Complete Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

 


Monday, 8 December, 2025


Psalms 70; 75

Isaiah 43:14-44:5

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28


Observances: The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Richard Baxter, pastor and spiritual writer (d. 1691)


Complete Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 5:23)


Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


During Advent we spend our time intentionally reflecting and preparing ourselves anew for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ: celebrating his first coming at Christmas, and his second coming, which is at any moment.


We read through Holy Scripture and discover a couple of things God wants us to be aware of. First is the great injury we have caused him through our own sins. And the second is the great peace that he gives us in forgiving us of those sins.


It is almost unfair to God, really, that he would be like this. We deserve less than nothing, and yet in spite of all that, not only does God turn around and give us the riches of heaven in the Lord Jesus Christ, but he encourages us in the process. Consider this final blessing of St Paul’s in his first letter to the Thessalonians.


He is talking about the second coming, of the return of Jesus. Terrifying stuff! And he prays that the Church may be kept blameless – as we should pray for ourselves, too. But he frames it with two more points: that we may be sanctified completely, that is, have all profanity removed from us so that we are perfectly sacred before God; and he reminds us that it is the God of peace that does this.


Some church traditions mark this second week of Advent with the theme of “peace”. And we begin with St Paul praying for the God of peace to give us his peace through a complete transformation of our souls and bodies in sanctification. This is where our peace lies; this is the gift of peace that the world cannot give, but Jesus does give.


What peace might you find in confessing your sins to God and receiving his forgiveness?


God of peace, we praise you for sending your Holy Spirit to sanctify us through our Lord Jesus Christ: encourage us to bring out everything in us that is not from you, that you may cleanse us, forgive us, and grant us your peace.

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