TUESDAY, AUGUST 8
Hebrews 11:1- 10
Acts 26:18

"…them which are sanctified 
by faith that is in me."

SANCTIFIED BY FAITH IN CHRIST AND GOD’S WORD

As mentioned before, without being born again, no one is able to walk in the narrow way of sanctification, for it is contrary to his sinful nature and lusts. Like a dying or dead fish drifting in the water without any ability to swim against the tide, a spiritually dead or dying person can never live a holy life against his sinful nature and against the worldly trends of ungodliness. All the means of sanctification written here is strange to him!

If salvation including sanctification is by good works and human efforts, we shall be able to boast about our merits and achievements, or to despise others. However, salvation is by grace through faith alone, and it is a gift of God, so we have nothing to boast about. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8-9). Truly, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Rom 1:17). When the Scripture tells us about faith, it is not any kind of faith, but the saving faith in God, in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in God’s Word (Mark 11:22; Heb 12:2; Rom 10:17). Thus, "without faith it is impossible to please" God (Heb 11:6) and "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom 14:23). Knowing this truth, we can be sure that those who doubt God and criticize or question His Word can never please God or live a true sanctified Christian life!

It is by faith in Christ that we are saved and justified (Rom 3:25-28; Eph 2:8), but we must not stop there like many professing Christians who think that it is enough just to believe in the Lord Jesus to be saved without walking in the narrow way of sanctification! Our faith in the Lord and in God’s Word must grow daily from faith to faith (Rom 1:17; 10:17; 2 Thess 1:3), even from justification to sanctification. "… them which are sanctified by faith that is in me (Christ)" (Acts 26:18). Thus, we must look unto "Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" for our sanctification as well.

THOUGHT: No faith in Christ and His Word, no true sanctification.
PRAYER: Lord, how I thank Thee for granting me faith to believe!