Subject: What is my role in my sanctification? |
Bible Note: Dear pam: I am EdB's assistant. Therefore may I add a few words to his good advice, that there is a requirement placed upon us to walk in holiness. I trust you will not mind hearing it twice. In one sens we have been sanctified. That is something God has done for us as we trusted in Christ. That is why Paul says (2 Thess 2:13) that God has from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Peter says (1 Peter 1:2) that we are the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit. But there is a practical side to sanctification, and we have to be actively involved in it. Paul says (Romans 13:12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. That is practical sanctification. He gives an example to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 4:3). This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: Practical sanctification is a process of putting off things that are unlike Christ and putting on things that are like him. Colossians 3:8ff Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Ephesians 4:22ff Put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Holiness is another word for sanctification. Wherefore (Ephesians 4:25ff) putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. We are saved. Sanctified. Set apart for Christ. Paul says (2 Cor 6:11) we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified. Positionally. In Christ. And (Rom 5:1) being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. But Peter says (2 Peter 1:5) we must give all diligence to add to our faith virtue. That is practical sanctification. May the Lord give us grace to put off the things that are unlike him, and put on the things that are like him. We are to be like him. And he is holy. 1 Peter 1:14ff: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he who has called you is holy, so be holy in every area of life; because it is written, “Be holy; for I am holy”. |