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MEMORY VERSE: “And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart,
and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live” (Deuteronomy
30:6).
TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4,7,8; 5:23,24; 1 Peter 1:14-16;
Sanctification is a definite work of grace, subsequent to salvation. Sanctification means to make sacred or holy; to be set apart for a holy or religious use; to make free from sin or to be cleansed from moral corruption and pollution. As a Christian experience, it is the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are purified to love God supremely above everything else. Sanctification also means to be totally cleansed from moral defilement. Man is born with moral pollution, and as such, he needs to be cleansed from depraved passions. The believer, though saved and called (1 Peter 1:14,15), needs to be cleansed from inbred sin. To this end, we can also define sanctification as the “circumcision of the heart”. It also means purity of heart (Matthew 5:8)."
A misconception about sanctification is it is a gradual, rather than a spontaneous Christian experience. Some believe that we grow into sanctification. This is not true. As salvation and baptism in the Holy Ghost are instantaneous Christian experiences, so is sanctification. We do not grow into sanctification but we grow in the experience after we are sanctified. Though a believer is made morally clean with salvation experience, sanctification is a different work of grace, distinct and different from salvation. It is consequent upon salvation. It is an experience that can only be obtained by those who are already born again.
At conversion, righteousness is imputed as the sinner repents of sin and places his faith in the precious blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of all his sins. But not long after, the new believer, filled with the joy of salvation, begins to notice some inclinations in thought and desire toward the things of the world. He begins to grow cold towards spiritual things. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life begin to overlap his pure spiritual desires. This shows the presence of the adamic nature or the inbred sin. At salvation, the branches and leaves of sin are cut off. But the root or stump still remains. Unless this is uprooted by the supernatural power of God, it has the capability of bringing the believer back to the bondage of sin. This is where sanctification comes in.
Sanctification is necessary then because
(1) God commands it (Leviticus 20:7,24-26; 1 Peter 1:14-16),
(2) God demands it (Genesis 17:1).
(3) It is the nature of God (Leviticus 19:2)
(4) it is difficult to maintain a consistent walk with God without it (Amos 3:3; Leviticus 11:43-45),
(5) without it, it is impossible to love God supremely (Deuteronomy 30:6)
(6) it helps us to obey God and keep His word with a proper motive (Deuteronomy 10:16). (7) In character and conduct, it makes us holy like our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:48).
(8) It sets us apart as peculiar children of God
(9) it brings us into perfect bond of unity with other believers (John 17:17,21; Jeremiah 32:39), and
(10) it makes us qualified for heaven (Hebrews 12:14).
Christ's disciples manifested carnal tendencies at different times. Obviously, they were born again: Christ declared that their names were written in the book of life (Luke 10:20). These disciples, though saved, had certain blemishes in their lives that made them different from the perfect Son of God they had as their leader. They were selfish, high-minded, self-exalting and ambitious (Matthew 20:20-24; Luke 22:24-27). The needs of others did not arouse a deep concern in their hearts (Matthew 15:22,23). They showed a critical, judgemental and censorious spirit as they grudged Christ-honouring suppliant (Matthew 26:7-12). They were impatient and vindictive (Luke 9:51-56). Moreover, their love for Christ was limited though they professed high-sounding affection (Mark 14:46-50).
These traits of the old man that were present in the disciples can be found in many believers today who are yet to possess sanctification experience. God allows these manifestations to show us our need of sanctification. Without the experience, we will see things only as they affect us and defend ourselves at the slightest reproof. We will never accept responsibility for wrongs done by us but always blame others for our faults. We will not be happy when we are not commended on occasions when we felt we have done something well. The unsanctified always wants to be noticed. The manifestation of these traits in His disciples made Christ to pray for the sanctification of believers of all ages.
God has made adequate provision for the sanctification of believers. These include:
(1) the blood of Jesus. Jesus shed His blood for our sanctification.
(2) The word of God (John 15:3) and
(3) the Spirit of God (1 Peter 1:2).
When we are sanctified, the experience will produce changes in our lives. We will know and others will know.
(1) There will be the witness of the Spirit in our hearts
(2) The inner peace of God that passes all understanding will permeate our hearts
(3) We will begin to do things out of pure motive; we will be guided by sincere and pure motive in all that we do or say (Philippians 2:13-15); this makes us free from murmuring and self-will.
(4) There will be supreme love for God (Deuteronomy 30:6). When we love God supremely, we will serve Him joyfully. We cannot claim to have surrendered all and still complain about God‟s demands on us. Sanctification makes us wiling and ready to do anything for God.
(5) It fills us with pure and sacrificial love for the brethren and sinners (1 Corinthians 13:48).
(6) We will be entirely yielded unto the Lord – our response to God always will be “yes, Lord, let Thy will be done.”
(7) Our affections will be set on things above and not on things on the earth (Psalm 73:25; Colossians 3:1,2).
(8) We will be sensitive to the Spirit‟s leading and prodding.
(9) We will manifest Christ-like humility (Philippians 2:5-8).
(10) We will be totally united with Christ and His church (John 17:21-23). Sanctification, not ecumenism, is the only basis for true unity among believers.
To keep the sanctification experience, we must:
(1) be vigilant and sober always,
(2) avoid the company of anybody that can make us to be frivolous
(3) study the word of God always and be filled with it
(4) maintain a regular devotional life (Joshua 1:8)
(5) listen to His leading always (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and
(6) maintain fellowship with people of like precious faith and renew our consecration from time to time. Sanctification is not optional but an indispensable experience for all who want to live abundant, victorious Christian life on earth and spend eternity in heaven. Christ says heaven is for holy believers. “Blessed are
the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Pray, possess
and preserve the holiness experience to be able to enter heaven. (1) be vigilant and sober always,
(2) avoid the company of anybody that can make us to be frivolous
(3) study the word of God always and be filled with it
(4) maintain a regular devotional life (Joshua 1:8)
(5) listen to His leading always (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and
(6) maintain fellowship with people of like precious faith and renew our consecration from time to time. Sanctification is not optional but an indispensable experience for all who want to live abundant, victorious Christian life on earth and spend eternity in heaven. Christ says heaven is for holy believers. “Blessed are
This post was entirely extracted from Deeper life Bible Church "Search the Scriptures" (Volume 25 - the last study) outline.
The challenge comes to you and I. Thou must be sanctified!
Be blessed!
-Charity
Please make clarifications on John 3:3 & Hebrews 11:14.
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