Progressive Sanctification

1. What is the Nature of God ? September 7 What is the Nature of Man ? September 14 What is the Goal of Life ? September 21 Progressive Sanctification

2. The Nature and Character of Man Isaiah 40:6-7 6A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.

3. The Nature and Character of Man James 4:14 14yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

4. The Nature and Character of Man Isaiah 47:8-10 8Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children”: 9These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments. 10You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.”

5. The Nature and Character of Man Isaiah 53:6 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Creator Shepherd

6. Anger Selfish Pride The Nature and Character of Man Isaiah 64:6 6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

7. God's Commitment to Man Psalm 33:11 11The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Titus 3:4-7 4But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8. O Lord, My every sense, member, faculty, affection, is a snare to me, I can scarce open my eyes but I envy those above me, or despise those below. I all too often covet honor and riches of the mighty, and am proud and unmerciful to the rags of others; If I behold beauty it is a bait to lust, or see deformity, it stirs up loathing and disdain! How soon do slanders, vain jests, and wanton speeches creep into my heart! Am I attractive? What fuel for pride! Am I deformed? What an occasion for complaining and self pity! Am I gifted? How I lust after applause! Am I unlearned? How I despise what I have not! Am I in authority? How prone I am to abuse my trust, make will my law, exclude others' enjoyments, serve my own interests and policy! Am I inferior? How much I grudge the pre-eminence of others! Am I rich? How exalted I become! You know that all these are snares because of my corruptions, and that my greatest snare is myself. I bewail that my understanding is so dull, my thoughts are so trifling, my affections are so lukewarm, my expressions are so uninspired, my life is so unbecoming; Yet what can you expect of dust but levity, of corruption but defilement? Keep me ever mindful of my natural state, but let me not forget my heavenly title, or the grace that can deal with every sin.

9. 2 Cor. 12:9 9 But he said to me, ‘‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.