THE RIVER OF SANCTIFICATION

The River of Sanctification

The River of Sanctification is the river of the Blood of Jesus, which is revealed through the baptism of immersion in much water. Just as water of separation (or purifying water) was used in the Old Testament to cleanse, in the New Testament, the water of baptism is used for sanctification.

In the Old Testament, even touching a dead body made someone ceremonially unclean, and they had to go through a purification process before being allowed into the Lord’s assembly.

Numbers 19:11-13

“Whoever touches a dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days; they must purify themselves with the water of cleansing on the third day, and on the seventh day they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third day, they will not be clean on the seventh day. Anyone who touches the dead body of someone and does not purify themselves defiles the Lord’s dwelling place. They must be cut off from Israel; because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, they are unclean; their uncleanness remains on them.”

In the Old Testament, strict laws were given to anyone who refused to purify themselves by washing in the appointed waters. These waters were known as waters of separation or waters of purification.

Numbers 19:20

“But if someone who is unclean does not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.”

In the New Testament, anyone who has not given their life to Jesus Christ, or in simple terms has not been saved, is considered spiritually unclean in God’s sight. They are not worthy to worship God or to approach Him. Many are unaware of this.

Ezekiel 14:3

“Son of man, these people have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?”

They cannot pray to God or offer sacrifices because they are unclean.

Deuteronomy 23:18

“You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the Lord your God to pay any vow, because the Lord your God detests them both.”

What Makes People Unclean?

The answer is sin. The Bible teaches that sin in people’s hearts makes them unclean before God.

Mark 7:21-23

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Sin is what defiles a person before God. Those who are unclean because of sin cannot approach God. People who are unclean include all those who practice sin—those who are not saved. These include people filled with hatred, gossip, immorality, thieves, those who dress immodestly, wear makeup, wigs, etc. God hides His face from them, and their prayers go unanswered because they are unclean before Him.

Isaiah 59:1-2 says:

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

In the Old Testament, people were cleansed by washing in water, but in the New Testament, people are cleansed by being washed in the River of the Blood of Jesus, also known as the River of Sanctification.

In this river, a person looks into it and is washed, and all their uncleanness is taken away.

How is a Person Washed in the River of Sanctification?

First, they must repent. Repentance means acknowledging that you were a sinner and deciding to turn away from your past sinful actions. This is symbolized by the act of removing your clothes before entering into a river to bathe.

Second, you dive into the River of Sanctification. This river is the baptism of full immersion in much water. After repentance, the next step is to be baptized in the correct form of baptism. Remember, the correct baptism is not sprinkling water or the baptism of infants or the baptism performed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit without proper immersion. The true baptism involves full immersion in water, just as described in John 3:23, and in the name of Jesus Christ, according to Acts 2:38.

When you are immersed in this river, physically, you appear to have been submerged in water, but spiritually, you are being immersed in the River of the Blood of Jesus, which brings sanctification. This immersion signifies that your spirit is washed in the blood of Jesus, and as a result, all your sins are forgiven, and you are no longer considered unclean before God.

Acts 2:38 says:

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Have You Been Washed from Your Sins?

Are you worthy to approach God, or are you still unclean? If you haven’t yet entered into the River of Sanctification, what are you waiting for? Repent today, come before Jesus, acknowledge your sins, and ask for His forgiveness.

You can pray something like this:

“Lord Jesus, I come before You today acknowledging that I am a sinner. I regret all the wrong things I have done, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins, and I surrender my life to You. Please receive me according to Your Word, which says that ‘Whoever comes to You, You will never cast away.’ Please give me the grace to know You and follow You all the days of my life. Amen.”

Once you have prayed this (or even more), know that God is faithful and just to forgive you, regardless of how many sins you have committed.

The Next Step: Be Baptized

The next very important step is to seek out the true baptism. From what we have discussed, the River of Sanctification is the baptism of full immersion in water. Seek out the correct baptism with urgency. The enemy does not want you to go to heaven. If you are unsure where to find this baptism, you can contact us at +255789001312, and we will direct you to the nearest place where you can receive this baptism.

May the Lord bless you greatly. Remember that 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says: