christ's teaching, including the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law, and there is no sanctification apart from it. That sanctification is perfection of soul, body and spirit after the divine likeness, received by loving the Word, surrendering to Christ, and letting it cleanse the heart and govern the life until character is transformed into obedience and true holiness. It brings believers into living union with Christ and the Father and into oneness with one another patterned on the unity of the Father and the Son, which bears witness to the world that God sent Jesus. Those thus sanctified are not taken out of the world but kept from evil and sent into it, distinct from it yet living among people to uplift and save them as Christ did.
Prayer Setting and Scope
This was the last intercessory, high-priestly prayer with His disciples to the Holy Father, offered in the upper chamber alone with the eleven after Judas left, spoken aloud in their hearing after the instruction of John 13-16. It was uttered just before His betrayal by Judas, rejection, agony in Gethsemane where the world's sins rested on Him, trial, suffering, humiliation, crucifixion and separation, with the cross before Him and solicitude not for Himself but for those He would leave to carry forward His work. He did not want them to think they were left as helpless orphans when He was about to leave them.
It was words of comfort, counsel and prayer pointing first to the great object of His mission and His joy that His humiliation would glorify the Father. They stayed hearts through disappointment and trial but were not fully understood until after His resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit. It remains a lesson containing essential instruction and eternal principles to be carefully studied, believed and practiced, received into the treasure-house of the soul and made the daily lesson of life, with time short amid increasing satanic power. It means much more than is realized.
The prayer embraces not the first disciples alone but all who will believe through their word to the close of time, including present believers and all who hear, accept and repent. It foresees their trials, dangers, dissensions and divisions that distract and weaken the church, and looks on them with deeper interest and tender compassion than an earthly parent toward a wayward afflicted child. He bids them learn of Him, trust Him, and open their hearts to receive His love, with His pledge to be their helper, desiring that all be saved through faith.
Spoken before His sacrifice, it illustrates His continuing intercession after completing it, standing at the Father's right hand within the veil as officiating High Priest and direct Advocate with no dead prophet or saint between. With bruised hands bearing the wounds of cruel spikes He pleads for pardon through His atoning sacrifice, having graven His church upon the palms of His hands. His intercession prevails with power to take away sins, give power to become sons of God, keep the obedient from falling and give life because He lives. It concerns being kept from sin and made loyal rather than wealth or preferment, and it is the help of the truly penitent in every emergency for fresh grace and the Spirit's power as they humble their hearts, fast, pray and repent.
Christ Sanctified Himself
For their sakes He set Himself apart, consecrated Himself and gave Himself for His disciples and all His followers, that they also might be made holy and set apart through the truth, for to be sanctified is to be set apart for special service. This setting apart belongs with His sending, for as the Father sent Him into the world so He sends those sanctified through the truth to the millions destitute of the knowledge of God who walk in darkness and the shadow of death. His sanctification was for the work of restoring what was lost through the fall, offering Himself to God as a sacrifice for sin and giving His life for the life of the world. His self-consecration was part of His complete offering for them, and the promise of their sanctification belongs to the fullness of what He provides.
In that self-sanctification He died to make atonement for sins, taking upon Himself responsibility for human guilt and as humanity's substitute and surety bearing God's wrath against sin and sin's punishment. This fulfilled His prior commitment made before the foundations of the world to offer Himself as a complete sacrifice to bring life and healing. He now stands at His Father's right hand pleading for sinners, and that intercession illustrates the lesson that will stand the test of ages to guide action to the end of the world.
It was whole devotion to the work of human redemption unto righteousness, wholly giving Himself and consecrating Himself to that mission and dedicating Himself to rolling back the darkness that covered the world. He devoted Himself to save people from sin and turn the rebellious to righteousness, giving all His powers to that end. As the Father's representative He left heaven's glory and the royal courts, laid aside crown and robes, clothed divinity with humanity and became one with people from babyhood to manhood, taking poverty and human experience so He could be tempted in all points like humans are. He made it His food to do the Father's will and finish His work, humbled Himself and endured sorrow, shame, reproach, abuse, denial, rejection, trial and crucifixion without discouragement. Though having all the strength of human passion He never yielded to temptation to do one impure, unelevating act, never wasted words or feelings or actions, but gave the whole of Himself in infinite sacrifice, controlling words and temper, watching and praying continually, in wholeness of life and character to redeem the world. He mingled with all classes high and low, rich and poor, as friend of publicans and sinners not to encourage evil but to uplift, ennoble, honor with tender solicitude and share blessings, establishing the cross between God and humanity for reconciliation. That devotion expresses the love and benevolence of the plan of salvation devised before time for all whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, and that combined humanity and divinity is the only hope giving power for humanity to grasp divinity.
He did this as head and representative of the human family and as humanity's Elder Brother, identifying His interests with fallen humanity and interceding on humanity's behalf. He shared human infirmities, weakness and temptation in every way, yet remained without sin while seeking the Father's help for them. His coming in humanity makes it possible for humanity grasped by divinity to be sanctified through divinity, so that people may believe in Him and be sanctified and become one with Christ in God. That self-consecration, even to the giving of His life, brings all believers into inward living union with Himself and with the Father and binds brother with brother in peace and love and unity, so that heaven is represented upon the earth.
His self-giving life is the pattern for those who receive Him, for the Teacher is what His disciples are to become, and God worked through His humanity, which He took to teach humanity how to live and to die on their behalf, so that they might receive life and immortality through His life and death. His self-sanctification meant living in human nature the life His followers must live in order to be saved, living without sin, doing what is just and right in all things, loving righteousness and hating iniquity, which is why He was exalted above His associates. His life, example, teaching and words showed the Spirit's sanctifying work and gave correct views of truth by showing its principles in His character. His followers are therefore to give themselves to God's work with self-denial and sacrifice, work as He worked, give themselves to saving others, do as He did and love sound principles and sound doctrine, while iniquity means whatever is crooked and twisted out of the right line.
Truth That Sanctifies
The truth that sanctifies is God's Word, the Scriptures, the Bible, Christ's teachings received as spirit and life, counsel and spiritual food, and union with Christ who is the truth. The surrounding words identify God's Word as truth, and sanctification through it belongs with protection from evil and being sent into the world to witness. It includes the great principles of righteousness embodied in God's law, which is truth, holy and just and good, a transcript of divine perfection. The Word makes known Christ who is life, and through knowing Him as represented in the Word the Word becomes a living agency that sanctifies. Christ set Himself apart for His followers' sake so they could be set apart and made holy through that truth, and His self-giving serves their sanctification.
There is no sanctification apart from the truth, and no error can make the soul holy. Sanctification comes only through believing the truth grounded in the sure Word of promise. The Word must be cherished, upheld, correctly known as the foundation of true education, received and walked in, understood by everyone and taken as the lesson-book able to make wise unto salvation. This stands against teaching for doctrine the commandments of men, as with the teachers and Pharisees who were ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God. Profession of greater light, greater truth, God's law and a higher standard than others is of no advantage unless the truth received sanctifies, and it would be better never to have seen the light than to profess to accept it without sanctification.
Sanctification through the truth is perfection of the whole person — soul, body and spirit — unto holiness and perfected character. It forms character after the divine likeness, changes the sinful heart, makes sinners partakers of His perfection and the divine nature, escaping corruption through lust. It is the standard for all who believe and belong to God's family, required for entering the heavenly city and the abodes of bliss, and a defense bracing believers against Satan's deceptions. The truth received must produce deeper consecration and devotion, greater perfection of character, and purer and holier lives that exalt sacred and eternal things and shine light to those in darkness. Christ's life, example, teaching and words showed the Spirit's sanctifying work, God working through His humanity taken to teach humanity how to live and to die on their behalf so they might receive life and immortality.
It comes through God's Word and the Holy Spirit guiding into truth and through His guidance and power. Believers love its pure principles, surrender to Christ, exercise trustful faith kept in exercise by diligent, persevering study, search both Testaments carefully and prayerfully, daily eat the Word as flesh and blood and spiritual nourishment making it part of self as physical food gives strength, let truth work by love, daily resist lustful thoughts and sinful practices, and make unreserved surrender with continuous progressive increase until grace is lost in glory. The Word received cleanses the life, strengthens moral power, reveals defects, and advances daily in holiness and knowledge of Christ in a lifelong education after Christ's likeness. Power to glorify God comes by studying and practicing this Word and receiving it by faith. Truth sanctifies the soul when grasped and put into practice, forming a healthy living church and calling God's people away from conformity to the world whose practices and love of display weaken the church.
It is truth received in the heart and carried out in life, not mere outward show, partial acceptance or profession. Rejecting part leaves no room for Bible sanctification, and mere hearing, reading, receiving or explaining Scripture is not enough. Its teachings must become personal experience and practice with humility, kindness and consecration, transforming from idolatry into cleansed, refined temples for the Holy Spirit, bearing fruit in obedience, righteousness and true holiness. To be sanctified through the truth means to obey the truth, with the fruit of obedience seen in the life, forming characters that honor God and share in Christian fellowship and oneness. Those who unite with Christ and put Him on are changed by beholding Him, truth fills them, and they join Him in that transforming work.
Genuine sanctification is seen in lives marked by purity with sin neither excused nor cherished, corrupt appetites, passions, licentiousness and natural depravity thoroughly cleansed. Hearts are cleansed and made white by the Lamb's blood through faith that works by love and purifies the soul, giving power to become God's children and overcome sin. Reason is guarded, gratitude shown, selfishness emptied and cleansed, love and harmonious action glorifying God with each strengthening the other. It reaches soul, body and spirit and is joined to learning from Christ and to genuine faith, not through a high estimate of self, preparing for unity in the church. It is shown in the unity Christ prayed for, disciples one in heart and belief of the truth and in sympathy, courtesy, compassion and grace reflecting the union of Father and Son, displayed to the world including proclaiming the third angel's message in unity from one Source.
Christ kept His Father's commandments and always did what pleased Him as the perfect example of a character formed by obedience to that law. His life demonstrated that human nature united with the divine can obey God's law completely, and His humanity was perfect, controlling words and temper, watching and praying continually and speaking no word that could give accusation opportunity. Sanctification is His work in the heart making believers complete in Him when in communion and spiritual conformity with His life, the principles of His character made the principles of human character. Self is humbled before God, obstacles to service removed, truth practiced, instruction accepted and one's own way given up for God's way, with personal preferences given up and refusal to divide over disagreements while Christ rules heart and mind. Church members are thus to cultivate self-control and build character according to His pattern, and by grace form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law, which is Bible sanctification.
Oneness and Witness to World
Christ's prayer for oneness belongs inseparably to this verse, for sanctification through the truth produces unity patterned on the unity of Christ and the Father — that all may be one as the Father is in Christ and Christ in the Father, one in them and perfect in one, with Christ in them and the Father in Christ. This oneness shares the glory the Father gave Christ, which is character changing believers from stage to stage to be like Him, having the Father's love and Christ Himself in them and partaking of the divine nature. Sanctification and oneness with Christ are God's purpose for His people, securing a people sanctified through the truth who place themselves under God's rule with will submitted at every step in preparation for His coming in clouds with power and glory, molded by Christ living in them through the Holy Spirit after the divine likeness to work in complete harmony with God, not as independent atoms but united by gospel principles and drawn by love to Christ the center. His recompense after finishing the Father's work and returning to pre-world glory is His ransomed church as chief source of His glory — hated by the world because not of the world, kept from evil and sent even as the Father sent Him, who will at last be with Him where He is to behold His glory.
That oneness does not merge or erase distinct personality and identity; Father and Son remain distinct persons, and believers made one keep individuality and own identity while united in shared action and perfected character. This unity was Christ's great desire and burden, and His oneness with the Father was constant joy to God because in Christ God saw His own character perfectly reflected without misrepresentation. It can be shared only by giving up one's own way for God's way and leaving behind self-willed, unsanctified dispositions.
Unity in faith and practice, in Christian fellowship and love as one body under one Head, exists in proportion to illumination and sanctification; the more fully the enlightenment of the divine Spirit is received, the more nearly believers harmonize in understanding what is truth and are united in judgment, with confidence in one another, peace and harmony, believing and speaking the same things with one heart and one mouth glorifying God. The early church after resurrection and ascension showed this fruit under the Holy Spirit in prevailing union of one heart and one mind, and even the difference over circumcision and admission of uncircumcised Gentiles was soon settled through divine illumination and sanctification until believers were perfectly joined in the same mind and judgment. This unity is the power of truth sanctifying the soul, worked by the Holy Spirit cleansing and restoring sinners, joined with the flow of God's love and power into their lives, and spiritual gifts are Heaven's appointed means to secure it for perfecting saints and edifying the body till all come in unity of faith.
The prayer is not yet answered while those proclaiming the gospel remain envious, full of strife, variance, evil surmising, discord, destitute of love and revealing worldly characteristics, dishonoring Jesus and misrepresenting Him before unbelievers. Such difference and disunion dishonor God, and pulling apart and living at variance is incompatible with being branches of the True Vine; the only hope of reaching heaven is to be one with Christ, and then in and through Christ to be one with one another, with no one called to walk alone or assigned a different path. The chapter makes no division giving miraculous powers and signs to apostles alone, since signs shall follow believers in every age.
It is answered when believers repent and are converted, put away variance and discord, confess and forsake sin, remove what stands between them and God and brethren, cherish love, pray with and for one another, present an unbroken front, and devote heart, soul, mind and strength with unity of purpose to work holy in God's sight while seeking the Holy Spirit. Then His Spirit bears witness that they are His instrumentalities, God enters their assembly to commune with and bless them, angels repeat the words with deepest power, and a powerful influence goes forth from God's commandment-keeping people when the words are believed and practiced. Where there is unity there is strength and a oneness all the powers of hell cannot break, while all who bring weakness and sorrow and discouragement upon God's people by perverse ways and tempers work directly against Christ's prayer, which Satan labors to make of none effect by creating bitterness and discord.
Sanctification and unity bear witness to the world with convicting power that God sent Jesus to save sinners and loves believers as He loved Jesus, testifying that the Word of God is the safe rule of life. Through them God's manifold wisdom is made known even to principalities and powers, giving their words power to convict souls, bring conversion of unbelievers, save sinners and give success to workers. When believers are thus sanctified, hearts filled with love and compassion and conduct marked by Christlike tenderness and courtesy convince the world that God sent His Son to die for sinners, for sanctified lives joined to Christ and one another bind them in love under the same Spirit, make them kind, tender and faithful, expel evil and draw the world back to God. If profession of greater truth and higher standard does not lead to being sanctified by it with deeper consecration, greater perfection of character and purer holier lives exalting sacred things, it is of no advantage, and it would be better never to have seen the light than to profess to accept it without sanctification, since every member must labor to preserve harmony, union and love as the convincing evidence.
Answering it requires ceasing criticism, evil speaking, backbiting, discord, strife, petty and political differences, variance and contention, putting away perplexities, discouragements, fretfulness, impatience, rivalry, selfishness, jealousy, evil surmisings and evil thinking, and bringing even thoughts into captivity to Christ. It requires esteeming others better than self, showing appreciation, helping with hope and cheer, encouraging the heavy-laden with love, respect, sympathy, courtesy, compassion and grace, linking with one another and with Christ, praying for union and then living so God can answer, learning meekness and lowliness, and building one another up in humility and harmonious action. When selfishness, rivalry and strife give way to humility, love and unity, God can bless the work with the Holy Spirit's grace, with Christ as Comforter abiding in the heart making joy full and imparting His Spirit and the glory of His character so He appears in true disciples.
Seeking this sanctification brings toward oneness while distractions from genuine truth and fixation on obscure questions lead away; it requires divine enlightenment, attention to revealed truths, and allowing Christ to rule heart and mind. Truly agreeing on principles of the Word removes clinging to hereditary and cultivated traits, special ideas, preferences, ways and opinions, enabling workers of different character, likes and dislikes to blend in harmonious action instead of letting differences become mountains of difficulty, through critical self-examination, placing self under Christ's discipline, making the Bible director and lesson book, and practicing religion in all details of life as His witnesses. This unity removes barriers of selfishness, distinction, color and caste and brings believers to completeness in Christ under heaven's harmony, as they receive the Holy Spirit and bind interests together in love; it requires esteeming and improving each one's gifts and refusing to divide over disagreements or hinder a worker who differs in method.
Sent to Save World
As the Father sent Christ into the world so Christ sends His sanctified followers into the world to continue the special work He began amid obstacles. They are not taken out of the world but kept from evil, not of the world even as He is not of the world, distinct in principles and interests yet living among people as He lived among them to uplift them. They preserve the world from corruption as salt-like saving agents, save from crime and work reformation through vital connection with God. This makes plain the duty to the millions destitute of the knowledge of God who walk in darkness and in the shadow of death, to go to them as those sent and sanctified through the truth to witness to Christ.
His great purpose is to secure a people sanctified through the truth who place themselves under God's rule with the will submitted at every step, inquiring His way and methods in preparation for His coming in the clouds with power and great glory. Through the Holy Spirit Christ living in them molds the soul after the divine likeness so they work in complete harmony with God as Father and Son are one, not as independent atoms doing as they please but united by gospel principles and drawn by love to Christ the center. This calls them away from conformity to the world, whose practices and love of display weaken the church, and brings a deep experience with God, a life in harmony with Christ's teachings, refusal of worldly practices, and understanding of the mystery of godliness, Christ within, the hope of glory. What He gives through words and unselfish service saves from sin and turns toward righteousness, forming a healthy living church as truth grasped and practiced works by love.
After finishing the work the Father gave Him He claims His recompense in returning to the glory He had before the world was. His recompense is His ransomed church as the chief source of His glory — hated by the world because not of the world, kept from evil, sent, made perfect in one with the Father's love in them and Christ in them, through whom God's manifold wisdom is made known even to principalities and powers, that the world may believe and know the Father sent Jesus and loves them as He loved Jesus. They will at last be with Him where He is to behold His glory given from before the foundation, with the Father's name declared so that the Father's love and Christ Himself may be in them. His self-consecration even to the giving of His life brings believers into inward living union with Himself and the Father and binds brother with brother in peace and love and unity so heaven is represented on earth, and Christ and the church become one with Christ in His people united to God their great Head.
Sanctification is not for personal benefit alone but equips believers as channels of light to help others, represent Christ, convey sanctifying power, and do the same work Christ did. The word they bear is to lead others to Jesus, so it must be clear and truthful. Their sanctification is tied to the holy work to which they are sent, a high attainment reached as His prayer is worked out in cooperation with God, preparing them for their appointed work. His mission to seek and save the lost and bring them light is entrusted to everyone who receives Him, to be carried with spiritual help and divine power from Jerusalem to earth's ends, reproducing His character, aims and purposes with earnest zeal, self-denial and continual service to win souls ready to perish, and living out its pattern brings good fruit and reveals to the world that the Father sent Christ to save sinners.
His self-giving shows believers' great value to God, purchased by His blood, chosen, heirs with Christ, set apart for service, made one with Himself and dear to His heart. Through grace they receive moral courage to accept unpopular truth and suffer reproach, so to cast disparagement on their character is not after His order. When thus sanctified the sinful heart is changed, sinners partake of His perfection, character is formed after the divine likeness, hearts are filled with love and compassion, and conduct is marked by tenderness, courtesy and compassion. This calls them to unselfish love rather than seeking supremacy, to love and value one another, to put self aside so that when selfishness, rivalry and strife give way to humility, love and unity God can bless the work, and to treat even opponents with deference and respect, for their unity convinces the world and gives power to convict souls and bring conversion.
Call to Holy Living
The prayer means far more than is commonly realized and is to be received into the treasure-house of the soul as the daily lesson and rule of life. It is to be read often, studied word by word, deeply believed, prayed and acted upon, with God's will plainly outlined in it and in John 13-17 to guide the church. This living out belongs before fellow ministers, in church, institutions and home, where the Word shapes conduct, softens disposition and wins souls. To take any other course is to walk in sparks of human kindling and lose vital godliness, while sanctification joined with unity and love bears witness to the world.
It teaches justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ, opening the treasure-house of truth to fill the soul with joy, peace and love. It gives hope, courage and strength to faith, keeps souls in God's love and in the simplicity of pure Christlikeness, and guards against getting above that simplicity. It convicts backsliders of their own fault, exposes leaving first love, and moves them to seek conversion and to ask forgiveness from others. Its possibilities strengthen faith and show what Christians may become as they strive to answer it, setting forth covenant privilege and the greatest gift within reach that must be availed of and improved, so that neglect will require answer in the great day.
Christ's self-giving is the principle for prayer and life, for prayer is not selfish asking for personal benefit but asking in order to give. It means the same devotion, self-sacrifice, submission and obedience to the claims of God's word seen in Christ, glorifying God by working with Him to save sinners. Receiving heavenly treasure depends on passing it on, asking for blessing from God in order to share it with others rather than to serve or please self. To pray is one thing and to live out prayers is another, yet when need is felt and asked for God supplies from abundant fullness, the sincere prayer of faith from felt need is never in vain, and duty is to be done not only because it is duty but from love of right.
The chapter stands on record as requirement and standard for leaders now, meaning a higher, holier sanctification of soul, body and spirit is needed before one can lead or instruct. It calls ministers, presidents and workers to sanctify themselves through devotion and self-consecration, losing self and selfish interest in Christ, being reconverted, watching unto prayer, daily emptying self, and depending wholly on Christ. It requires humility of mind, teachableness, walking in the light, taking counsel with God and with older and more experienced brethren, and refusing to lay plans by one's own wisdom, self-wisdom or self-confidence lest the cause be imperiled and hindered. Keeping Christ the Pattern constantly before the mind forms new habits, subdues powerful hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong, lays self-esteem in the dust, resists old habits of thought and overcomes love for supremacy by esteeming others better than self, so that learning His meekness and lowliness under His yoke He becomes wisdom, sanctification and righteousness; for people generally rise no higher than their minister or president, and a devoted example lifts them while defects are reproduced.
Those who minister in sacred things while the antitypical atonement goes on in heaven must be holy, clean, pure in life and conversation, examples to the flock and ministers of righteousness wearing Christ's yoke in justice and integrity. They are to be one as Christ is one with the Father, drawing together in orderly sanctuary service directing people to God's presence, respecting and loving one another. They are to give themselves to the Lord for purification and sanctification, consecrating soul, body and spirit and relying on Christ's grace so words and works are done in God, living by truth rather than worldly ambition, plans or principles. As they humble themselves and consecrate service God works through them, letting Him work through words, devotion, sacred character and conduct to represent truth, convince unbelievers, guard souls ready to perish without stumbling block, work in harmony with angels and Christ, and present every person perfect in Christ.
The same work lies on every teacher of children and youth and on all Christians to sanctify themselves so those they serve may be sanctified. It calls for no haphazard work but deliberate labor with much of Christ's grace and the subduing of self, teaching Christ crucified for sins and Christ risen, ascended and interceding as the science of salvation, correctly representing the gospel as the power and wisdom of God. Educators must rely on grace, discipline character, let truth transform them, bring spirits under Christ's control, and avoid reproducing fretfulness, provocation, criticism and evil-thinking in those who cost so much. This consecration embraces soul, body, spirit and all God-given powers, keeping the soul pure, cultivating moral principles, confronting dishonesty and licentiousness, sanctifying eating, drinking and every word and deed, setting powers to work to uplift, ennoble, elevate and press upon humanity to bring souls to Christ while kept from evil under constant watchfulness as faithful sentinels.
Parents as teachers in the home are to follow that pattern to lead children to cooperate with God and be sanctified, themselves made holy by obeying the truth. They must live as they want children to live, giving example of steadfast principles, self-control and self-denial for others' good, teaching honesty, truthfulness, kindness and patience. They are to manifest kindness, courtesy and love without blind affection, let truth control conscience, understanding, word and deed, be as faithful in home life as in worship, dedicate children to the Lord and guide them toward conversion and Christlike character. As the Word shapes family life and prayer deepens impression of the promises toward perfecting holiness in the fear of God, dissension and disunity can be removed through truth and the Spirit.
Young people working with Jesus are to share His self-denial, and every follower's consecration is shown in meekness, grace and commitment to unity rather than criticism, accusation or dissension. Devotion to God should influence every part of conduct at home, in church and in work, with conscientious fidelity in trust and training others by teaching and example. Christians are to seek sanctification through the means of grace, attend to them and live so their need is clear to others, making holiness visible and representing His life and character by wholly devoting self to redeeming the world. This puts aside self in devoted service, giving up self-glory even unto suffering, shame, imprisonment or death, with righteous works showing holiness.
The sanctifying power appears in daily practice exalting the gospel and testifying to the power of the Word by keeping the commandments, with each believer responsible for individual influence so that the disciple simply voices Christ's words to be received as His own. It exalts the spiritual above the temporal, refuses the enemy and self-promotion, brings people to Bible truth and stands firmly on the platform of eternal truth of loving God wholly and neighbor as self. It strains to high holiness with unconscious influence, empties selfishness and accusation, does appointed work with best effort, and lives purity, love and true righteousness in dealings with sympathy, courtesy, compassion and grace in oneness of heart and belief reflecting the union of Father and Son; for lowering the standard forms characters that will not meet heaven's approval.
Heeding the prayer is the direct way to reform and changed principles when discernment is perverted, for sanctification comes through God's truth received into good and honest hearts, reaching the mind and transforming mind and character through belief and reception of the Holy Spirit to share divine love and unity in Christ. These words are to be received in every home as God's message showing how to possess Christ's grace, to be carried out in the testing time when God proves who is worthy of admittance into His family through united consecration in one great work. That practice must begin in the home, where members are measured by what they are, living Christ's pattern life with heart-binding love, tender respectful regard, working His works so the lamp burns brightly to give light in darkness and lead men to glorify the Father, extending to the church as a symbol of heaven's family. It calls for the Spirit to cleanse unkind talk, judgment and self-assured conversation as by a living coal, to stop strange fire, and to read 1 Corinthians 1 into living experience as faithful stewards with righteousness before and glory behind while God builds character, lest counsels become death unto death and refusers be unworthy when He comes in glory.