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I. AN OBJECT DEAR TO CHRIST.

1. He prayed for this on earth. Prayer is always the sign of earnest desire for another's good: how earnest, then, must have been that desire which could bid back the onrush of sorrow from Gethsemane, &c.

2. He died for this upon the cross (ver. 19). Christ died for something more than the erasure of the penalty due to man from heaven's statute book. Christ had His eye on men's recovery to purity and truth, and their entire consecration to God (Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 2:14).

3. He pleads for it in heaven (Hebrews 7:25).

II. A GIFT SOUGHT FROM THE FATHER.

1. The reason of this —

(1) Every good and perfect gift is from Him (James 1:17).

(2) The work of making holy belongs essentially to the realm of the supernatural (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 21:23; Ezekiel 37:28; Zechariah 4:6; Acts 20:32; Jude 1).

(3) The grace of purity God distinctly desires to see reproduced in man (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

(4) The gift of holiness He has expressly included in the promise (Isaiah 1:25; Jeremiah 31:33; Hosea 14:5; Zechariah 10:12).

2. The comfort of this. If God be the Author and Giver of sanctification, then it must be —

(1)  Freely given (James 1:5).

(2)  Faithfully pursued (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

(3)  Successfully accomplished (Philippians 1:6).

III. A WORK EFFECTED IN THE TRUTH.

1. The knowledge of it. Hence growth in grace keeps pace with growth in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18), and that knowledge identified with eternal life (ver. 2).

2. The belief of it. Sanctification and belief of the truth are at least coordinate if the former does not spring from the latter (2 Thessalonians 2:13), since the word of God effectually works in them who believe (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

3. The love of it. Before truth can exercise its rightful sway over the life, it must be enshrined in the affections. Hence love of truth is essential to salvation (Psalm 119:47), and the absence of it the cause of judgment in them that perish (2 Thessalonians if. 10).

4. The obedience of it (1 Peter 1:22; Romans 6:17). The new life of grace ever moves in the sphere of truth.

IV. A QUALIFICATION REQUISITE FOR CHRISTIAN WORK (vers. 18, 19). As Christ had a mission, so have His saints.

1. Resting on a similar authority, as the Father sent Christ, so Christ sent His apostles (John 20:21; Matthew 10:16), and His followers now (Matthew 5:16; Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:15).

2. Possessing a similar object. As Christ's mission aimed at the world's salvation, so does theirs. As Christ revealed the Father's name, so under Him they are to bear Christ's name (and in that the Father's) unto the world (Acts 9:15; 2 Corinthians 3:3).

3. Demanding a similar consecration. As Christ was sanctified by the Father and sent into the world (Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5-7), so can Christ's servants only discharge their mission in proportion as they are consecrated to the will of their Leader.Lessons:

1. Is sanctification a matter of interest to us?

2. Are we asking God to begin, carry on, and complete it?

3. Are we bringing our souls into close and frequent contact with the truth?

4. Are we remembering the mission for which we are sanctified?

(T. Whitelaw, D. D.)

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KJV: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

WEB: Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.