 On Wednesdays we “walk in the Word” through study & application of Biblical doctrine. Rightly understanding Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, & gospel centered discipleship. Today we continue our short survey of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology): Knowing the Holy Spirit- Sanctification. Previous posts include: Know the Holy Spirit: Week 1 Know the Holy Spirit’s Story (2) Know the Holy Spirit: Covenant (3) Know the Holy Spirit: Union with Christ (4) Know the Holy Spirit: Spiritual Gifts- Why I am an (open) cessationist (5) Key Verses 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification." 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “ But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." See also Romans 8:1-17; Ephesians 4:21-24; Psalm 51:1-12; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ezekiel 37:1-10  Introduction “You look so much like your dad!” These are words of a dreaded diagnosis for a couple of my children. “You look so much like Jesus!” are welcome words for disciples of Jesus Christ. By way of introduction, I cannot summarize sanctification better than the Westminster Shorter Catechism, John Calvin, and the Westminster Confession of Fatih: Q. 35. What is sanctification? (WSC) A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole person after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. Calvin writes in his Institutes, “… in sanctification God makes us what we have been declared: He makes us righteous and holy… We are renewed by (the Spirit) unto true purity, that we may practice repentance, and die to ourselves and the world, to begin to live unto God.” (Institutes, III.3.9) Later, the Westminster Divines record (13.1), Those effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts of flesh are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened, in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. The Spirit of God uniting us to the Son of God makes us children of God, working to transform believers more and more into the image of God. “…the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:10) “By one single sacrifice, Jesus Christ has perfected for all time those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14)  The Roots, Reality, and Rails of Sanctification The roots of sanctification: The roots of sanctification sink deep in to God and His character, the three persons of the Trinity who is “Holy, Holy, Holy!” (Isaiah 6:3). Consider Isaiah’s call- What happened when the prophet saw God’s purity? He realized his need to be cleansed (Isaiah 6:1-7). God is holy; therefore, God’s people should be holy (see Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:13-16) The reality of sanctification: This is killing sin and living for righteousness. The reality of sanctification is the work of God’s Spirit after justification, responding to God’s sovereign grace with groaning and grinding to become more like Jesus. Christians have been crucified with Christ and Christ lives in us, so we do not live according to the flesh but according to righteousness (Philippians 2:20-21). Christians are buried with Christ and risen with Christ to walk in a newness of life (Romans 6:4). Since Christians have been raised with Christ, we “put on” Christ in all of life. (Colossians 3:1-17) David models a man who seeks to respond to God’s grace with repentance towards sanctification (Psalm 51:1-12), and Romans 8 helps us see what this looks like in our discipleship. (With help from John Owen, On the Mortification of Sin), consider this summary of Romans chapter 8: v. 1- There is no condemnation in Christ vv. 31-39- Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ vv. 2-4- The Spirit has set us free because Christ has fulfilled the law vv. 5-8- To live is to set our minds on the things of the Spirit vv. 9- The Spirit of God dwells in us, the Spirit of resurrection life vv. 11-12- The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us. We are debtors to the Spirit. vv. 13-By the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh -The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God by which we kill sin (Ephesians 6:17) -Jesus teaches us to poke out eyes or cut off arms causing sin (Matt. 5:29-30) -This is to “put to death” our sinful nature (Colossians 3:5) -This is to “abstain from passions of the flesh waging war” against you. (1 Pt. 2:11) The rails of sanctification: The law is not a ladder to climb to Heaven but tracks of a train for a righteous life, what Calvin called “the perfect pattern of righteousness.” Beware of errors in relationship with God’s law:
“We all automatically gravitate toward the assumption that we are justified by our level of sanctification... We start each day with our personal security resting not on the accepting love of God and the sacrifice of Christ but on our present feelings or recent achievements in [religion]. Since these arguments will not quiet the human conscience, we are inevitably moved to... a self-righteousness which falsifies the record to achieve a sense of peace.” – Richard Lovelace, The Dynamics of Spiritual Life Justification alone gives peace with God (Romans 5:1). Sanctification is a response to justification where we embrace God’s love to resemble our Savior, delighting in the imperative to “Be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. Walk in love as Christ love you, giving Himself for you…” Ephesians 5:1-2 The gospel path: You are more sinful than you can comprehend but more loved than you can imagine. From Christ’s finished work we are secure in the Father’s steadfast love, so the duty of obeying God's word becomes a delight to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul. You are not alone! The New covenant promises God’s Spirit to empower His people to walk in God’s ways: Ezekiel 36:26-28; Jeremiah 31:31-33; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 We are justified FOR the good works of sanctification: Titus 3:4-8; James 2:14-21; Galatians 5:1, 20-21… set apart for God and from the world to live like God and love the world. Children of God put forth effort in our growth of godliness (2 Peter 1:5), but sanctification is a work of the Spirit through and through. It is by God's Spirit we become partakers in His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from this overview of sanctification? -Where do you struggle with the Bible’s teaching on sanctification, either in the roots, reality, or rails of the doctrine? Which aspect is most exciting to you? -How can you, in response to the finished work of Jesus through which you are justified, put to death deeds of the flesh by the sword of the Spirit- the word of God? Be specific. 
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMitchell celebrates twenty-six years of marriage with his wife, Lisa, and together they have four fantastic children. Mitchell and Lisa live in southwest Colorado, where they lead Abide Mountain Ministry, serving those who serve Jesus, strengthening the Church, and participating in church planting. Mitchell also works with the Center for Reformed Theology in Karawaci, Indonesia. Archives
April 2026
|
RSS Feed