“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 5:23 NIV
In I Thessalonians 5:23 there is a Greek word used, “holoteles,” which means whole or complete. More specifically, it means “through and through.” The expression “through and through” in the English language describes one object going through one side of another object and out through the other side. The effect is thorough, from the beginning to the end, from the start to the finish.
Apostle Paul shared his desire for sanctification to be complete in the spirit, soul, and body of the believers. Sanctification is a separation from sin and a consecration to God. When we receive Christ, we are positioned in a right relationship with God. While our salvation from sin is complete the moment we are converted, the salvation process of restoring us to the life God has for us is just beginning.
Are you perfect? I’m not. God is still working on me. He is teaching me so that my thoughts are more like His thoughts and my ways are more like His ways. He is correcting me so that my past experiences are not keeping me twisted and in pain. He is challenging me so that I will continue to grow and be strengthened in Him. Philippians 2:12-13 says, “..work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” God is working in me because His good desire for me is to know Him more. His good desire is for me to live in His life. His good desire for me is to know His glory in serving Him. He isn’t done with me yet! There’s always more to experience in God as we continue to grow in Him.
My salvation is to be through and through! I have been made whole, and now I am continuing to line myself up with that wholeness in every area of my life. If there is a part of me that is bent, I yield that part to God and allow Him to straighten me, to make me upright in Him. In Hebrews 12:2, Jesus is referred to as the author and the finisher of our faith. In Revelation 1:8 He calls Himself the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. What He started, He will finish! He is at work in me!
Application: Each day is an opportunity to consecrate, or set apart, every part of who we are to the God who loves us and sent His Son to die for us. He never gives up on us, making His power available to free us from anything that tries to hold us down. Glory to God!