¹⁷ “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

The Bible is the Word of God, and it is the truth of God. While we agree with the saying that, “All truth is God’s truth,” the truth of the Word of God is different than other kinds of truth. There is much to learn in the world about life, how to ride a bike, get an education, design and program computers, and a myriad of factual things and skills. There are also scientific facts and theories, which enable us to increase our health and comforts of life, as well as pique our curiosity for how things work in the universe. Those things are all worthy of pursuit as we live in this world. But none of them is even remotely involved in sanctifying Christians.

In the church, the modern endeavor to enliven worship, build relationships, and be relevant to the world around us so that others would be attracted to Christ—these are all good things as well, things to which churches do well to give serious thought . Some resort to sensual experiences like incense, chanting, iconography and pageantry to invoke holiness in people. But Jesus points to none of these things when asking His father to sanctify His people.

It is God’s word that is truth, and it is God’s word that sanctifies believers. Being sanctified means set apart to the truth as God defines it, and that requires the work of God to bring conviction of error. “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12). So it is through hearing and believing God’s word that we are saved and grow in our faith: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Ro 10:17).

In picturing the church as the bride of Christ, Paul writes that Christ died for the church, “…so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…” (Eph 5:26). The battle is for the mind and it is through the study and application of God’s word in our lives that we are set apart for victory, “… for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Co 10:4–5).

This is life by the Book, by the Truth, by the Word of God. Indeed, His words are life giving. All other truth is derivative, inferior. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Lk 21:33).

Lord, thank You for giving us Your Word, the Bible, so that we have a faithful and unchanging guide for this world in which You have left us as ambassadors.