How to See God: The Process of Sanctificatio
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Big Idea
Big Idea
Tension: How do Christians grow in their communion with Christ?
Resolution: By repenting of their sins and committing themselves to the disciplines of grace.
Theological Idea: Christians grow in their communion with Christ by repenting of their sins and committing themselves to the disciplines of grace.
Homiletical Idea: I can grow in my intimacy with Christ by turning from sin and turning to Him.
Outline
Outline
Introduction: How do I grow as a Christian? <my background>
What is Christian Growth?
Christian growth is the process of becoming and thinking and feeling more and more like Christ. It is being a disciple of Christ. It is conformity to him and alignment with him. It is a process of continually dying to ourselves nad living to God.
“They who are 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 thereof 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.” (WCF #13)
Why do we grow?
Because it leads to grow into greater intimacy with Christ.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Which part of my life does this involve?
Yes. There is no part of your life which is untouched. There is no part of your life which can remain untouched.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Will God forgive me if I don’t grow?
First, we need to say this, God is faithful to forgive us. 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
On the other hand, if God forgives you, if you really are a Christian, if you have walked with him, if he is your Lord and savior, then you will change and grow. 2 Pet 1:5-9
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
When Christ died, Scripture is very clear, Christ died so that you would be holy:
And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
When Christ died on the cross, he established a New Covenant for us. And oen fo the blessings of the New covenant is the HOly Spirit. And when the HOly Spirit comes to dwell in our lives he sets to work.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Does this mean I can just sit back and let God do all the work in my life?
Of course not! Part of God’s work is that we work.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Paul actually describes the CHristian life using all kinds of language. He uses the language of fighting a war, farming a field, or running a race.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
How do I grow as a Christian?
We turn from our sin and we turn to Christ. 2 Cor 3:18 says...
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
and in Hebrews 12:1-2 he says...
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
ALl of this is a matter of trying to train our hearts and minds not only that we know who Jesus is and what is the right thing, but also that we want the right thing (Rom 12:1-2), we are trying to acquire the taste for godliness.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
How can I do those things?
I would say the disciplines of grace
2 Timothy 3:13–17 (ESV)
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
We live in community and we hold each other accountable Eph 4:15-16
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Why are those the things that I should do to grow?
Because those are the places that God promised to make himself available to us. By reading Scripture and prayer we are coming into contact with God. And little by little, we are being sanctified. One degree of glory at a time.
We often want an experience, like Elijah in the whirlwind. But we forget that when Elijah was in the whirlwind, he was disobedient to the exact thing that God told him to do. Many small flashes in the morning have more potential to make embers in our heart than one big whoosh.
How long will it take?
I think if someone diligently applies themselves to the disciplines of grace, attending church regularly, and makes a habit out of godliness, then I think fruit, even just a little at first, will begin coming.
On the other hand, this will continue in us until we reach glory… 1 John 3:1-3
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
How is that not discouraging?
Because Christ purchased our holiness
Because Christ is walking with us every step of the way
Because Christ has already done so much in our lives
Because Christ is doign so much int he lives of people around us
And because God plans to see it through Phil 1:6
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.