Sanctification

Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s Appointed Times of Unleavened Bread

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

Often misunderstood, sanctification is the process whereby the love and grace of God is activated by the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse and strengthen you to fulfill God’s purposes. Through the process we have an opportunity to find our greatest significance in life.

The appointed time of Unleavened Bread was established to begin the day after Passover, lasting seven days. Special care was taken to remove all leaven (yeast) from the house. God had a lot to say about the leaven: anyone eating any leaven would be cut off from the congregation of Israel (Exodus 12:15), whether a stranger or native; it shall not be seen among you (13:7); "You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven” (Exodus 34:25 NKJV). Even in the New Covenant, the LORD specifically exhorted the people several times to beware of the leaven of the religious leaders as well as Herod.

What's the issue with leaven? It's a fermenting substance; a turbulent form of bacterium that is permeating and pervasive in nature. It spreads like a cancer or virus, contaminating, polluting and corrupting what it touches. It therefore, is used as a metaphor for sin and falsehood. As it spreads, it compromises and destroys what is true, good and otherwise pure. It prevents the love of God from flowing freely within us.

RELEVANCE

The LORD fulfilled this celebration, being sinless.  He was pure, filled with a full measure of the Holy Spirit, and demonstrated a lifestyle free from sin. He has once and for all fulfilled the requirement of this law. All in the LORD are not only justified before God, but sanctified (cleansed from sin) in His name.

So, why was Unleavened Bread prescribed for seven days, whereas Passover is a single-day event?  While redemption was accomplished by a single blood sacrifice, we appropriate that sacrifice and pursue a life-long process of being continuously sanctified and purified (washed in Christ's love!), growing into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13) 

This entails:

• Studying and meditating on God’s Word, allowing it to breathe life and change our attitudes and behaviors
• Engaging with God in prayer, receiving the Holy Spirit’s inward conviction, instruction and guidance
• Responding appropriately, turning from harmful influences,  changing our mindsets and motivations
• Expressing God's love by serving others to keep focus off of self and onto God’s greater purposes

This was what the apostle, Paul, had in mind in teaching the disciples to, “keep working out your deliverance with fear and trembling for God is the one working among you both the willing and the working for what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:12-13 JNT)

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

How clean do you feel before God? How loved do you feel by God?   Are there ways you find yourself justifying your righteousness, or standing before God?  Do you ever feel condemned by others, and/or the need to defend your works or self-worth to others? 

If so, there may be some areas God wants to cleanse in your life. You can’t vindicate yourself and have peace. Only God can give you true peace.  Allow the Holy Spirit—God’s Comforter—to minister God’s love and cleansing work in you.

Are there known areas of sin in your life? Earnestly ask God to show them to you. He will be faithful to reveal to you—as your heart remains inclined toward Him, and is prepared to receive His truth in His love. For, with His love—which is unconditional—comes His mercy.

Embrace David’s prayer in Psalm 51:1-3.

Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.

 

REFERENCES

Exodus 12:15-20; Leviticus 23:6-8; Psalm 24; 26:8-12; 119:1-40; Romans 3:21-5:20; Galatians 2:11-3:25; James 2:14-26; John 17:17-19; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Hebrews 10:5-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Colossians 1:21-23

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.