The Sanctified Life

"One Year Bible" New Testament Passage
Acts 26:1-32

¹⁷ I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:17-18 (NKJV)

Do you remember when you came to faith?  Do you remember when you made the great discovery of life in Jesus?  You were born again, and you found new meaning and direction in life.  One of the most powerful tools of God in your life is YOUR TESTIMONY.  Paul often spoke of the time on the road to Damascus when he was apprehended by the Lord.

Few of us fully understand what God had in mind when we first came to Him.  We thought it was only about finding peace or meaning in our wayward lives.  But God had a far larger idea.  Paul outlines the breadth of this plan when he describes the mission of his own life.

The first thing God does is OPEN OUR EYES.  "Once I was blind but now I see."  We see that which we could not see before.  This awakening shows us far more than just our own condition.  It shows us THE LORD.

Second, He DELIVERS us from the power of darkness.  Satan's chains are broken and we are set free.  We experience a transfer out of darkness and into His glorious light.

Next, we embrace the FORGIVENESS of our sins.  We are cleansed and made righteous.  This wipes our slate clean and gives us a new beginning.

All of these things happen in a moment, but they then unfold in a lifetime.  He gives us an INHERITANCE.  This means we are ADOPTED as sons.  This is huge.  It is like going from pauper to prince -- in a moment.  We spend a lifetime then learning about our inheritance and how to live like a prince.

All of this adds up to the SETTING APART of our lives for God.  That's what it means to be SANCTIFIED.  This is not some austere set of rules.  It is a lifestyle of beauty in the presence of God.

Paul was sent to spread the news of this great gospel.  Do you receive it?  Do you walk in it?