Set Apart

John 17:14-21
"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

To follow up on my initial entry on sanctification, I wanted to further define what it means to be sanctified.

The ESV notes say that "sanctified," in verse 19 means may be set apart (for holy service to God) in Greek.

Jesus asks the Father to sanctify us...to make us more like Him, but notice that in verse 19 it also says that Jesus consecrates Himself for our sake. The ESV notes say that this means the very same thing.

Jesus is saying "I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God)."

Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus, but this also sets us apart for the work and service of God that He has called us to do.

That work is found in John 6:29.
"Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.'"

We are called to proclaim the Gospel, so that we may all be one with the Trinity and that the world may believe that God the Father has sent Him (John 17:20-21).