In the context of our study of the mandates for the believer in God's pre-determined plan we are presently examining the mandate found in 1Pet 3:15; for the believer to sanctify or set apart the TLJC in their hearts or stream of consciousness and as a result be focused on TLJC rather than the adversities in life and to be ready to give an answer of the "hope that is in them" that comes from the believer's occupation with TLJC.
We have seen that the context of this mandate is the suffering of believers that Peter is hoping is undeserved suffering for blessing even though he is doubtful that it is as illustrated by the fourth class condition of "if” used in verse 14.
Since we have the mandate to "set apart" or "sanctify" the Lord Christ in our hearts, we took up a brief word study of the words used in the NT for sanctify and sanctification, and we saw that every believer is sanctified or set apart or made holy by God as a member of the Royal Family.
This sets believers up in a position, which results in their having the provision from God to sanctify the Lord in their hearts or stream of consciousness....
Picking up where we left off last time,
The fifth Greek word for sanctify is the verb "hagiazo" which means to set apart or make holy.
This is the word Peter uses in our passage in the imperative mood of command regarding Believer's setting apart or making the thinking of TLJC the Lord or possessor and ruler over their heart or their stream of consciousness.
God has set believers apart as royalty in order to empower them. Hagiazo tells believers that they are set apart in a special way in history and as a result, they have unique privileges and unique opportunities which start at the point of their salvation by grace through faith alone in TLJC alone.
The process of being set apart or made holy is described in John 17:17;
The Lord's prayer request for believers in this passage was for their experiential sanctification, which can only be achieved through their spiritual advance in Bible Doctrine.
It is interesting that the context of this passage is also suffering John 17:14-16; with the Word of God being the means of deliverance and preservation.
It is through the truth or Bible Doctrine which is the Word of God, that believers become Royal Family and are set apart for God forever.
The word "hagiazo" is also used to describe TLJC setting the church apart in EPH 5:25-26;
1Pet 3:15; It is by means of the Word of God in their thinking that believers who have been sanctified or "set apart" by God in their position are then commanded to sanctify or "set apart" the Lord Christ in their hearts or stream of consciousness.
Lord, which is translated from the Greek word “Kurios”, is the title of the Deity of Christ. John 20:28;
Christ is transliterated from the Greek word "Christos” translated from the Hebrew word "Mashiyach" which is transliterated as Messiah and means Anointed, the title and role of TLJC as the God-Man in Hypostatic Union. Matt 16:15-16;
The word translated "hearts" is the Greek word "kardia" and refers to the area of thoughts in the soul.
In the believer's kardia resides the stream of consciousness which includes the frame of reference, and memory center which are to be filled with Bible Doctrine.
When "TLJC is "sanctified" or set apart "in the believer's heart " as Peter mandates, it results in the believer being occupied or focused on TLJC who is the "author and perfector of doctrine" Heb 12:2;a rather than occupied or focused on their suffering from adversity.
Some of the doctrines regarding the person of "the Lord Christ" that Peter is commanding believers to be able to recall and to focus on as a result of their setting The Lord Christ apart in their thinking in 1Pet 3:15; would include but not be limited to are:
TLJC as the Son of God: John 20:31; Undiminished Deity
TLJC as the Son of Man: Matt 16:13-16; True Humanity
TLJC as the Son of the Virgin: Matt 1:22-25; Impeccability from birth
TLJC as the Son of David: Matt 1:1; The Davidic covenant
TLJC as firstborn of all creation: Col 1:15; Rom 8:29; He existed before creation
TLJC as the "Lamb of God" John 1:29; The solution to God's problem with the fall
TLJC as the Great "I AM”, The God of the Old Testament; John 8:57-58;
TLJC as the only Savior Acts 4:12; The only name whereby anyone can be saved
TLJC as the source of Eternal Life 1John 5:11-12; One of the 40 things
TLJC as Mediator; 1Tim 2:5; The one who can identify with both God and Man
TLJC as the "Word" who was and is God John 1:1; John 1:14; The 2nd person of the Trinity
TLJC as the "Last Adam"; 1Cor 15:45; The Adam who is the source of eternal life
TLJC as the "Great High Priest” Heb 4:14; Heb 5:9-10; of the Eternal priesthood
TLJC as the "Head over all things” Eph 1:22; Col 1:18; Placed there by God the Father
TLJC as the Creator and Sustainer of all things; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:3;
TLJC as the Pioneer and Perfector of our Spiritual Life Heb 12:2;
TLJC as the Power and wisdom of God: 1Cor 1:24;
TLJC who became for us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption 1Cor 1:30; which makes him the "end of the law for righteousness for believers" Rom 10:4;
TLJC as our substitute: Rom 5:8;
TLJC is our advocate; 1John 2:1;
TLJC who is the propitiation for all sins: 1John 2:2;
TLJC is the source of all reconciliation; 2Cor 5:18-19;
TLJC became sin that we might become the righteousness of God: 2Cor 5:21;
TLJC is our peace; Eph 2:13-14;
TLJC as the "Way" the "Truth " and the "Life": John 14:6;
TLJC is our life; Col 3:4;
TLJC is "the righteous Judge" 2Tim 4:8;
TLJC is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; Rev 19:16;
TLJC as the First and the Last: Rev 1:8; Rev 22:13
TLJC as Intercessor for believers while they are on this earth Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25-27;
TLJC as the Bright Morning Star; Rev 22:16; which arises in believer's hearts "by means of Doctrine 2Pet 1:19;
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1Pet 3:15; As a result of "the Lord Christ being sanctified in their hearts, believers are to be conversant in the doctrinal concepts of...
The Doctrine of the Hypostatic Union of TLJC John 1:1; John 1:14;
The Doctrine of the Kenosis Phil 2:6-7; Heb 10:5;
The Dispensation of the Unglorified Humanity of Christ Heb 5:7-8; Heb 12:2-3; John 7:38-39;
The Earned or Acquired Glory of Christ Phil 2:9-11; Heb 12:2-3; 1Tim 3:16b;
TLJC as the Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek Heb 5:10; Heb 7:l; Heb 10:21;
TLJC as the Head of the Church which is His body Eph 1:19-23; Col 1:18-19; Col 2:19;
TLJC, the Son of David as King of Israel 2Tim 2:8; Matt 1:1; Rev 22:16; Fulfilling God's covenant with David 2Sam 7:16-17;
TLJC as the Strategic Resolver of the Prehistoric Angelic Conflict John 16:11; Heb 2:14; 1John 3:8;
TLJC as the Star Witness for God's prosecution of Satan and all the fallen angels in the appeal trial of Satan which is contemporaneous with human history Rev 1:5; Rev 3:14b; Rev 22:16;
TLJC as The Resident Hope of Glory in the believer, and the reason for our absolute confident expectation of glorification at the exit resurrection. Col 1:26-27; Col 3:4; 2Thes 1:12; 2Thes 2:13-14;