◄ What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Mean? ►

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23(NASB)

Verse Thoughts

Full maturity and the complete sanctification of each and every believer (spirit, soul, and body) is Paul's earnest desire for all Christians. Some incorrectly consider that we can reach sinless perfection in this life, but this is unbiblical for our old sin nature, which resides within this mortal body, lusts against our new life in Christ. This will continue until we discard this fallen, earthy, mortal frame and are taken to be with the Lord, forever: "For the mortal must take on immortality and the corruptible must take on the incorruptible."

We are set apart for the Lord, or positionally sanctified the moment that we place our faith in the Lord Jesus. And for the rest of our lives we are being progressively sanctified as we mature in the faith, growing in grace, and submitting to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within our lives.

But Paul knows that our complete and final sanctification will only be attained when we take up our eternal position in heaven, when through death or the Rapture we will reach full and perfect sanctification when the God of peace Himself sanctifies us entirely. Our whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved complete and without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What a glorious promise! May we walk worthy of our calling and look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our salvation - spirit, soul, and body.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am positionally sanctified in Christ and am being progressively sanctified, as I grow in grace in the power of the Spirit. I pray that the God of Peace will sanctify me entirely. May my spirit, soul, and body, be preserved complete and without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I ask this not for me only, but for all Your children. In Jesus' name, AMEN.