The journey of sanctification begins with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which, although uncomfortable, is a beautiful process leading to repentance and transformation. This conviction is not a solitary experience but a shared journey within the community of faith. It requires openness to the Spirit's work in our lives, both individually and collectively. As believers, we are called to embrace this process, allowing the Spirit to guide us toward a deeper relationship with God and a more profound transformation of our hearts. [09:15]
"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:8-11, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you feel the Holy Spirit is convicting you? How can you respond to this conviction with openness and a willingness to change today?
Day 2: Embracing Our Identity in Christ
Our identity in Christ is a powerful reminder that our old nature has died with Him, and our new life is hidden with God. This means that when God looks at us, He sees His Son. This truth calls us to live out our new identity, putting to death our earthly desires and sinful nature. It is a call to live in the reality of who we are in Christ, embracing the transformation that comes with this new identity. [23:02]
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing your life is hidden with Christ in God change the way you view yourself and your actions today?
Day 3: The Urgency of Active Sanctification
Sanctification is an active process that requires us to put to death our earthly desires and sinful nature. It is not a passive journey but an urgent call to obedience, relying on the power of God to slay the sin within us. This process involves a decisive action of the will, choosing to mortify the deeds of the flesh and live in the holiness that God calls us to. [26:02]
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5, ESV)
Reflection: What earthly desires or sinful habits do you need to actively put to death today? How can you rely on God's power to help you in this process?
Day 4: Living in the Peace We Have with God
As believers, we are not striving to earn peace with God; we already have it through Christ. This peace calls us to live holy lives, not as legalists but as believers empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our actions are not about maintaining our salvation but about living in the peace we already possess, allowing it to transform our lives and guide us toward holiness. [31:18]
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: How does the peace you have with God through Christ influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Day 5: Decisive Action Against Sin
We must make an unreserved decision to mortify the deeds of the flesh, understanding that sin will not die on its own. This requires urgent action and reliance on the power of God to overcome. It is a call to confront and kill the sin in our lives, empowered by the Holy Spirit, ensuring that we live lives that reflect the holiness of our Savior. [34:14]
"So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to decisively act against sin in your life? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you in this battle?
Sermon Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound journey of sanctification, emphasizing the necessity of aligning our lives with the holiness of Christ. The call to holiness is not just for pastors or church leaders but for every believer who has been redeemed by Christ. We began by acknowledging the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which, though uncomfortable, is a beautiful process that leads us to repentance and transformation. This conviction is a shared journey, one that we must walk individually and collectively as a community of faith.
We delved into Colossians 3, where Paul instructs us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly matters. This shift in focus is crucial because our old nature has died with Christ, and our new life is hidden with Him in God. This means that when God looks at us, He sees His Son, a powerful reminder of our identity in Christ. We are called to live out this new identity by putting to death our earthly desires and sinful nature. This is not a passive process but an active, urgent call to slay the sin within us, relying on the power of God to do so.
The journey of sanctification is not about maintaining our salvation, which is secure in Christ, but about living in the peace we already have with God. We are not legalists trying to earn peace with God; we are believers who, because of our peace with God, strive to live holy lives. This requires decisive action, a choice of the will to mortify the deeds of the flesh. It is a call to obedience, to utterly destroy the sin that seeks to control us, much like the biblical account of Saul and the Amalekites.
As we continue this journey, we must be willing to confront and kill the sin in our lives, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is not a task we can accomplish on our own; it requires the power of God, which is already available to us. Next week, we will explore practical steps to help us in this battle against sin, ensuring that we live lives that reflect the holiness of our Savior.
Key Takeaways
1. zmSKyW4f4I&t=555s'>[09:15] 2. Identity in Christ: Our old nature has died with Christ, and our new life is hidden with Him in God. This means that when God looks at us, He sees His Son, reminding us of our true identity and calling us to live out this new life.
3. Active Sanctification: Sanctification is an active process that requires us to put to death our earthly desires and sinful nature. It is a call to obedience, relying on the power of God to slay the sin within us.
4. Peace with God: We are not striving to earn peace with God; we already have it through Christ. Because of this peace, we are called to live holy lives, not as legalists but as believers empowered by the Holy Spirit.
5. Decisive Action Against Sin: We must make an unreserved decision to mortify the deeds of the flesh, understanding that sin will not die on its own. This requires urgent action and reliance on the power of God to overcome.
What does Paul instruct believers to do with their earthly desires and sinful nature in Colossians 3:5? How does this relate to the concept of sanctification discussed in the sermon? [13:10]
According to Colossians 3:3, what is the significance of our life being "hidden with Christ in God"? How was this illustrated in the sermon? [21:03]
What are the two lists of behaviors mentioned in Colossians 3, and how do they contrast with each other? [12:36]
How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of conviction and repentance? [09:15]
Interpretation Questions:
How does the idea of being "raised with Christ" in Colossians 3:1-2 influence a believer's daily life and priorities? [10:31]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that sanctification is an active process rather than a passive one? [26:02]
How does the sermon explain the difference between striving for peace with God and living from the peace we already have through Christ? [31:18]
What does the sermon imply about the urgency and decisiveness required in dealing with sin, and how does this relate to the biblical account of Saul and the Amalekites? [34:14]
Application Questions:
Reflect on a recent situation where you felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [09:15]
What earthly desires or sinful habits do you need to "put to death" in your life? What practical steps can you take this week to address them? [26:02]
How can you remind yourself daily of your identity in Christ, as described in Colossians 3:3? What specific actions can help reinforce this truth? [21:03]
In what ways can you actively set your mind on "things above" rather than earthly matters? Identify one specific change you can make in your daily routine to help with this focus. [10:31]
How does understanding that your salvation is secure in Christ change your approach to living a holy life? [31:18]
Consider a sin or habit that you have struggled to overcome. How can you rely on the power of God to help you in this battle? What role does community play in this process? [36:08]
How can you encourage others in your faith community to pursue holiness and support each other in the journey of sanctification? [09:15]
Sermon Clips
"Therefore, put to death or mortify your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked." [00:13:03]
"Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." [00:14:15]
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." [00:15:15]
"Put to death your earthly desires, your earthly members. Put it to death, he says. The word that he uses here in the Greek, it means literally to slay utterly. It means to kill, mortify. You might see if you, I believe it's in the King James Version, it uses the word to mortify the deeds." [00:26:02]
"The Christian mortifies sin because he is at peace with God. You hear what he's saying? The Christian kills sin because he is at peace with God. The legalist mortifies to try to be at peace with God. You see the difference? We're not trying to be at peace with God." [00:31:18]
"Put to death, mortify. The verb put to death or mortify is used now. I'm gonna, again, I hate getting technical with you, but it helps to understand. It's used here in an aorist tense, which means, which means do it. The aorist tense means do it, do it effectively, producing a definite result." [00:32:42]
"Sin will not die on its own inside of you. It must be killed. The price has already been paid. Jesus has conquered sin. Now there is a war inside of you as a believer that is raging, the spirit and the flesh, and which one will get control, which one will have the power." [00:34:14]
"If we do not put sin to death in a practical sense, it will corrupt and overcome. Let me take you back to the story of Agag and the Amalekites. Do you remember that story? God had said to Samuel, you tell Saul to go there and you kill them all. Sound familiar? Utterly kill, utterly destroy." [00:36:51]
"Destroy your earthly nature that has a propensity to do all the bad stuff. That's what he says back to Colossians. He says, oh, I'm in Ephesians. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth. The idea here is that you put to death your fleshly propensity, nature, earthly nature." [00:39:40]
"Are you willing to take the steps that are necessary to deal with the sin, that nature, that propensity to pursue sexual immorality, to pursue uncleanness and impurity, to pursue malice and anger, and all of those other? Are you willing to step up, take the king out of the prison, and hack it?" [00:41:00]
"Are you willing to experience a conviction of the Holy Spirit, and when it comes, then you go through the power of God, not through anything and of yourself? Are you willing to do that? I pray that you are. Next week we will talk about the sins, but I'll have some practical things." [00:41:44]
"Thank you for your word, wonderful word. Thank you that Jesus has accomplished everything. It is finished, he said. Everything is accomplished. He now sits at the right hand of the Father. Thank you for all of the benefits that come along with that, too numerous to name. We praise you for those things." [00:42:26]