Front Cover, Back Cover, And Spine Artwork:

Book Description: “The First Sanctification” is Part 54 of The Book Of Benjamin Kareth. The First Sanctification is the moment we give our lives and our hearts to Jesus Christ and are transformed into a new creation. This moment of sanctification happens as we call on the Lord to save us. At this moment we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God, of the light. We are a new creature and our life is now hidden in Jesus Christ. This book is an exploration of this First Sanctification, our salvation moment through Jesus Christ.

A Glimpse Inside:

Chapter 5: Spiritual Birth, The New Birth

When we come to the foot of the cross and we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord we are born again by the working of the Holy Spirit. Salvation’s work is a mystery but we have an explanation of it from Jesus Himself:

“Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”” – John 3:3-8 AMP

To be born again is to be born of heaven by being spiritually transformed by the Holy Spirit, renewed and sanctified by the work of God.

Faith is the trust that what God says He does, and this goes for our salvation as well. As we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we find that everything in us begins to change, and we are no longer the person we were before. We are renewed. We are set apart from the world around us. The end of the verse above speaks volumes to us about how are life in the Holy Spirit will be as we trust God to do His sanctifying work in us. We will be like the wind; people will not know where we are coming from or where we are going. We now move with the Holy Spirit through this life by doing the will of our Father in heaven. It’s glorious to behold our new life in Jesus Christ taking shape and to see that we are becoming more and more like Him.

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Chapter 9: An Act Of God

Our First Sanctification is an act of God’s will. Our salvation is an act of God’s will as it is written:

“In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior] would exist to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. [John 7:39; Acts 2:33] The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.” – Ephesians 1:11-14 AMP

God chose us in Christ. He loved us and so we love Him. Think of it… God willed that you would come to Jesus Christ and be saved. What a wonderful mystery is our salvation!

We are stamped and sealed by the Holy Spirit as belonging to God. This is our destiny and God’s election of us. This is our amazing inheritance in Jesus Christ for the glory of God. We exist to the praise of His glory. Think on this… our entire purpose is to exist to the praise of His glory. That you stand here today saved through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is for the sole purpose of the glory of God. That is amazing.

We are claimed and belong to God in Jesus Christ. We are His. This is our purpose and our place in Christ. This is our identity. We are no longer of this world but are now and forever of God and our lives are hidden in Christ. This is our portion. Let all this soak in. Let it cover and overwhelm you. This is time for you to really understand who you are in Jesus Christ. It is time that you allow the Holy Spirit to cause you to cry out, “Abba Father!” in the understanding that you are truly a child of God. And all of this, all of it, is an act of God’s own sovereign will and due to His good pleasure. He is joyful over you. He sings songs about you belonging to Him. He is so happy that you are His. All of this is the truth that you must come to understand and to walk in. This is faith.

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Part 54 on Amazon.com

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