The blood covenant with Jesus Christ is entered through repentance which is dying to self, killing the fleshly passions and desires. Keeping the covenant also involves dying. Not a one-time event as is the case with repentance, but a continual dying. It is a walk through life, a walk of sanctification.

The word ‘sanctify’ means to consecrate or to ‘set apart’ as to declare holy. Therefore, a walk of sanctification is a process of continually setting apart or separating yourself from your flesh and from the world. This is the part many believers would like to skip. Repentance is one thing, but having to suffer continually by repeatedly crucifying the flesh seems to be just too much to bear. A lot of Church doctrine seems to agree with that assessment. Many denominations believe that a salvation experience (which is often reduced to signing a card or saying a prayer) is all that is needed to reserve your seat at God’s heavenly table.

There is, of course, a problem with such a view. It doesn’t agree with the Bible. Jesus said:

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself [sanctification], and take up his cross daily [it’s a continual walk] and follow Me [to the cross].” (Luke 9:23)

If it were not necessary to continue on your salvation journey by keeping the commandments and denying the flesh daily, there would be no need for the epistles of the New Covenant.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (Galatians 5:16-17)

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit [it’s a continual walk]. (Galatians 5:24-25)

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling [as you deny yourself and walk in sanctification]. (Philippians 2:12)

All of the above cautions are addressed to believers, and none would have been necessary if we who believe were not required to live a certain way. We are to live a life led by the Holy Spirit. And to obey the Holy Spirit is to deny the flesh.

The walk of sanctification is described in Romans 8:13 as putting to death the deeds of the body (the flesh). This is done by the leading of the Holy Spirit and it leads to life. And sanctification is the way to eternal life.

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. (Romans 6:22)

And finally, without a walk of sanctification you will never see the Lord.

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

The way a repentant believer remains in the faith is by walking a continual walk of sanctification. Please continue on with your study of how a believer keeps the eternal covenant with the lessons in this section beginning with Lesson 11.1 – Preamble.

May God bless you and keep you as you make your way through this Bible Study.

May you experience the love of God in full measure,

Peter Giardina