“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” - John 17:19
How does lasting change really occur? Many books have been written on this subject. There are people who tour the country, giving lectures about this topic. There are men and women who declare themselves experts about life-change. I've read some of these books and heard some of these lectures. Much of it falls in the realm of self-help or self-improvement. Occasionally, someone will say something worthwhile, but much of it is redressing of old stale ideas.
I am not expert on any subject, including this one. Yet I have found that there is a way for a person to undergo profound, lasting change. Eternal change occurs when a person is transformed by the Truth.
In John 8:32, Jesus said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Many quote this verse without even knowing that they are quoting Jesus. Yet this verse is factual. When a person knows the truth, the truth makes them free. They are transformed by the Truth. Through faith in Christ, a person experiences internal change that reshapes his life and leads him on a different path.
Conversion is just the beginning of this change. When a person is born again, a new life begins. After regeneration, the work of sanctification begins. God continues to work in a man's life, making him more and more like Jesus.
When Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17, He said, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” Jesus was set apart to complete a mission for His Father. Jesus expected His disciples to be sanctified. Notice that this sanctification occurs, "... through the truth."
I began by asking the question, how does lasting change occur? The answer is plain. We are transformed by the truth. We are not embracing a fantasy or fiction. Instead, we experience life-change through the power of God's Word. In a previous verse in John 17, Jesus made this statement, "... thy word is truth."
Lives are impacted by the power of the Gospel. As a preacher takes God's Word and boldly proclaims the truth, that word pierces hearts, shatters strongholds of falsehood and brings light to areas of darkness.
We are living in a time when the truth is under assault. Spiritual forces have targeted the truth, trying to remove it from society. The devil has duped many into believing that there is no such thing as truth. Yet as God's Word is proclaimed, either publicly or personally, the truth still goes forth and changes lives.
I don't have the power to change lives. You don't either. While many try to use manipulation to get a response, God-called preachers still use the Bible to call men and women to repentance.
It seems old fashioned to use only one Book, week after week, to reach people. Yet that is our mandate. By the way, it still works, too. Yes, people can commit to something because of emotionalism or manipulation, but only God can radically change a person's heart. He has chosen His Word to do this. He still transforms lives by the Truth.
As believers, we know that we've been changed by the truth. Yet we are still being changed by the truth. That's why Bible reading, Bible study, sound Bible teaching and good preaching is important in our sanctification process.
If I am blessed to see the end of this year, I want to be a Christian at that point than I was back in January. I would want the year to come to be a growing process, also.
That's what the Lord desires for each of His children. He wants us to live holy lives. He expects us to be loving, compassionate and honest.
As I get older, I tend to resemble my parents, not just in appearance, but in my actions, too. Over time, shouldn't my character evolve to be more like my heavenly Father? That process is called sanctification. That is accomplished by the truth of God's Word.
We are being transformed by the truth.
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