0646. Jehovah-Mekadishkem

Jehovah-Mekadishkem

"Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbath ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am (Jehovah-mekadishkem) the Lord that doth sanctify you" (Exo_31:13).

Sanctification is a word that is abused, and yet it is a word that is full of precious meanings to the children of God.

1. The word "sanctification," is derived from the Greek word, "Hagios" which means, "Clean, free from stain. In its Bible use, however, it not only suggests cleansing, but it includes dedication. For instance, we read that God "rested on the seventh day and sanctified it;" that is, He set it aside for holy use.

We also read that Christ "sanctified His Church;" that is, having washed it, purified it, He set it apart unto Himself.

Thus, sanctification includes both our cleansing and our consecration. Sanctification does not mean the eradication of the carnal nature.

2. Sanctification is not the "daily dying" of the old man. The truth is, the old Adam never dies. It should be reckoned dead, it should be denied and denounced, but it is not annihilated. Paul said, "I know that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing." He also said that he had "no confidence in the flesh."

3. Sanctification is a precious, and, an important doctrine.

Read 1Th_5:23 : "And the very God of Peace, sanctify you wholly. And I pray God that your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord."

In 1Th_4:3 we read: "This is the will of God, even your sanctification."

4. "Christ is made unto us sanctification." That is, sanctification is made possible only through Jehovah-mekadishkem, the Lord Who sanctifies you. Sanctification includes our cleansing from sin at the Cross of Christ, it also includes a clean life, and a separation unto God. All of which is made possible, only, by the risen Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

There is deep need of being clean, in word, and thought, and deed, and of being separated unto the service of God. This is possible only to those who know Christ as Jehovah-mekadishkem.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR