One of the specific prayers that Christ prayed for His people was “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17 ESV). Jesus prayed this with the awareness of the reality that His disciples would experience much opposition as they embraced, lived out and proclaimed the truth of the gospel. Jesus knew that there would be many philosophies and false teachings that would defile many and lead many astray from the truth. He was aware of the connection between what we believe to be truth and how it affects the way we behave. Jesus said that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 ESV). Sanctification and freedom are experienced by those believe and know the truth of the gospel.

The gospel reveals to us who Jesus is and what he accomplished to make us forgiven and accepted Children of God. Knowing these gospel truths are foundational to experiencing freedom in Christ. Through the gospel we know who we are and whose we are because we know who God is and what He has done to make us His very own by His grace. We don’t have to live under the heavy burden of trying to earn favor or acceptance from God. That is freely given to us in Christ! As beloved children of God we are to pursue God and Christlikeness with the awareness that we already belong to Him (Philippians 3:13). We are not to labor for our position in Christ but rather from our position in Christ.

If you need to be strengthened by the truth of who you are in Christ then spend some time reading and meditating on Ephesians chapter 1. And let Christ sanctify you “by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26 ESV).