Paul gives his closing remarks and in so doing leaves us with more pearls of truth.
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
In the OT the priest would sanctify the items of the Temple so that they would be known as holy to God. It was the act of consecration.
I went to see a building that one of our churches have purchased and then during lunch the Pastor told me the plans. They were to have a service of consecration in the building before they do anything. Now of course we all understand what is meant. Moving into the building as the start of a new chapter they wanted to set it all apart for God. The service will be an act of decision that in this ‘space’ God will be honoured, sought and experienced.
The day before I was with another Pastor and they told me that during a period of consecration as a church people were putting things right in their lives. He gave me an example of a couple who lived together for many years deciding to get married before God and it was the outcome of the period of consecration. Everyone believed this was God moving in the couple’s lives. Indeed it was. He was sanctifying them.
So is there a difference between consecration and sanctification? If there is it would be this: Consecration is a time of reflection when we decide to set ourselves apart for God in an area of our lives. Sanctification is the act of doing so.
Consecration is what we do but sanctification is what God does in us or enables us or leads us into doing.
And who does Paul say does the sanctifying? The God of Peace. He doesn’t come in anger. He doesn’t work in your life with a disappointment that you are just not good enough so He has to tidy up your mess. He is Peace and He comes in Peace. His presence in your life is peace.
So make the decision and seek God asking that He may sanctify you and as He comes receive His perfect peace.
Missions Paul 