January 24

Read: Luke 1:67-75

God… hath visited and redeemed his people.., that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life (Luke 1:68-75).

Redemption And Sanctification

We believe that entire sanctification is provided in the atonement of Christ. The Bible teaches that conversion and entire sanctification are both parts of God’s plan of redemption for us. In our scripture reading Zacharias saw in prophetic vision that the birth of Jesus was to be a visitation from God for the redemption of His people. This redemption was to come through Christ and was to be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.

Paul recognized that the promise was even more ancient than Abraham, and declared: “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). That choice and the promise of a Saviour involved not only forgiveness for sins, but it included our sanctification also. God’s Word states clearly, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). And again, God sent His Son into the world in order that we “might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” Christ died to save us; Christ died to sanctify us also. He saves us in order that we may be sanctified wholly; He sanctifies us so that we may “be holy and without blame before him in love.”

The truth of divine revelation is clear, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit” (I Thessalonians 4:7-8).

Be it according to Thy word, Redeem me from all sin; My heart would now receive Thee, Lord! Come in, my Lord, come in!

— The Salvation Army Tune Book