SOTERIOLOGY – SANCTIFICATION

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SALVATION – SANCTIFICATION

SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification in the bible literally means to be sanctified or to be made holy. It is the process which we naturally (new nature) and spiritually live out when we are saved. The process of becoming holy and more like our Heavenly Father. Sanctification is in no way a condition to receive salvation, but rather is a natural function of the person whom is spiritually alive, seeking their Heavenly Father, and genuinely desiring to be like Him. It is a process that begins once you have been born again.

The Path of Sanctification

1.) Your old life is crucified, you are freed from the slavery of sin

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;  – Rom 6:6

2.) Your debt is paid for

for he that hath died is justified from sin.  – Rom 6:7 

3.) Your life belongs to God

But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;  – Rom 6:8 

4.) The legal rights of sin, death and the devil no longer apply to you

knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him.  – Rom 6:9 

5.) Your life is reset in motion for Gods purposes

For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  – Rom 6:10 

6.) You are given life, therefore recognize sin is no longer a part of you

Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.  – Rom 6:11 

7.) Do not let sin have any control in your life, neither listen to its impulses

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:  – Rom 6:12 

8.) Do not provide any part of your life to have an opportunity for sin, rather present all parts of your life in opportunity for God.

Neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. – Rom 6.13

9.) You are not constrained by the laws of morality, but under the dominion of God’s grace, and His sustaining grace supports you in every good work.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.  – Rom 6:14 

What Happens When We Are Saved

Each of the following subjects occurs in a person life when they believe in God and accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior:

restoration-relationshipOur Relationship to God is Restored

We become a part of God’s body

because we are members of his body.  – Eph 5.30

In Him we are redeemed

in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,  – Ephesians 1.7

In Him we have life

In him was life; and the life was the light of men  – John 1.4

We Are Born Again

The term ‘born again’ refers to the literal act of a person who believes in Christ, being born again spiritually. In the same way a baby is born physically, this person is born spiritually when someone believes in Jesus.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  – John 3.5-6

having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.  – 1Peter 1.23

Adoption Into God’s Family

We are born into God’s family. God says in His law that when a child is adopted into a family, that child legally and officially becomes a son or daughter in that family. Theologically, adoption refers to the very act of God placing a person into His family as a part of their new birth in Christ.

For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.  – Gal 3.26

But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: – John 1.12

For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  – Romans 8.15

We Are Given a New Heart & Spirit

Our fleshly hearts are deceitful and wicked and we still have to battle with them until we die. This is due to the fallen or sinful flesh nature we are born with was inherited to us from Adam. In spite of this fact, God gives us a new heart & new spirit when we believe, to do and desire His will and know His thoughts.

When we believe, He gives us a spiritual nature, and a heart that is mindful of spiritual and Godly things. This is why until a believer dies their remains within them two contrary natures- the sinful flesh nature and a Godly spiritual nature, each will remain in conflict against the other until that person dies. Each different nature pulls our conscious mind to follow two different contrary paths.

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;  – Ezekiel 11.19

We Have a New Mind

And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  – Romans 12.2

We Have Victory

God’s work of salvation destroys sin & its agents (the devil)

When we are freed from sin, we obtain victory over the 3 mediums of sin:

We have victory over the flesh

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  – Rom 8.3-4

We have victory over the world

For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.  – 1 John 5.4

We have victory over the Devil

Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you  – James 4.7

We Are Regenerated

regeneration-new-life

Our spirit comes alive in regeneration. We are all originally born in a condition of death and separation from God, but in salvation, the Spirit of God regenerates us to life, and are no longer subject to the sickness of sin that leads to spiritual death!

And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,  – Eph 2.1

for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  – Eph 2.8

not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,  – Tit 3.5

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;  – John 11.25

We Become a New Creation

Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.  – 2Co 5:17 

Develop a Hunger and Desire for God’s Word
Just as those born with physical bodies desire and crave nourishment, so do those who are spiritually alive. As God’s children we will have a spiritual hunger and thirst for the things of God. There is no satisfaction in the world for the hunger of spirit who has tasted true life, but when we are filled by God we have eternal satisfaction. Jesus said His food was to do the will of God. God’s word and our relationship to Him is our spiritual nourishment, and food for our soul.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3.3,7

But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night.  – Psalms 1.2

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  – Matthew 5.6

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.  – John 4.34

Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.  – John 6.35

2. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation 3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good  – 1 Peter 2.2-3

Fruit (Good Works) Produce Naturally

God’s children are born of His Spirit and He is to sanctify the believer, and good ‘fruit’ is naturally produced as a by-product of being spiritually regenerated. Now the interesting thing about fruit of the spirit is this, the only people that can really see it, is God and yourself! Others people don’t really know the true motivations behind your actions, which is from the fruit of your spirit, and therefore have no true indication about the fruits of the spirit of others besides the ‘deeds or works’ that they do.

By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  – Matthew 7.16-20

being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.  – phil 1.11

fruit-good

But the fruit of the Spirit is:

  1. love
  2. joy
  3. peace,
  4. longsuffering
  5. kindness
  6. goodness
  7. faithfulness
  8. meekness
  9. self-control

against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.  – Gal 5.22-24

having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.  – 1 Peter 1.23

Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: – Matt 3.8

… repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.  – Acts 26.20

Love for God & Others

All of those who are born of God have God’s love residing in their hearts, and continue to love God in all aspects of their lives, including His people. The origin of a believers love is first from God, then they bring this love from God to other people and desire to share it with the rest of the world.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  – 1 John 4.7-8

We love, because he first loved us.  – 1 John 4.19

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.  – 1 John 4.20

Sacrifice – Give up Everything

God call us to give up everything in our lives that could hinder us from being able to draw near to God and the calling He has in our lives.

And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  – Luke 9.23

God tests our hearts by seeing the depth of your devotion to Him. The love we have for God should cause everything else in our lives to appear as hatred in comparison; specifically when compared to the great love that we are to have for God. Of course everything in the Bible and all of God commandments are summed up simply in love.

There are many who are not willing to give up their family’s for the cause of God’s will in their life, and this is idolatry, putting your family above the God who gave you that family. It is equally true that many others sin by not loving their families as much as they are supposed to, with God’s love in their hearts.

If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  – Luke 14.26

He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  – Matthew 10.39

A part of sanctification is to put aside everything that could even possibly hinder us and cause us to sins, and continue daily to keep in the race for Christ in our lives.

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  – Hebrew 12.1

Service to God

It is in this coming to God that we desire to serve Him. Once we are saved and have His love in our hearts, and His heart and thoughts in us, we desire the things of His glory and kingdom. Even though God cannot be served by human hands, we give to His people and bless them to help build up His kingdom (which is inside of us) on Earth.

neither is God served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  – Acts 17.25

turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God  – 1 Thessalonians 1.9

I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?

And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.  – Matthew 25.35-40

The kingdom of God is within you.  – Luke 17.21

The true spiritual act of service that we can do for God is give up our bodies and lives to live for him.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.  – Romans 12.1

Obedience

In Hebrew the word for obedience is shama; literally to hear intelligently, to understand, witness or regard. In Greek the word is hupakoe which means to attentively listen to, or be in submission, obey.

God calls all mankind to be obedient to Him. As believers, we are to no longer serve sin or the desires of our selfish flesh, we are called to serve our created purpose, to live for God. For believers, we are no longer under the law of God, but rather are to live our lives according God’s grace.

Our spirits from sin are free in God, and we are no longer slaves to sin through the law (God’s law) that reveals what sin is, but we are free so that our spirits may flourish and produce spiritual fruit through obedience to God’s will.

More than any sacrifice that we could ever give to God, or anything that we could try to do in attempt to make up for sins; God desires a person in who’s heart, there is the desires to be obedient to Him.

And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  – 1 Samuel 15.22

Some people make religious penitence with physical gifts to God, but others in their heart genuinely seek God and desire His ways to obedient to them. Even though we fail, God knows what is in our hearts, and if we choose to say either

” I am going to life my life how I want to, but here’s a little something for you God,”

or

“Lord here is my entire life, help me be continuously obedient to you!”

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient.  – Exodus 24.7

13. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  – Luke 18.13-14

We are servants to the things we do, and whatever we do becomes our master; and servants to who we obey.

Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  – Romans 6.16

When Jesus comes back, He will avenge all disobedience

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.  – 2 Corinthians 10.6

God calls us to live a life of obedience. It is also within all His children, a desire in their spirit to come to a place of obedience to their Father in Heaven. Obedience to God is a part of sanctification.

casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;  – 2 Corinthians 10.5

Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:  – 1 Peter 1.22

but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him: he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.  – 1 John 2.5-6

Disciplined by God

True believers, just like everyone else can fall into sin because we all are subject to the fallen sin nature of the flesh. True believers can even backslide for a period of their life, either willfully or being tricked by some form of deceit in their life.

Return, O backsliding children, saith Jehovah; for I am a husband unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:  – Jer 3.14

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.  – 1 Corin 3.1

Some individuals no matter how well instructed will just continue to backslide and live a life that is very destructive. For some believers who continue to practice a such destructive path, it is better for them to be delivered to Satan so they can be severely punished and finally learn penitence from it.

For other, their paths can become so darkened and eventually lead to their own death because of the consequences of their actions, and God just simply tells them they are done. This is why in the flesh we are to fear God which leads to wisdom, to abstain from the destructive nature of the flesh.

to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  – 1 Corinthians 5.5

So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  – Philippians 2.12

Those who belong to God must turn away from sin, and strive to become more Godly in their life. God will not tolerate His children to continue to practice sin in their life, he will lovingly discipline us to the point where we learn to give up that things that are hurting us or that are causing us to sin.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not? But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  – Hebrews 12.6-8

Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.  – 2 Timothy 2.19

God Teaches us to refrain from sin

For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;  – Titus 2.11-12

Works and Good Deeds

The Word for Faith in Greek is pistis, literally meaning persuasion, credence of truth, reliance, conviction, assurance, belief, fidelity. Faith is an action word, it is also interpreted as the practice of ones belief in something.  We are meant to be active with our faith seeking God and His will for our lives. James speaks explicitly of deeds combined with faith.

He asks the questions that if you don’t do anything for God out of faith, can such a faith save you? Its not saying the answer is no, because it is WHAT GOD DID that saves us (and we know many people, right before they die, repent like the thief on the cross and receive salvation Luke 23.43). Rather it is a question for us to ask ourselves; if we are not doing anything for God, how do we really know we are saved? or another way to look at it is; if I really trust and believe God, why am I doing NOTHING for His kingdom.

It is a question that can bring us to a fearful place depending on the answer. If we take God seriously at what He is tells us, that there is a war going on for souls and the things of this world are passing away and mean nothing, how can we say we believe God is telling us the truth if we just sit idly by and do nothing, or just live a worldly life?

What use is it, my brothers, for a man to say that he has faith, if he does nothing? will such a faith give him salvation?  – James 2.14

God does not want us to give or do things from obligation or from a grudging heart. We are called to do things form a loving and cheerful heart, out of our love for God and His glory.

And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing  – 1 Corinthians 13.3

Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  – 2 Corinthians 9.7

God is the Greatest Treasure

When we recognize that God has given us everything, and that there is no greater treasure then Him. We should want to give Him everything in our lives and more because He is the all supplier of everything that we need.

I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.  – Genesis 15.1

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  – Philippians 1.21

Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.  – Luke 7.47

REFERENCES

Systematic Theology – Norman L. Geisler

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