Sanctification: Jesus cleanses all our darkness
Jesus is our Saviour because he sanctifies us. Our "sanctification" or "holiness" means being made holy and clean when we were unholy and unclean in God's sight. But there is only one thing that can cleanse us: "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1Jn 1:7). This statement is made in this context: "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all" (1Jn 1:5). If there is any darkness in us, we cannot have fellowship with God. Jesus "sanctifies" us and purges all our darkness away so that we are only light. We are "sanctified" or "made holy".
Jesus is our Saviour because he sanctifies us. Our "sanctification" or "holiness" means being made holy and clean when we were unholy and unclean in God's sight. But there is only one thing that can cleanse us: "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1Jn 1:7). This statement is made in this context: "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all" (1Jn 1:5). If there is any darkness in us, we cannot have fellowship with God. Jesus "sanctifies" us and purges all our darkness away so that we are only light. We are "sanctified" or "made holy".
Redemption: Jesus paid the price of our escapeJesus is our Saviour because he redeems us. Our "redemption" is understood when we look back at our ruined lives all marred by sin. We can see that we no longer belonged to God, but to Satan. We must say with Paul, "I am carnal, sold under sin" (Rom 7:14). The term "carnal" means "of the flesh". Of course, God did not sell us, we sold ourselves like the people of old who "sold themselves to do evil" (1Kg 21:20, 2Kg 17:17).
If we were not properly regarded as belonging to Satan, why should God have determined to send us into the eternal punishment "prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mtt 25:41)? Why should we share Satan's destiny if Satan did not own us? And why should God's Son die on the cross for us? Indeed, we became Satan's possession when we sinned. God recognises that, and so should we.
If we belonged to Satan, we would be punished with him, unless God provided for our rescue and escape, and unless we accepted that way and reached out to God for it. But God would not steal us from Satan, and if God was to take us back, a price had to be paid.
This was not to satisfy Satan, but to satisfy God. God would not pay evil for evil. God would not pay evil for good. But he would pay good for evil, that evil might be overcome. This payment for our rescue is called "redemption" or "purchase".
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