Exodus 13:2 English Standard Version (ESV) “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine.”

Exodus 13:2 King James Version (KJV) Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

The words used here are consecrate and sanctify were the Hebrew word is qāḏaš. It’s meaning according to biblical outline usage is to be set apart, to treat as sacred, to be hallowed, to regard or treat as sacred. Strong’s Definition adds; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)

Obviously this is human effort at God’s direction. This returns us once again to Paul’s Romans 6:19 comment about human limitation. This is in reference to the first fruits offering unto the Lord. Once it belongs to the Lord it is no longer under our control except in how we view it, treat it, and respect it while it is under our care. It belongs to the Lord.

Obviously the additional requirement for cleaning means that it will be regularly cleansed because they will come in contact with contamination. Think of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet as an example. This also it a representative example of forgiveness of sin.

While we make these efforts there is also one interesting aspect of what God considers, His view, His treatment of us being sanctified.

Colossians 3:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

God considers us His and separated unto Himself.

Believe what God thinks of us is more important than what we think of ourselves.

Romans 6:19 English Standard Version (ESV) I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

Speaking in human terms because of our natural limitations is a tricky thing to do. It admits that humans do not always get it right, even if they are comfortable in their understanding. This issue is a comparative of the past and the present. How we reconcile these issues is going to be different for some of us and it is not always easy to understand why.

When listening to a pastor on YouTube preach on Saving Faith he did a good job describing the things that Christ does in us if we place our faith in Christ. The important part was Christ does things for us that we cannot do for ourselves. It was a good talk until he came to the issue of sanctification and that is where there was some doubt to his meaning.

Perhaps that is because of my human limitations or his. Knowing what is right when it comes to some of these issues requires a self-check of our understanding. So I studied the issue this morning to see what God had to say.

Paul tells us that we are to present ourselves as slaves to righteousness. Presenting ourselves invokes the issue of effort on our part. Then the issue comes to the forefront in the declaration that it leads us to sanctification, as if it is a state to be found by human effort. That is not something that happens to us but is a result of our efforts.

Perhaps the message would have been better if he had not included sanctification, but he did.

Now we are left with this self-check effort to clarify our beliefs.