Understanding Sanctification: The Journey of Spiritual Growth

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Scripture

The process of sanctification is deeply rooted in the truth of God's Word. Every doctrine within Scripture, from the nature of God to the reality of sin and judgment, plays a crucial role in our spiritual growth. The Bible is not just a collection of stories or moral teachings; it is the living Word of God that actively works to transform us. As we engage with Scripture, we are invited into a deeper understanding of who God is and who we are called to be. This transformative process is ongoing, requiring us to continually immerse ourselves in the truth of God's Word. [00:31]

"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." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate more Scripture into your daily routine to allow its transformative power to work in your life?

Day 2: Justification and Sanctification: A Unified Journey

Romans chapters 6, 7, and 8 emphasize the inseparable link between justification and sanctification. The Apostle Paul refutes the notion that one can be justified without being sanctified, asserting that the very nature of Christian salvation makes it impossible to continue in sin. Justification is not merely a legal declaration of righteousness; it is the beginning of a transformative journey that leads to sanctification. As believers, we are called to live out our justification through a life of holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit. [04:45]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in your sanctification process, recognizing it as a continuation of your justification?

Day 3: Union with Christ: Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Our union with Christ means that we are dead to sin and alive to God. This union encompasses our entire being, and sin no longer has dominion over us. Through our identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, we experience a complete salvation, not a partial one. This profound truth calls us to live in the reality of our new identity, empowered to resist sin and pursue righteousness. [14:18]

"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." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding your union with Christ change the way you approach sin and temptation in your daily life?

Day 4: The Ongoing Struggle with Sin

While our spirits are redeemed, our bodies remain subject to sin. This dual reality means that while we are spiritually alive, our bodies are still in need of redemption. The struggle against sin continues, but it is not a hopeless battle. Through the indwelling of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to mortify the deeds of the body and live a life of holiness. This ongoing struggle is a reminder of our dependence on God's grace and the promise of complete redemption. [22:59]

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific sins or struggles do you need to bring before God today, asking for His strength and grace to overcome them?

Day 5: The Promise of Complete Redemption

The process of sanctification is ongoing, empowered by the indwelling of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. While it is not complete in this life, the promise of complete redemption, including our bodies, is assured. This hope of future glory motivates us to persevere in our journey of sanctification, knowing that God is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us. We are invited to live in the tension of the "already" and the "not yet," trusting in God's promise of complete redemption. [35:27]

"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." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of complete redemption encourage you to remain faithful in your journey of sanctification, even amidst challenges and setbacks?

Sermon Summary

In the exploration of sanctification, we delve into the profound truth that our sanctification is rooted in the truth of God's Word. The entirety of Scripture contributes to our sanctification, with every doctrine, from the nature of God to the reality of sin and judgment, playing a role in this transformative process. Romans chapters 6, 7, and 8 serve as a pivotal exposition on sanctification, emphasizing the inseparable link between justification and sanctification. The Apostle Paul refutes the notion that one can be justified without being sanctified, asserting that the very nature of Christian salvation makes it impossible to continue in sin.

Paul's argument in Romans 6 is that Christians, by virtue of their union with Christ, are dead to sin and alive to God. This union means that we have been crucified, buried, and resurrected with Christ, and thus, sin no longer has dominion over us. This is not a partial salvation but a complete one, encompassing both justification and sanctification. The Apostle emphasizes that all Christians are spiritual, having received the Holy Spirit, and are therefore called to live in the Spirit, not in the flesh.

However, while our spirits are redeemed, our bodies remain subject to sin. This dual reality means that while we are spiritually alive, our bodies are still in need of redemption. The struggle against sin continues, but it is not a hopeless battle. Through the indwelling of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to mortify the deeds of the body and live a life of holiness. The process of sanctification is ongoing, and while it is not complete in this life, the promise of complete redemption, including our bodies, is assured.

Key Takeaways

1. Sanctification is rooted in the truth of God's Word, with every doctrine contributing to our spiritual growth. The entirety of Scripture, from the nature of God to the reality of sin, plays a role in our sanctification. [00:31]
2. The inseparable link between justification and sanctification is emphasized in Romans 6, 7, and 8. Paul refutes the notion that one can be justified without being sanctified, asserting that Christian salvation makes it impossible to continue in sin. [04:45]
3. Our union with Christ means that we are dead to sin and alive to God. This union encompasses our entire being, and sin no longer has dominion over us. This is a complete salvation, not a partial one. [14:18]
4. While our spirits are redeemed, our bodies remain subject to sin. This dual reality means that while we are spiritually alive, our bodies are still in need of redemption. The struggle against sin continues, but it is not hopeless. [22:59]
5. The process of sanctification is ongoing, empowered by the indwelling of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. While it is not complete in this life, the promise of complete redemption, including our bodies, is assured. [35:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Sanctification
[00:31] - The Role of Scripture in Sanctification
[01:05] - The Doctrine of Sanctification in Romans
[02:41] - Refuting Antinomianism
[03:38] - The Impossibility of Continuing in Sin
[04:45] - Justification and Sanctification
[05:13] - The Argument of Romans 6
[06:14] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[07:02] - All Christians Are Spiritual
[09:40] - The Doctrine of Sin
[12:14] - Salvation in Christ
[14:18] - Union with Christ
[17:18] - Dead to Sin, Alive to God
[22:59] - The Struggle with Sin in the Body
[35:27] - The Process of Sanctification
[39:02] - The Promise of Complete Redemption

Sermon Clips

"sanctify them through or in thy truth Thy word is truth that is clearly therefore an indication of the method of sanctification as it is taught in the scripture now the question arises at once what truth is this sanctify them in thy truth well our Lord answers the question Thy word is truth what word well the whole of the word in in other words everything that is in the Bible ministers to our sanctification you can't read about God himself in his being and his person truly without it's promoting your sanctification every truth in the scripture is a truth which is a part of sanctification" [00:00:05]

"the Apostle is here out to show the utter impossibility of a Christian's continuing in sin and he says that it is impossible because of the nature of the Christian salvation you see he puts it in that question what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that Grace May abound God forbid that's it how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein that's the theme the impossibility he puts it as strongly as that as I want to show you of the Christian continuing in sin the whole character and nature of the Christian salvation makes that quite impossible" [00:03:40]

"our Salvation in Christ is not a partial Sal salvation it's an entire salvation it's a complete salvation and what he sets out to do in this in this great passage in chapter 6 7 and 8 is just to work out that theme and to prove it now then the great text in my opinion is the 14th verse in the sixth chapter here it is for sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace that's the text observe what he says he doesn't say that sin ought not to have dominion over you he says sin shall not have dominion over you" [00:13:08]

"we are not only joined to the Lord Jesus Christ in some respects we are joined to him entirely you can't divide Christ we've been crucified with him you'll find it all in the sixth chapter we've been crucified with him we've died with him we've been buried with him planted in the likeness of his death we've risen with him and go on to Ephesians 2 again we are seated with him in the Heavenly places at this very moment yes or put it in terms of 1 Corinthians 1:30 but of him are he in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us what wisdom yes righteousness but you don't stop there wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and Redemption" [00:15:12]

"our Spirits are already entirely delivered from sin I as a spirit and as a spiritual being am dead to sin I have finished with it once and forever but that is not true of my body now then you see the argument the result of the fall of Adam and of sin I say was that the entire men has been involved his spirit and his body in our Christian salvation at this moment my spirit is entirely redeemed my body is not let me give you my evidence for saying that according to this teaching our bodies are still subject to sin our bodies are still dominated by sin and ruled and governed by sin" [00:22:59]

"the process is going on already what a wonderful statement he then repeats it again in much the same way in verses 15 to 17 he says you have not received the spirit of bondage against a fear you mustn't be cast down you mustn't say this is a weary pilgrimage and all is against me and I'm constantly if not at all ye have not received the spirit of bondage again the fear but he have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry AB the father and the spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children then HS HS of God and Joint HS with Christ the ultimate result is certain and safe and assured" [00:34:20]

"the Lord Jesus Christ is in US Christ is in us if we are Christians he is in us and he is working in Us by his Holy Spirit and as the result of this working he has already delivered our spirits and is in process of delivering even our bodies and finally they will be perfectly delivered how does the process go on well Philip Philippians 2:13 gives the right answer work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you both to Will and to do the Holy Spirit Works Upon Our Wills he creates desires after Holiness he reveals sin to us in all its foulness and ugliness and creates aspirations after Purity and the life of God" [00:35:36]

"we are to see that we are already redeemed as spirits that the problem remains in this body we are to see that even that eventually is going to be delivered what do we do in the meantime well he shows us reckon yourselves indeed to be dead under sin but alive unto God he gives this assurance and confidence and certainty of ultimate Victory I no longer feel defeated I know that I'm on the Victorious side and that I must just go on then he gives an appeal to me he says let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body and I feel that's a perfectly Fair appeal and I'm going to put it into practice" [00:37:39]

"it is Progressive and it goes on and on and on it is not complete while I'm still in this life and in this world sin Still Remains in the body it isn't complete yet but thank God the day is coming when it will be complete I must quote it once again because it's one of the most glorious verses in scripture the 23rd verse of the 8th chapter and not only they but we ourselves also grown within ourselves waiting for the adoption there is a day coming when my very body shall be delivered entirely and completely from sin in every shape and form he shall change this the body of my humiliation and fashion it like into the body of his own glorification" [00:38:33]

"there is a day coming when this process of redemption started in Me by Christ which has already delivered me as a spiritual being and has made me dead to sin there is a day when my body shall be equally dead to sin and I shall be perfect and entire faultless and blameless without spot and blemish standing face to face with God they love J who agrees entirely with Paul beloved now are we the sons of God now it does not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he does appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is" [00:39:47]

"while I'm still in this life and in this world I shall still have to wage this battle against the sin that in my body so John puts it like this every man that have this hope in him purifieth himself he does it even as he is pure I keep under my body says Paul again he does it he doesn't just passively look to Christ I keep under my body I mortify my members that are on the earth that's the argument even all this truth this power of the spirit working in me I am exalted to do that and I want to do that and that is sanctification" [00:40:52]

"we must of necessity reject all talk about eradication of sin all talk of being delivered entirely from sin in this life and in this world we reject it in the name of this scripture we reject equally the talk that what is happening is a principle of counteraction coming in because that doesn't say enough about me it doesn't tell me that I spiritually am already delivered and that the problem is only In the Flesh and that that is a problem which I have to face it draws that false distinction between a Christian who may only be in the seventh of Romans with the one who's in the eighth because it doesn't realize that every Christian is in the eighth of Romans" [00:41:59]

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