John 17:16-19 (KJV)
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Jesus Christ is the Word of God “John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”. He came from heaven born of a virgin and was not of this world. Now we who believe in Him, He as brought us into His own Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. We are not anymore of the world. Being not of the world but being of heaven we now live according to a different standard, GOD’s standard, we have a new heavenly culture. Therefore Jesus Christ is transforming us towards that. We now abide in Him “1 John 3:23-24 (KJV) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. [24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”.
In verse 17 we can see how GOD sanctifies us. The truth is the agent and Jesus Christ is both the truth and the Word of God. “John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”. So it is Jesus Christ who sanctifies us as we listen to Him, His word. His word shows us GOD’s standard and we start to obey it. “Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”. His Holy Spirit teaches us His word and ways. Obedience is an act of faith because it is what we hope for and believe but ca not see. Obeying the Word of God in the world is often contradictory to the ways of the world and therefore requires faith and trust in GOD that He knows better, that His ways are better. We now look at things from an eternal and heavenly perspective which is revealed to us by His word.
Therefore be encouraged to spend time with Jesus Christ in prayer and the Word of God and make it a point to gather together with other believers to grow and become more Christ like. “Ephesians 5:26-27 (KJV) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”