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Sanctification: Becoming Who You Are. Intro: 1. What is God's will for your life? 1Thess 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification… 2. Why did God save you?
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Sanctification: Becoming Who You Are
Intro: 1. What is God's will for your life? 1Thess 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification… 2. Why did God save you? Eph 1:4 …he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him…2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 2 Tim 1:8-9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling , not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began... Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…
3. Sanctification is the benefit of salvation through union with Christ that deals with our growth in Christ. 1Co 1:30 "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…"
Sinclair Ferguson: "…if we are united to Christ, then we are united to him at all points of his activity on our behalf. We share in his death (we were baptized into his death), in his resurrection (we are resurrected with Christ), in his ascension (we have been raised with him), in his heavenly session (we sit with him in heavenly places, so that our life is hidden with Christ in God), and we will share in his promised return (when Christ, who is our life, appears, we also will appear with him in glory). This, then, is the foundation of sanctification in Reformed theology. It is rooted, not in humanity and their achievement of holiness or sanctification, but in what God has done in Christ, and for us in union with him…It is seeing oneself in this context that enables the individual Christian to grow in true holiness."
I. Definition: A. Sanctification: set apart unto holiness (live in conformity to God's will in word/thought/deed). "holyfication" B. WSC 35: "Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness." C. Relation b/t justification/sanctification 1. "Both justification and sanctification are distinct, necessary, inseparable and simultaneous graces of union with Christ through faith." 2. Duplex gratia: the dual graces of justification and sanctification that mutually flow from union with Christ.
Calvin: "By partaking of him, we principally receive a double grace (duplex gratia), namely, that being reconciled to God through Christ's blamelessness, we may have in heaven instead of a Judge a gracious Father; and secondly, that sanctified by Christ's Spirit we may cultivate blamelessness and purity of life." a. Justification = forensic: legal standing before God/: guilt of sin/declaration we are righteous in Christ. Act. b. Sanctification = renovation/transformation: deals w/power of sin and the "ongoing process of becoming righteous." Process. *Summing it up: We are becoming what/who we are in Christ.
II. Two aspects of sanctification: A. Definitive: At moment of spiritual rebirth, there is a definitive/decisive break w/the enslaving power of sin. This what and who we already are positionally before God in Christ: holy. 2Cor 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. " Heb 10:10 "And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Rom 6:1-11 "1…Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? …
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin…9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Now, become who you are in Christ: Heb 10:14 "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." B. Progressive: ongoing, progressive, lifetime work of God's Spirit begun in regeneration where we are enabled to die to sin and live for righteousness. 1. Work of God's Spirit (free grace): Ezek 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Phil 2:12-13 "12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. " 2. Enabled to: a. Die to sin: Rom 6:12-14 "12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
b. Live unto righteousness: 1Pe 2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." Eph 4:20-24 "24 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
1. WCF 13.2,3 - This sanctification is imperfect b/c of abiding corruption where the flesh wars against the Spirit, and for a time the remaining corruption "may much prevail; yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so, the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2. J.I. Packer: "The concept is not of sin being eradicated…but of a divinely wrought character change freeing us from sinful habits and forming in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues…Christians become increasingly Christlike as the moral profile of Jesus (the "fruit of the Spirit”) is progressively formed in them." 3. Discuss key aspects in definition and WCF 13.
How do we do it? The Gospel! The Gospel is not just for unbelievers; it is also for believers because it is about union with Christ. We are not only justified by it, but, we are also sanctified by it (Rom 6). The Gospel gives us life and is our life (Gal 2:19-21; Phil 1:27). Thus, we must have a “Gospel-driven” sanctification, where the promises of the Gospel are continually impressed upon our hearts (2 Cor 1:20), and believers rest upon and live out of who they are in Christ, striving and laboring to become who they are in Christ by grace alone through faith alone in and by Christ alone (Rom 6). We must preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday, which declares to us who we are in Christ, and how we are to live in Christ by His grace through faith.
I. Key errors in “sanctification” a. Activism: performance driven. b. Quietism: sanctification exclusive work of Spirit—no need to strive for it. c. Legalism: create rules to justify selves d. Antinomianism: law has no relevance.
How do we do it? A. The Gospel Way/Three fold use of law B. Means of grace C. Obstacles to D. Overcoming obstacles:
A1st function: A mirror reflecting to us both the perfect righteousness of God and our own sinfulness. Thus “the law bids us, as we try to fulfill its requirements, and become wearied in our weakness under it, to know how to ask the help of grace” (Augustine). The law is meant to give knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-11) and, by showing us our need of pardon and our danger of damnation, to lead us in repentance and faith to Christ (Gal. 3:19-24). B. 2nd function: restrain evil. Cannot change heart, but can to some extent inhibit lawlessness by its threats of judgment, especially when backed by a civil code that administers punishment for offenses (Deut. 13:6-11; 19:16-21; Rom. 13:3-4). Thus it secures some civil order and goes some way to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says both 1st and 2d uses are schoolmaster to drive us to Christ. 1st use: Moral law comes crashing down on those who try to justify themselves by their works. In restraining sense, it functions to drive them to Christ, especially those who take excessive pride their civic virtue. These first two WLC Q. 95 Moral law informs of holy nature of God, etc. C. 3d function: guide the regenerate into the good works that God has planned for them (Eph. 2:10). The law tells God’s children what will please their heavenly Father. Family code. Christ speaking of 3rd use of the law when he said that those who become his disciples must be taught to keep the law and to do all that he had commanded (Matt. 5:18-20, 28:20), and that it is obedience to his commands that will prove the reality of one’s love for him (John 14:15). The Christian is free from the law as a supposed system of salvation (Rom. 6:14; 7:4, 6; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 2:15-19; 3:25) but is “under Christ’s law” as a rule of life (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2). Reminds us how much we need Christ to fulfill and bear the curse of it for us. This is the necessary first part. We must not bring ourselves under the moral as a covenant of works. Christ fulfilled that! Now live for Him. How? What pleases Him? Go to His Word, and do what pleases Him. How? Through faith in Christ. Resting in His work on our behalf, and relying on Him to do what He wants us to do. Rule of life: you are not under it as a covenant of works. There is no more curse. My Qualification: we look to Christ, not to the law. We do not look to the law, any law whatever you call it apart from Christ. Christ is the lens through we view everything. The life we live we live by faith. Faith moves us to obedience. It is only in that sense that the law functions as a guide. Batzig: 3 uses of the moral law. Where did this come from? Not Calvin, but Melancthon, 2 uses were the norm.
The Result: “I’m so unworthy. God doesn’t love me!” “Lord, I thank you that I’m not like that sinner over there!” Guilt ridden, bewildered, terrorized believer
b. Gospel Driven: Jerry Bridges: “Christians need to hear the gospel all of their lives because it is the gospel that continues to remind us that our day-to-day acceptance with the Father is not based on what we do for God but upon what Christ did for us in his sinless life and sin-bearing death. I began to see that we stand before God today as righteous as we ever will be…because he has clothed us with the righteousness of his Son. Therefore, I don't have to perform to be accepted by God. Now I am free to obey him and serve him because I am already accepted in Christ…My driving motivation now is not guilt but gratitude.”
Hey! I’m worse than I thought I was, but more loved in Christ that I ever dared imagine, and so are you my little furry friend! For real?! You mean I’m normal! I love Jesus, and I love you! Hey, do you have any bananas???
The Gospel isn’t just about getting heaven; it’s about every day life: 1. Home 2. Work 3. School 4. Church
True; this isn’t rocket science… So…why is it so hard!
What’s the # 1 challenge to Christian Character? You are, Einstein! Don’t believe me? Let’s put it to the test:
Home You’re terribly busy laying on the couch and channel surfing. While at the height of this exciting, life changing activity, your spouse calls down to you from upstairs, “honey, can you go to the basement and bring me up a towel and a pair of pants?” How do you react? A. You call up, “Why don’t you do it! I’m busy!” B. Roll your eyes, grumble, and go and do it C. You joyfully view it as yet one more opportunity to love your wife as Christ loved the church, and you respond, “Sure thing, love of my life!” And you go and do it. What character trait comes in to view here?
Work Your boss notices that you spend a lot of time on personal calls/email/facebook. She had the audacity to then ask you if you wouldn’t mind curbing that activity, and focusing…gasp… more on your work. How do you react? A. You send a “personal” email to your friends and post on facebook about what a horrible boss you have b/c she had the nerve to ASK you to limit the personal stuff. B. You tell your boss where she can go. C. You recognize that you have been stealing time, ask for forgiveness, and repent.
School You are an adult learner attending a very liberal college. The topic of religion comes up in class, and the teacher begins to rip Christianity, and says that only an moron would ever follow such mythology. How do you react? A. You argue with the teacher in class B. You send an email to the teacher, with a Bcc to all in the class, informing him of what a pompous…uh….person he is. C. You pray for him and the others in the class, and ask to meet privately to discuss
Church You love your cup of java in the morning, but notice that the church only has powdered creamer instead of liquid creamer. How do you react? A. You get irritated and complain to everyone. B. You email the pastor to tell him what a travesty it is b/c the “visitors” won’t feel welcome. C. You realize that it has been granted to us both to belief and to suffer for the Lord, so you thank God for the trial, and decide to buy liquid creamer to donate to the church.
What are we to make of all of this? Well…We have met the enemy, and he is us! Or more appropriately, he is ME, with the help of the world, and the devil But…cheer up! I have some GREAT NEWS for you: You’re worse than you think you are, but more loved in Christ than you ever dared imagine. And, He is working in us to conform us to His image!
The “means” that God uses to grow us: I have broken them down into two categories: 1. Worship 2. Witness
Witness Corporate and Individual Displaying God’s Grace I. Talent: discovering and using our gifts II. Time: all time is God’s time. III. Treasure: Managing our finances well so that we can give to the kingdom well.
God has given us spiritual disciplines to help us grow. However, we never outgrow the need for God's grace. The same way we began the Christian life is the same way we grow in it: by grace alone, through faith/repentance alone, in and by Christ alone. We engage the spiritual disciplines not in our own strength, or in trusting in them to grow us, but with an attitude of faith (relying on God) and repentance (turning from our sin).
The Ultimate Application 1. Confront ourselves daily with the Gospel 2. Daily Faith and Repentance 3. Make use of God’s means for growth
Galatians 2:19-21 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
