Freedom From Everything That Is Unlike Jesus

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.
1 Peter 3:15

Sanctification is a term that summarizes a profound transaction: becoming like Jesus Christ. The Bible often speaks of sanctification in terms of putting off and putting on (see Ephesians 4:22-24).

Oswald Chambers shares these thoughts about the truth behind the term.

WALK WITH OSWALD CHAMBERS
“Sanctification means intense concentration on God’s point of view. It means every power of body, soul, and spirit is chained and kept for God’s purpose only. It will cause an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth, and an immense broadening of all our interests in God.

“Are we prepared for God to do all in us that he separated us for? The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized its meaning from God’s standpoint. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the disposition that ruled him will rule us.

“Jesus has prayed that we might be one with him as he is one with the Father. The one and only characteristic of the Holy Spirit in a person is a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ and freedom from everything that is unlike him.”

WALK CLOSER TO GOD
Do you want to be like Christ? The question may sound too basic, but before you set it aside, make sure you consider its implications:

Are you prepared for what sanctification will cost? Are you prepared for God to do in you all that is necessary to bring about transformation? Are you prepared to let God shape your life so that you bear a strong likeness to his Son?

From God’s point of view, there’s no higher purpose in life. But the extent that this purpose is realized in your life depends on your point of view.