The word, “sanctify” means to free from sin, to purify, or to set apart as holy. What Jesus is asking the Father to do here for us, is to make us increasingly more holy! The Westminster Shorter Catechism (question 35) defines “sanctification” as the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

As we look at both this verse and this definition, we find that the work of sanctification in us is really God’s work! And other scriptures agree. Philippians 1:6, for example, says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 12:1-2 says:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” There are many other passages that we could cite here as well. This is good news! But it’s a very common thing for Christians to think that, once they are saved, it’s now their job to grow themselves in holiness, which just leads to despair! This is not something we can do in our own strength and must depend on God to work it in us. However, in order to grow, we must cooperate with him in this process. This week we will be looking at the ways we cooperate with him in this process of sanctification; but today, we will simply rejoice in the fact that our God will unfailingly carry it on to completion!!