| John 17:17 17 Sanctify [make them holy, purify, consecrate] them through your truth. Your word is truth. | Ephesians 5:25-26 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it [the church of believers] with the washing of water by the word,3 [This is one of the critical verses to be understood. The Greek for word in this verse is rhmati <4487>, which in English means: 1) that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word; 1a) any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning; 1b) speech, discourse; 1b1) what one has said. Hearing someone read words from the Bible does not result in any cleansing or sanctifying whatsoever; but the words that Christ speaks to you do result in your cleansing. Now you are to be clean through the word which I have spoken to you, John 15:3; and Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I don't wash you, you have no part with me." John 13:8.] | ||||||||