Christ's Love and the Process of Sanctification

Devotional

Day 1: Love in Action, Not Just Words

The relationship between Christ and the church serves as a model for husbands, emphasizing love that is active and sacrificial, mirroring Christ's love for the church. This love is not just a feeling but is demonstrated through actions that sanctify and cleanse. Husbands are called to love their wives in a way that reflects Christ's selfless and purifying love for the church. This means prioritizing their well-being, nurturing their spiritual growth, and being willing to make sacrifices for their benefit. Such love is transformative, aiming to uplift and sanctify, just as Christ's love transforms and sanctifies the church. [01:21]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: Think of a specific action you can take today to demonstrate sacrificial love to your spouse or a loved one. How can you prioritize their spiritual and emotional well-being?

Day 2: The Ongoing Journey of Sanctification

Sanctification is a continuous process involving separation, cleansing from sin's guilt, power, and pollution. It is symbolized by baptism and carried out through the Word by the Holy Spirit, aiming to make us holy and without blemish. This journey is not a one-time event but a lifelong commitment to becoming more like Christ. The Holy Spirit works within us, using the Word to reveal areas in need of change and empowering us to overcome sin. As we engage with Scripture, we are progressively transformed, set apart for God's purposes, and cleansed from the impurities of sin. [05:42]

2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV): "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you feel the need for cleansing and growth. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to work in this area through prayer and engagement with the Word?

Day 3: The Word as a Tool for Transformation

The Word is the primary instrument used by the Holy Spirit in our sanctification. It encompasses the entire biblical teaching, revealing God's nature, our sinfulness, and the redemptive work of Christ. This comprehensive understanding leads to true holiness. Engaging deeply with Scripture allows us to see the character of God and understand His will for our lives. It challenges us to confront our sinfulness and embrace the transformative power of Christ's redemption. As we immerse ourselves in the Word, we are equipped to live lives that reflect God's holiness and love. [20:50]

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Reflection: Choose a passage of Scripture to meditate on this week. How can you allow its truths to shape your thoughts, actions, and attitudes today?

Day 4: Knowing God as the Foundation of Holiness

True sanctification begins with the knowledge of God, His attributes, and His holiness. This understanding transforms our lives, as we realize the depth of our sinfulness and the need for cleansing. It is not about simple formulas but a deep engagement with the Word. Knowing God intimately leads to a greater awareness of His holiness and our need for transformation. As we grow in our understanding of His character, we are compelled to pursue a life that reflects His purity and love. This journey requires humility, openness to change, and a commitment to seeking God through His Word. [34:20]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: Reflect on your current understanding of God's character. What steps can you take to deepen your knowledge of Him and allow that knowledge to transform your life?

Day 5: The Cross and Our Call to Holiness

The cross is central to sanctification, as it reveals Christ's love and calls us to a life of holiness. The anticipation of Christ's second coming motivates us to pursue sanctification, as we prepare to be presented to Him as a glorious church. The cross is a powerful reminder of the depth of Christ's love and the price He paid for our redemption. It calls us to live lives that honor His sacrifice and reflect His holiness. As we look forward to His return, we are encouraged to live with purpose, striving to become the people He has called us to be. [42:23]

1 John 3:2-3 (ESV): "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

Reflection: Consider the impact of the cross on your life. How does the anticipation of Christ's return inspire you to pursue holiness in your daily actions and decisions?

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul draws a parallel between the relationship of Christ and the church and that of a husband and wife. This passage serves as a profound guide for Christian husbands, urging them to love their wives as Christ loves the church. This love is not theoretical but is demonstrated through action, as Christ gave Himself for the church to sanctify and cleanse it. The process of sanctification involves setting apart the church for Christ, cleansing it from guilt, power, and the pollution of sin. This cleansing is not a one-time event but a continuous process, symbolized by baptism and carried out through the Word by the Holy Spirit.

The Word is central to this process, as it is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to effect change within us. This sanctification is progressive, aiming to make us holy and without blemish. The Word encompasses the entire biblical teaching, not just a simple formula or anecdote. It begins with the knowledge of God, His nature, and His attributes, which is foundational for true holiness. Understanding the character of God leads to a deeper awareness of our sinfulness and the need for sanctification.

The Word also reveals our state in sin, the consequences of the fall, and God's redemptive plan through Christ. The cross is central to this teaching, as it demonstrates the depth of Christ's love and calls us to a life of holiness. The doctrine of the second coming further motivates us to pursue sanctification, as we anticipate being presented to Christ as a glorious church. This comprehensive understanding of the Word leads to a life of holiness, as we are progressively cleansed and prepared for eternal communion with God.

Key Takeaways

1. The relationship between Christ and the church serves as a model for husbands, emphasizing love that is active and sacrificial, mirroring Christ's love for the church. This love is not just a feeling but is demonstrated through actions that sanctify and cleanse. [01:21]
2. Sanctification is a continuous process involving separation, cleansing from sin's guilt, power, and pollution. It is symbolized by baptism and carried out through the Word by the Holy Spirit, aiming to make us holy and without blemish. [05:42]
3. The Word is the primary instrument used by the Holy Spirit in our sanctification. It encompasses the entire biblical teaching, revealing God's nature, our sinfulness, and the redemptive work of Christ. This comprehensive understanding leads to true holiness. [20:50]
4. True sanctification begins with the knowledge of God, His attributes, and His holiness. This understanding transforms our lives, as we realize the depth of our sinfulness and the need for cleansing. It is not about simple formulas but a deep engagement with the Word. [34:20]
5. The cross is central to sanctification, as it reveals Christ's love and calls us to a life of holiness. The anticipation of Christ's second coming motivates us to pursue sanctification, as we prepare to be presented to Him as a glorious church. [42:23]
** [42:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Ephesians 5:25-27
[01:04] - The Model of Christ and the Church
[02:10] - Understanding Christ's Love
[03:32] - The Process of Sanctification
[04:52] - Cleansing and Purification
[06:13] - Beyond Guilt: Power and Pollution of Sin
[08:22] - The Role of Baptism
[11:05] - Misinterpretations of Baptism
[13:36] - Baptism as Symbolic Representation
[19:12] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[20:18] - The Word as Instrument of Sanctification
[22:30] - The Process of Cleansing
[29:21] - The Word of Sanctification
[34:20] - Starting with the Knowledge of God
[42:23] - The Cross and the Second Coming
[46:01] - The Continuous Work of Sanctification

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 5:25-27, how is the relationship between Christ and the church used as a model for husbands? [01:04]
What does the sermon say about the continuous nature of sanctification and its symbolism through baptism? [06:45]
How does the sermon describe the role of the Word in the process of sanctification? [20:50]
What are the three aspects of sin from which we need cleansing, as mentioned in the sermon? [08:22]

Interpretation Questions

How does the understanding of Christ's sacrificial love for the church influence the way a husband should love his wife? [01:21]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Word of God acts as an instrument of sanctification? [20:50]
How does the anticipation of Christ's second coming motivate believers to pursue sanctification, according to the sermon? [42:23]
What is the significance of understanding God's nature and attributes in the process of sanctification? [34:20]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own marriage or relationships. How can you demonstrate a love that is active and sacrificial, similar to Christ's love for the church? [01:21]
Sanctification is described as a continuous process. What steps can you take this week to engage more deeply with the Word and allow it to cleanse and transform you? [06:45]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding God's nature. How can you incorporate learning about God's attributes into your daily routine to enhance your spiritual growth? [34:20]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to the Spirit's work in using the Word to sanctify you? [20:50]
The sermon mentions the pollution of sin in our nature. Identify one area in your life where you feel this pollution most strongly. What practical steps can you take to seek cleansing in this area? [08:22]
How does the anticipation of Christ's return influence your daily decisions and actions? What changes can you make to live more in light of this hope? [42:23]
Think of a specific way you can demonstrate the love of Christ to someone in your community this week. What action will you take to show this love? [01:21]

Sermon Clips

The relationship between the husband and the wife is to be similar to that between the Lord Jesus Christ and the church. The way in which a Christian husband is to view his position as a husband is that he is to put into practice that which is seen so clearly in the case of Our Lord himself. [00:01:04]

The Lord has set the church apart for himself. We are his peculiar people, a people for his own possession, the bride as a bridegroom. A man chooses out one from among all others, so he has chosen the church, and she is the special object of his concern. [00:04:06]

The whole statement of course is a statement concerning sanctification. We were pointing that out last week that our Lord never stops at just delivering us from guilt. He does that in order that he gave himself for it with this purpose, with this object. [00:05:20]

The New Testament never stops at the guilt; it always goes on to this further notion of our being cleansed from the power of sin also. Indeed, I want to add even to that the cleansing is from the guilt of sin, it is from the power of sin, and it is also from the pollution of sin. [00:08:15]

The Word is the primary instrument used by the Holy Spirit in our sanctification. It encompasses the entire biblical teaching, revealing God's nature, our sinfulness, and the redemptive work of Christ. This comprehensive understanding leads to true holiness. [00:20:50]

The operations of the Holy Spirit in us are generally in and through the word. That is why it's a very dangerous thing to separate the Holy Spirit from the word. Now many have done this, and there have been Grievous excesses. Indeed, the whole departure of the people who are called Quakers more or less from the Christian faith is due to this very thing. [00:22:30]

The word by which we are sanctified is the whole of the Biblical teaching. It is, in particular, all the great doctrines which are taught everywhere in the Bible, and it is only as we realize this that we see how that other idea which would narrow down and confine sanctification and Holiness teaching to just one little formula is, in the last analysis, a denial of most of the Bible. [00:32:20]

You start by looking into the face of God. You don't start with men; you start with God. There is no profounder way of teaching sanctification and Holiness than simply to teach the doctrine concerning the being, the nature, and the character of God. [00:34:20]

The cross is central to sanctification, as it reveals Christ's love and calls us to a life of holiness. The anticipation of Christ's second coming motivates us to pursue sanctification, as we prepare to be presented to Him as a glorious church. [00:42:23]

The doctrine of the second coming further motivates us to pursue sanctification, as we anticipate being presented to Christ as a glorious church. This comprehensive understanding of the Word leads to a life of holiness, as we are progressively cleansed and prepared for eternal communion with God. [00:44:01]

The process of sanctification, which is carried out by the Lord Jesus Christ through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit whom he has sent, is done by and in and through the word. Sanctify them through thy truth; Thy word is true. [00:46:01]

Our sanctification, our cleansing, proceeds from day to day and week to week and year to year, and as we shall see, God willing, next time, he will go on with it until the work is completed, and we shall be holy and without any blemish in his holy presence. [00:49:33]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?