2 Chronicles 29:31 “Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near, and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD.” So the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.”
A pastor friend once gave a message that focused on “Continuing in Christ.” Within the message he made a statement that resounded in me, “Abounding in thanksgiving is the evidence of the one who abounds in Christ“.
As I considered the statement, I thought of all the ones I know of who are filled with the Holy Spirit and I can say that thanksgiving is certainly a trait evident in everyone who knows and walks with Jesus. Look throughout history, regardless of the people or country of origin, you will see how the Lord incites a heart of thankfulness in those who know Him—because they know they have received something of great value.
King Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he began his rule over Judah. His desire to cleanse the Temple and restore worship to the One True God caused quite a stir among the people. The process of change from a society that had allowed idolatry to weave its way into their lives back toward a return of worship to the Lord was one that took a few notable steps.
2 Chronicles 29:10 “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us.”
Godly Sanctification
The process of sanctification is an Old and New Testament concept. The word “sanctify” or “sanctification” is derived from Latin words sanctus (holy) and facere (to make). In other words, the word “sanctify” means to make something or someone become holy.
Without digging too far into covenant theology, a brief review of Covenant theocracy reminds us of how we might approach the Throne of God and how we then can commune with God thereafter. George Turnbull, the scottish philosopher, theologian, and teacher once said, “Only a holy people can come into God’s presence and only a holy people can live in communion with God.
During Hezekiah’s time the people of Judah had turned from God to worshipping idols, recognizing the moral dilemma of his people he called for the restoration of true worship and the focal point was the Temple of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 29:11 “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”
To come before the Lord, the priest first had to go through a ritualistic process of purification, it was then that the people could come forward with their offerings of repentance for sin.
Today, if we want to approach the throne of God, we too must come with a heart of repentance. We no longer must bring a burnt offering, Jesus has already fulfilled that role perfectly. God’s people must only come to Jesus and accept His offering made on behalf of the lost. The sinner may not approach the throne of God without the sacrifice, to do they would forfeit their life.
If we try to bypass Jesus or make Him something other than who He has revealed, we negate the sacrifice and come solely by our own standard of goodness, as sinners this would be a critical error.
Once a new believer has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, the expectation is that they walk with Him in holiness. To continue in sin after having committed their lives to Him, would only be a lie and the truth would not be in us.
We cannot have fellowship with Christ on a daily basis and live in sin, even if we have been sanctified by the blood of Christ, our fellowship with Him cannot be founded in rebellion. The grace of God is quick to restore the one who recognizes their sin and repents, the Spirit of God quickly draws near and our walk with Him becomes sweet again….it is by His measure of grace that believers have much to be thankful.
Hebrews 7:18,19 “For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
Holy Consecration
To be consecrated is to be declared Holy. If sanctification is the process, consecration is the final result. We cannot declare ourselves holy, that judgement is reserved only for God who originally declared us guilty of sin. Jesus made it very clear that to judge another is to essentially make a determination of someone else’s position of consecration before God—we would be placing ourselves in a role as God if we were to do so.
To be consecrated in the Old Testament was determined by the ceremonial law. There was a measure of accountability given by other priests who interpreted the law and held others to the standard that God ordained.
Today, the believers declaration of consecration is made by Jesus.
Romans 8:1,2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Jesus sets the sinner free.
No more condemnation
Because of the perfect work of Christ, the believer can live in freedom.
- Freedom from sin that brings shame.
- Moving from a position of enmity(actively opposed) before God to being His friend.
- Freedom from the judgement of the law.
The perfect sacrifice of Christ must become our sacrifice before the Father. Jesus has made a way for His people to not only approach His throne, but to walk in fellowship with God.
Walking according to the flesh is to live by our own strength. When we attempt to become righteous by our own actions, we live in the flesh. When we try to reinterpret God based off how we want to see Him, we live by our own understanding.
The Lord has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, Jesus was fully God and fully man. In other words, Jesus came in the flesh as a man but His Spirit was fully God.
We are not God, but He was promised that if we trust Him for our lives, the same Spirit that was in Christ will be in us. Believers can abide with Him now, like a husband and wife can become one flesh, so can the redeemed enjoy a spiritual union with Christ.
For those who have experienced this spiritual union with God, out from their hearts comes forth thanksgiving.
God’s glorious nature fills His people with joy, peace, and love. They recognize the great value these spiritual gifts have become and they rejoice in them.
Romans 8:5,6 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
What emanates from your life?
The one who walks with Christ shows forth Christ-like affection. The one who walks according to the flesh, the attributes of the flesh are made known.
Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
The way believers walk in fellowship with God is by living according to His law. The ten commandments are the framework by which christians reflect their love back to Him. Loving God looks like loving others, this is the summation of the moral law.
Psalm 118:19 “Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.”
Walking according to the moral law is to walk in righteousness. What seems like constraint from the outside looking in, is rather the freedom to all who enter in.
Listen to the testimony of those who have gone before us, their praise and worship echoes throughout history and reminds us of the goodness of God now and the glory that is to come.
U.T. 