Living to love with Jesus sanctifies you.

Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Here in chapter 6 of Romans, Paul was combatting the danger of antinomianism or an attitude of lawlessness since grace super abounds where sin abounds. He had raised the question, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may increase?” Then Paul worked out his reasons for answering with a triple negative, “No, not, never.” He used the imagery of slavery, which they would understand. However, those are not human terms we relate to very well in our day, unless we think in terms of those who are slaves to sex traffickers. The normal person probably can’t imagine a woman presenting herself to a pimp and willingly enslaving herself to them. However, it happens more in other countries than we might think. I learned from the leadership team of a ministry that rescues women from the sex industry that women become slaves because they need or owe money. They have learned they can use their bodies to make money and that pimps are their agents. It’s not much different than an author who sign a book deal with a publisher. They present themselves to the agent, and the agent markets his product and arranges appointments and interviews to make money for the publisher (as well as the author). I am speaking in human terms we understand in our day. Paul’s point was this: you used to present your bodily members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness. You did what you wanted to do for self-fulfillment. What was the outcome of that lifestyle? Further lawlessness. Now that you have died with Christ and have been raised to walk in a new life with Him, present your body to God as a slave of righteousness. The result will be your sanctification. You will become more like Jesus. You will be more holy. The very thing you now desire will take place. Do you want to be more like Jesus? Do you want to be more holy? Then this verse encourages us to give ourselves to Jesus for His service. When we give Him full access to all the members of our bodies because we love Him and love righteousness as He does, He will live His life in us to God which will prepare us for His coming. Jesus gave His disciples the word which the Father gave Him to give to them. It is found in John 13:34-35. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” A few minutes later, Jesus prayed this prayer, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” If you will intentionally commit yourself to live to love with Jesus, the result will be your sanctification as His righteousness is expressed through you. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com