Doctrine: Santification (Jeremiah)

I have had the EASIEST 5 years of my life- I grew and learned more than I ever have----said....no one ever..

Why? Because we know that typically it is through some of the hardest and most difficult seasons of our lives where we see the most growth and learn the most...

God’s involvement in a believer’s life incorporates more than forgiveness of past sins and eternal hope. That is salvation. And that is good.

but God is not satisfied by just declaring us righteous and then leaving us to fend for ourselves.

no…He wants personal and close relationship with us…He longs to restore us to Him....

so yes..he saves…once and for all...

but God in his mercy wants more for us in this life....

So- he sent us a helper- the Holy Spirit, who....like a carpenter slowly chisel’s at the wood to create a masterpiece- the Holy Spirit is slowly working on you to transform you more into Christ’s likeness…

Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit reveals sin, prompts faith, and empowers obedience in the days and moments of a believer’s life.

said another way....sanctification is the process by which God actually makes us what he has declared us to be in Christ....righteous...

God actively involves Himself in the day-to-day walk of every believer.

He life’s circumstances, His Word, fellowship with believers, and every part of daily life to weave His resurrection power into the thoughts and actions of His children.

No one can become more like Jesus or spiritually mature without God’s active work of sanctification.

Santification does not rest on our obedience- the burden of santification rests on God..He does the work…not us...

Our sanctification is a call to obedience…it’s a call to RUN after everything that is ours in Christ.

When we obey God- we are simply running after Him…running after all that we are promised

praise God for that- we would always fail....but,....it does rest on the powerful, ever-present, and always active saving grace offered through Christ.

God’s purposes for us are good. He delights to use everything we face as an opportunity to sanctify us – to make us more like Jesus. Sanctification is a divine work. God is committed to sanctify His children – to stimulate true, God-pleasing holiness into their lives as they yield to His work within them. When I do not believe in God’s active involvement in my spiritual growth, I fail to recognize His sanctifying work in my life. I fail to grow spiritually as God intends and miss God’s best for me. When I believe God can use anything I face to sanctify me, I recognize His intentional orchestration of my life for my good and His glory. My pain yields growth as I learn how to depend on God. My victories represent His glorious work, not my own effort. I learn to abide in Him, knowing that only He can produce in me what He requires of me. I am freed from trying to please God in my own strength. Possible Applications for Leaders: The following concepts can be developed into applications specific to your leaders: God’s deliberate process of sanctification in our lives reveals His persevering love for us. o God did not save us, then leave us alone to figure it all out and do the best we could. o How have you experienced God’s ongoing, active involvement in the ups and downs of your life? o In what way does God’s customized care and purposeful work within you reveal how much He loves you? The process of sanctification is not always joyful or easy. o To grow spiritually, we must turn from specific sin, deny self, and trust God instead of ourselves. o When have you had to endure a little or a lot of pain for spiritual gain? o In what ways has the process of sanctification been somewhat painful for you? Sanctification reveals that God is for us – He cares about who we are and what He wants us to become. o The fact that God remains constantly at work within His children reveals so much about Him. o How do these truths bring peace and stability to a difficult, purifying journey you may be facing? o This very day – what opportunity stands before you as a place to trust God and see Him work?