Sanctifying God

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: fear: or, reverence - 1 Peter 3:15

    God is essentially and infinitely holy. We do not make him so; but we do declare, proclaim, and regard him to be our Holy and Sovereign Lord in two, ways.

1. Internally - “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” Unless we truly love, praise, and worship God in our hearts, all of our outward form and claims are hypocrisy.

1. Externally - he is sanctified by his people when we walk in the Spirit, obey his word, preach his gospel, and live together in peace.

    “Be ready to give an answer.” When a person asks us to tell him why we believe our sins are pardoned, why we are not under condemnation, and why we expect to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, be ready to give him a scriptural answer. It is because

    “Christ loved us and gave himself for us.” It is because Christ took upon himself our nature, and by his perfect obedience gave us righteousness and holiness before God, and because Christ took ours in sin his body on the tree and satisfied infinite justice on our behalf, enabling God to be just when he justifies this sinner. Christ is our life, our hope, our righteousness, and our redemption.

    Give this answer in a humble, meek, and thankful fashion; for we are what we are by his grace. Give this answer in the fear of the Lord, being careful to give him all the glory; and give it courteously and respectfully; it maybe that the person is a true seeker!