Our study last week left off with the cursing of Ham’s youngest son – Canaan. Genesis 10 is a genealogy, which is best observed in graphic form.
One of the greatest difficulties the believer faces while in the flesh – is to be in the world – not of the world. God sanctified Noah by removing him from the sinful world that was – before judgment – a beautiful picture of the rapture of the saints. The believer’s sanctification requires continual rejection of the world’s temptations.
JOHN 17:15-16
15 I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
There is a clear principal expressed in the Word of God, which indicates that the LORD wants Christians in the world as a witness – without becoming contaminated by the world and its trappings. If the Christian loses his testimony – his ability to witness effectively will be very difficult. These failures are infamous, and leave the church exposed to ridicule, rather than admiration.
MATTHEW 5:13
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
The Scriptures are chock full of examples of men so affected by the world surrounding them, that they temporarily lose their testimony through their failure. These cases are intended to serve as an example to us of what not to do! Sanctification (being set apart from the world and unto God’s service) is our goal once saved, and it is so important that we all, as believers, should pursue sanctification with due diligence. We are not to continue living our lives in the same old way.
Noah’s family was saved (sanctified) from the Flood, but soon afterwards they fell into a variety of sins. Noah’s family carried the wickedness of the pre-flood world into the Ark with them. Faithful Noah got his family out of the completely evil world system, but he could not get “the world” out of his family.
HOW ABOUT US? ARE WE LIVING A SANCTIFIED LIFE? OR DO WE LIVE ONE WAY AT CHURCH – AND ANOTHER WAY AT HOME AND WORK? ASK YOURSELF – HOW IS THE WORLD INFILTRATING MY FAMILY? TV? INTERNET? VIDEO GAMES? DO WE SING PRAISE TO OUR HOLY GOD ON SUNDAY – AND THEN GO HOME AND WATCH R-RATED MOVIES, OR HALF NAKED CHEERLEADERS DURING HALF-TIME? ROMANCE NOVELS? SOAP OPERAS?HOW ABOUT THE NEW PROBLEM – COVETING OVER PINTEREST?
Sanctification occurs in the past (when we are saved) the present (occurs daily as we cleanse our lives of sins) and in the future (as we are saved from the presence of sin.)
Our “present” sanctification should be the work of every Christian. How?
- Studying the Word of God brings sanctification. John 17:17 – Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.
- Surrendering to the Lord’s Will brings sanctification. Romans 12:1,2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Sanctification is brought about in the life of the believer by his separating himself deliberately from all that is unclean and unholy, and by presenting, continually and constantly, the members of this body as holy instruments unto God for the accomplishment of His holy purposes. Thus by these single acts of surrender unto holiness, sanctification soon becomes the habit of life.
William Evans
The Vine Vigil 