Journey of Justification and Active Sanctification in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Work and Our Participation in Sanctification

Sanctification is a lifelong process where God calls us to actively participate in becoming more like Jesus, even as He is the one who ultimately brings about our growth. The journey of sanctification is not passive; it requires intentional choices, discipline, and a willingness to obey God’s commands, all while trusting that He is at work within us. Just as in the Old Testament, God both commands His people to pursue holiness and reminds them that He is the one who sanctifies, so too in our lives we are called to “work out” our salvation, knowing that it is God who works in us for His good pleasure. This partnership means we must make daily decisions to pursue holiness, relying on God’s power to transform us from the inside out. [05:35]

Exodus 31:13 (ESV)
“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.’”

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you sense God calling you to take an active step toward holiness this week, trusting that He will provide the strength to follow through?

Day 2: Prepare Your Mind for Action

Sanctification begins in the mind, as believers are called to prepare their thoughts, focus on the hope of Christ’s return, and discipline themselves to think rightly in the midst of life’s challenges. The way you think shapes the way you live; therefore, you are urged to “gird up the loins of your mind,” setting your hope fully on the grace to come and refusing to let anxieties, regrets, or worldly passions dominate your thoughts. By focusing on the promises of God and the glorious future awaiting you, you can live with purpose and resilience, even in times of suffering or uncertainty. Let your mind be renewed daily, so that your actions reflect the hope and holiness to which you are called. [09:43]

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Reflection: What anxious or distracting thoughts do you need to surrender to God today so you can focus your mind on the hope and grace found in Christ?

Day 3: Be Holy as God Is Holy

God’s own holiness is the standard for our conduct, and as His children, we are called to be set apart from the world, refusing to conform to former ways and instead reflecting His character in all we do. This call to holiness is not about legalism or perfection, but about living differently because we belong to a holy God. In a culture that often celebrates selfishness and instant gratification, you are invited to make daily choices that honor God—whether in your relationships, your reactions, or your habits. Holiness means being distinct, not for the sake of being odd, but so that your life points others to the God who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. [15:10]

1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV)
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Reflection: In what practical way can you choose to be set apart for God today, especially in an area where you are tempted to blend in with the world?

Day 4: The Cost and Commitment of Holiness

The call to holiness comes at a great cost—nothing less than the precious blood of Christ—and therefore demands a serious commitment to live for Him, not returning to old ways but honoring God with your life. You have been ransomed from futile ways, not with perishable things, but with the sacrifice of Jesus, and this reality should shape every decision you make. Just as you invest effort into your work, relationships, or health, so too must you invest in your spiritual growth, knowing that you will one day give an account to God for how you lived as His redeemed child. Holiness is cultivated through consistent, sometimes difficult choices, but the reward is a life that brings glory to God and reflects the value of the price paid for your salvation. [20:32]

1 Peter 1:17-19 (ESV)
“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Reflection: What is one habit or pattern from your “former ways” that you need to leave behind in light of the costly grace you have received in Christ?

Day 5: God Will Complete the Work He Began

Though sanctification requires your effort and commitment, the ultimate assurance is that God Himself will bring the work to completion; He is faithful to finish what He started in you. Growth in holiness may feel slow or difficult, and results may not be immediate, but God promises to carry you through the process until the day of Christ Jesus. Your role is to remain committed, trusting that as you do your part, God will bring forth the fruit in His time. No matter how many times you stumble, you can have confidence that the God who sanctifies will not abandon His work in you, and He invites you to keep pressing on, knowing that victory and transformation are possible by His power. [28:26]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Reflection: Where have you grown discouraged in your spiritual progress, and how can you renew your trust today that God will finish the work He has started in you?

Sermon Summary

Justification is the incredible truth that, though we are sinful by nature and by choice, we can be forgiven and declared righteous before God solely because of Jesus Christ’s obedient life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection. This is not something we earn by our good works, church attendance, or moral efforts—it is a gift of grace received by faith. Yet, after being justified, we enter into the lifelong journey of sanctification, the process by which we are made more holy, more like Jesus, and set apart for God’s purposes. Sanctification is not passive; it is an active partnership with God, where we are called to participate in our own spiritual growth.

God reveals Himself as Yahweh Mekodishkim—the God who sanctifies. Throughout the Old Testament, whenever God uses this name, He pairs it with a command for His people to pursue holiness. This dual emphasis is echoed in the New Testament: we are to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling,” knowing that it is God who works in us for His good pleasure. Sanctification, then, is both God’s work and our responsibility. We are called to prepare our minds for action, to be sober-minded, and to set our hope fully on the grace that will be revealed when Christ returns. The anticipation of our future inheritance should shape the way we live now, especially in the midst of trials and suffering.

Holiness is not about retreating from the world, but about being distinct within it. Just as Israel was called to be different from the nations around them, we are called to resist the selfishness and entitlement that pervade our culture. Our conduct is to be informed by God’s character: “Be holy as I am holy.” This means making daily choices to refuse old patterns of sin, to discipline our minds away from anxiety and despair, and to pursue the things that are true, honorable, and praiseworthy.

The cost of our salvation—the precious blood of Christ—reminds us that our lives are not our own. We are to honor God with our bodies and our choices, knowing that we will give an account for how we have lived as His redeemed people. Growth in holiness, like physical training or learning a new skill, requires perseverance, discipline, and trust that God will bring the fruit in His time. Though the process can be slow and sometimes discouraging, God promises to complete the good work He began in us. Our role is to commit ourselves to the journey, trusting that Yahweh Mekodishkim will sanctify us as we walk with Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Sanctification is a partnership: God is the one who sanctifies, but He calls us to actively participate in the process. We are not passive recipients; we must make intentional choices to pursue holiness, even when it is uncomfortable or counter to our natural desires. This dynamic tension—God’s work and our effort—invites us into a relationship of trust and obedience. [05:35]
2. The way we think shapes the way we live. Preparing our minds for action and being sober-minded means disciplining our thoughts, refusing to dwell on anxieties, regrets, or fleeting pleasures. By setting our hope fully on the grace to come, we anchor our present decisions in the reality of our future inheritance, allowing God’s promises to reframe our daily struggles. [12:36]
3. Holiness is not withdrawal from the world, but distinctiveness within it. God calls us to be set apart, not by isolating ourselves, but by living differently in the midst of a culture marked by selfishness and instant gratification. Our conduct, shaped by God’s own character, becomes a testimony to the world of His transforming power. [16:37]
4. The cost of our redemption compels us to live with reverent responsibility. We have been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ, and this reality should move us to honor God in every area of life. Spiritual growth, like any worthwhile pursuit, requires discipline, sacrifice, and a willingness to work at it, trusting that God will bring the increase. [22:26]
5. Growth in holiness is often slow and requires perseverance, but God is faithful to complete what He has started. Like physical training or learning a new skill, sanctification involves pushing through discomfort and discouragement, trusting that God will bring fruit in due time. Our commitment is to keep showing up, keep working, and keep trusting Yahweh Mekodishkim to finish His work in us. [28:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Celebrating God’s Faithfulness in Our Community
[02:16] - Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification Explained
[04:17] - Yahweh Mekodishkim: The God Who Sanctifies
[05:35] - God’s Command and God’s Work in Sanctification
[07:55] - Preparing Your Mind for Action
[09:43] - Setting Your Hope on Future Grace
[12:36] - The Power of the Mind in Spiritual Growth
[15:10] - God’s Character and Our Conduct
[16:37] - Holiness in a Pagan and Selfish Culture
[18:08] - Practical Choices for Distinctive Living
[19:29] - The Cost and Call of Holiness
[20:32] - Ransomed by the Blood of Christ
[22:26] - Working Out Your Sanctification
[25:23] - Perseverance and God’s Role in Growth
[27:35] - The Fruit of Consistency in Sanctification
[28:26] - God Will Complete the Work
[28:59] - Responding to God’s Call to Holiness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:13-21 (ESV) — 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 1:13, what are believers instructed to do with their minds, and why is this important for their spiritual journey?
In verses 14-16, what contrast does Peter make between the believers’ former way of life and their new calling?
What does Peter say is the cost of our redemption, and how does he describe its value? (v. 18-19)
In the sermon, what Old Testament name of God is highlighted, and how is it connected to both God’s work and our responsibility? [[04:17]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Peter connect the command to “be holy” with the reminder of God’s holiness? What does this suggest about the source and standard of our sanctification?
The sermon describes sanctification as a partnership between God’s work and our effort. How does this tension show up in 1 Peter 1 and in the examples from the Old Testament? [[05:35]]
The passage says we are to “set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” How might this future hope practically shape a believer’s daily choices, especially in times of trial? [[09:43]]
The sermon mentions that the cost of our salvation—the blood of Christ—should move us to honor God in every area of life. Why is remembering the cost of redemption so important for motivating holy living? [[20:32]]

Application Questions

The sermon talks about “preparing your minds for action” and disciplining your thoughts. What is one area of your thought life (anxiety, regret, distraction, etc.) that you need to bring under God’s control this week? What practical step can you take to do this? [[12:36]]
Peter says, “Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” Are there any old patterns or habits from your life before Christ that you still struggle with? What would it look like to refuse those patterns this week? [[15:10]]
The sermon emphasizes that holiness is not about withdrawing from the world, but being distinct within it. In what specific situation this week could you choose to act differently from the culture around you, reflecting God’s character? [[16:37]]
The pastor shared about making intentional choices—like joining a small group or serving in ministry—as part of sanctification. Is there a spiritual discipline or act of service you’ve been avoiding or putting off? What’s one step you can take to commit to it this month? [[22:26]]
The cost of our salvation is described as “the precious blood of Christ.” How does remembering this cost affect your motivation to honor God with your body, your time, or your resources? Is there a specific area where you need to live with more reverent responsibility? [[20:32]]
The sermon compared sanctification to physical training—slow, sometimes discouraging, but fruitful with perseverance. Can you share about a time when you didn’t see spiritual growth right away, but God eventually brought fruit? How can you encourage someone else who feels stuck in their growth? [[25:23]]
The pastor ended by inviting everyone to ask the Holy Spirit if there’s any area of life that needs to be surrendered or worked on. Take a moment to reflect: Is there something God is prompting you to address? How can the group support you in this? [[28:59]]

Sermon Clips

Because the cost of your salvation was so great, the life of Jesus Christ, you are called then to live for the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't go back to your old ways. You've been saved from those old ways. You've been ransomed from those old ways. Don't go back to that. [00:22:26] (16 seconds)

All good things require us to put the work in. Why do we think our sanctification would be any different? Spiritual life and discipline to choose a small group when we could be doing something else on tuesday night to choose sunday morning service which you guys did right now praise god you did that um you could be doing something else but you're going to choose it because you're going to grow in your faith to choose the theology class to choose to serve in children's ministry to serve to choose to read your bible even when you don't understand it all knowing that these are parts of sanctification in your life. [00:23:49] (36 seconds)

You can have the victory. It's possible over pornography. You can have the victory over alcoholism. You don't have to drink to have fun. You can have the victory, you go down the line, when you work on it, because God's the one who ultimately brings the growth. But you gotta be committed to whatever area in your life that you struggle with, you gotta be committed to working on it, to working on it. [00:26:11] (28 seconds)

Paul says this in Philippians chapter 1, verse 6, he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. At the end of the day, it's God who sanctifies. It is Jehovah, mikodishkim. He is the one who will see it through and to sanctify you. But you're invited today to join in. [00:28:26] (23 seconds)

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