Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Today's blog closes out the series we have been doing on consecration. We have been drawing much of our understanding from Numbers 5-7 and other passages. Consecration is when I decide to concentrate every area of my life upon the Lord. As Oswald Chambers and other Christian writers have pointed out - consecration is "my part" in the post-conversion Christian walk, whereas sanctification is "God's part". (Philippians 2:12-13). As much as consecration is a resolve of the redeemed human will, it cannot begin without the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit supplying the background and basis.
In our study we have identified the following truths concerning consecration:
1. Consecration of the heart
2. Consecration of marriages
3. Consecration of one's life
4. Consecrated church
Today I want to simply list select passages that both topically and explicitly reveal the New Testament's emphasis on consecration for the Christian. For the sake of the reader I will underline words or phrases that are conveying this idea.
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 6:20-21 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21for
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added to you."
Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a
living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
service of worship. 2And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so
that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable
and perfect."
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE
SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT
TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 18“And I will be a father to you, And
you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty."
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us
also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility
by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all,
and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and
adulterers God will judge.
1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a
defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you,
yet with gentleness and reverence
All of these texts occur in contexts where conversion has taken place, God's sanctifying work has begun and the believer is being urged to have his desires match God's desires. Consecration is the chief fruit in the will of the saint who is experiencing the progressive, sanctifying work of God's Holy Spirit. I would bid every child of God and myself to resolve ourselves daily unto consecration and pray for the sweet Spirit of God to continue on His work of sanctification.

Welcome to Growing Christian Resources, where you can search over 2,000 resources pertaining to your Christian walk, the explanation and defense of the Christian worldview and links to audio and video resources. Please checkout the New Hope podcast at www.gcrpodcast.wordpress.com and www.newhope-ny.org. For those desiring to dig-deeper into the scriptures, please check out www.biblicalexegete.wordpress.com.