Cooperation in Sanctification

I. Introduction: Sanctification, A Cooperative Work for God’s Glory

A. I like what Robert Letham says concerning sanctification, “It is God’s work, but our responsibility.”[1]

TEACHING WILL FOLLOW THIS QUOTE in FORMAT:

TURN & READ: A. Phil. 2:12-12 ESV “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, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

a. In sanctification we are working outwardly what God is presently working inwardly.

i. GOD’S WORK = GIVING US the WILL & the WORK (POWER/ABILITY) to DO HIS GOOD PLEASURE

b. OUR WORK = THEN DOING the WORK! —WORKING “OUT” SALVATION.

ALL a WORK of GOD’S GRACE.

STILL NOT EASY—DEALING W/ LURES of SIN.

POWER of SIN = BROKEN…WE CAN WALK in NEWNESS of LIFE

>>> NOT PERFECT,, BUT NEW. <<<

TURN & READ: i. Romans 6:12-19 ESV “12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.”

SIN= PRESENTED as A MASTER!

(V14) SIN NO LONGER HAS “DOMINION”

DOMINION COMES FROM SAME ROOT as “LORD” in GK

IF CHRIST = LORD...

THEN SIN IS NO LONGER LORD.

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b. INSTEAD of PRESENTING OURSELVES/MEMBERS for SIN’S SERVICE…FOR PURPOSE of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS...

NOW WE’RE to PRESENT OURSELVES/MEMBERS to GOD,, as INSTRUMENTS of RIGHTEOUSNESS!

To “PRESENT” yourself here means in essence to, “place beside, put at someone’s disposal”[2]

>>> DON’T PLACE YOURSELF at SIN’S DISPOSAL…TO DO IT’S BIDDING…BUT @ GOD’S DISPOSAL. <<<

***WE OFTEN DON’T THINK of THIS…BUT SIN is DESCRIBED in SCRIPTURE as A MASTER… GEN. 4— GOD SAYS to CAIN THAT SIN’S DESIRE is CONTRARY to HIM…THAT HE MUST RULE OVER IT.

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GOOD NEWS: GOD HAS BROKEN SIN’S POWER in OUR LIVES…

** (V18)—HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN— “DIVINE PASSIVE”

>>> IT’S ACCOMPLISHED. GOD HAS FREED US.

WE JUST HAVE to NOW WALK in THAT FREEDOM <<<

ILLUSTRATION: ELEPHANT & ROPE/JAILBREAK??/ DOG on LEASH??

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d. PAUL’S ARGUMENT: “since sin no longer has the power over you and is no longer your Lord, don’t submit to its power, you’re free!”

DOESN’T MEAN WE CAN’T SUBMIT…BUT IT DOES MEAN WE DON’T HAVE TO!!

***PAUL ISN’T SPEAKING HYPOTHETICALLY.

THIS ISN’T FUTURE TENSE

THIS ISN’T a POSSIBILITY

THIS ISN’T RESERVED FOR NEW CREATION.

THIS IS PRESENT-DAY CHRISTIANITY…THE POWER of SIN IS BROKEN.

>>> HE’S SET US FREE,, NOW WE MERELY HAVE to WALK in THE FREEDOM CHRIST BRINGS <<<

WHEN SIN was MASTER,, YOU HAVE to OBEY.

NOW WE CAN SAY NO.

WHEN CHRIST = LORD,, SIN IS NOT.

****THERE’S NOW a POSSIBILITY to GROW in OUTWARD HOLINESS—SANCTIFICATION

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II. Sanctification: God’s Work

A. SANCTIFICATION/GROWTH in CHRIST IS the WORK of THE TRIUNE GOD.

>>> ONLY the THRICE HOLY GOD CAN “HOLY” US. <<<

REMEMBER GOD BOTH SETS US APART as HOLY (DEFINITIVE SANCTIFICATION)

& WORKS in US to GROW in OUTWARD GODLINESS--”PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION....OUR FOCUS of STUDY

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B. SANCTIFICATION OCCURS THROUGH the HOLY SPIRIT...

TURN & READ: a. 1 Peter 1:1-2 ESV “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

**IT’S THROUGH the HOLY SPIRIT,, THAT WE ARE MADE HOLY & BEING MADE HOLY.

ii. REMEMBER MINISTRY of HOLY SPIRIT = TO OUR ADVANTAGE!!(see John 16:7).

iii. AS SANCTIFIER,, THE SPIRIT WILL PRODUCE HIS FRUIT in US...

>>> THESE THINGS REQUIRE OUR COOPERATION,, BUT ARE GOD’S WORK <<<

TURN & READ: 1. Galatians 5:22-26 ESV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

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C. OUR SANCTIFICATION is “IN CHRIST”.... ONLY THROUGH OUR FAITH-UNION W/ CHRIST CAN WE BEEN SEEN as HOLY in GOD’S SIGHT...

TURN & READ: a. 1 Cor. 1:2 ESV “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours” (emphasis added).

TURN & READ: b. Eph. 2:8-10 ESV “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

>>> WE’RE CREATED ANEW in CHRIST,, AS GOD’S WORKMANSHIP,, PREPARED FOR HIS GOOD WORKS <<<

TURN & READ: c. John 15:1-11 ESV “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

i. ALL FRUITFULNESS = CONSEQUENCE of OUR “ABIDING”...

ONLY THROUGH OUR CONNECTION W/ CHRIST CAN WE DO ANYTHING GOOD...

APART FROM HIM “WE CAN DO NOTHING” (V5)

ESV STUDY BIBLE: “Rather, it means “nothing of eternal value”[3]

D.A. CARSON, “Fruitfulness is an infallible mark of true Christianity.”[4]

ii. ABIDING = ACT of CONTINUED GROWTH in RELATIONSHIP....

THROUGH PRAYER & OBEDIENCE to HIS WORD...

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D. GOD is THE ONE WHO BRINGS GROWTH to GOSPEL SEED

TURN & READ: a. 1 Cor. 3:5-9 ESV “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

i. HUMAN ELEMENT: PLANTING, WATERING, ETC.

>>> ALL GROWTH COMES FROM GOD <<<

E. Conclusion: SANCTIFICATION & ALL GROWTH in GODLINESS = WORK of THE TRIUNE GOD.... BELIEVERS CANNOT “HOLY” THEMSELVES...

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III. Sanctification: Man’s Responsibility.

A. PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION = WORK of GOD.... BUT WE DON’T GROW WITHOUT OUR EFFORTS of OBEDIENCE...

§ See again: Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Cor. 15:9-10

TURN & READ: B. 2 Peter 1:1-11 ESV “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 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. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (emphasis added).

§ IN LIGHT of PAST SALVATION: GOD HAS CLEANSED US WE ENDEAVOR to ADD THESE QUALITIES to OUR LIVES...

>>> WE’RE to “MAKE EVERY EFFORT” = WORK! <<<

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GOD HAS GRANTED (PERFECT TENSE) to US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN to LIFE & GODLINESS!

EVERYTHING WE NEED to LIVE a LIFE PLEASING to GOD,, HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN to US.

---ADVANCED MILITARY PERSONNEL/MARATHON ILLUSTRATION ---

· THIS NEW CAPACITY COMES to BELIEVERS,, AS a WORK of GRACE.

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****WE DON’T WORK FOR OUR ACCEPTANCE in GOD’S SIGHT… BUT FROM OUR PRESENT ACCEPTANCE in GOD’S SIGHT THAT CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

OUR HEAVENLY INHERITANCE ISN’T CONDITIONAL on US GETTING IT RIGHT ALL the TIME…OR BEING SUFFICIENTLY RIGHTEOUS...

BUT AT THE SAME TIME…WE’RE SUPPOSED to:

“MAKE EVERY EFFORT”

“APPLY ALL DILLIGENCE”

“BRING EVERY EFFORT to BEAR”

GOD’S OPENED the DOOR…HE’S MADE the WAY…NOW WE JUST HAVE to RESPOND.

§ DO YOU THINK WE EVER HONESTLY GIVE 100%? DO WE REALLY TRY THIS HARD to GROW?

***I HOPE THIS STUDY HELPS...

WANT to REACH GLORY & SAID WE DID OUR BEST WITH WHAT GOD GAVE US...

BACK to ILLUSTRATION: HOW CLOSE DID WE COME to OUR POTENTIAL???

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(T) NEW CAPACITY,, BECAUSE WE’RE in CHRIST...

C. ALL HUMANITY = IN ADAM…OR IN CHRIST…

THOSE “IN CHRIST” ARE TASKED W/ SPIRITUAL GROWTH,, TAKING UP “NEW SELF/MAN”

§ Again, NOT WORKING FOR SALVATION,, BUT FROM SALVATION... This is us, as some scholars will say, “BECOMING WHAT YOU ALREADY ARE”

TURN & READ: § Gal. 2:19-21 ESV “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

· See also: Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10.

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D. BIBLICALLY WE’RE COMMANDED MANY TIMES to

“WALK WORTHY”

WALK in SPIRIT

WALK as JESUS DID

SALVATION = SECURE WORK of CHRIST,, BUT WE’RE NOW GIVEN COMMANDS to LIVE a CERTAIN WAY...

§ Specifically, to walk worthy of the calling to which we’ve been called (Eph. 4:1) to walk worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:10) and to walk worthy of God (1 Thess. 2:12).

TURN & READ: Gal. 5:16-17 ESV “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

§ IF WE’RE “CHRIST-FOLLOWERS” OUR LIVES SHOULD REFLECT HIS!

TURN & READ: · 1 John 2:5b-6 ESV “By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

TURN & READ: · Colossians 2:6-7 ESV “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

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E. FINAL NOTE: PAUL’S EXAMPLE of STRIVING...

TURN & READ: § Phil. 3:7-16 ESV “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

§ See also: 1 Cor. 9:24-27.

F. TRIUNE GOD LAYS the FOUNDATION

FREES us FROM SIN

GIVES US NEW CAPACITY FOR GODLINESS

ENTRUSTS to US: WALK WORTHY! GROW! MAKE EVERY EFFORT!

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IV. Sanctification: Positive and Negative Elements

A. SANCTIFICATION INCLUDES: POSITIVE (DOING GOOD) & NEGATIVE (AVOIDING EVIL) ELEMENTS...

LIST of “TO-DO’S” & “TO DON’TS”

a. POSITIVE: DOING GOOD

TURN & READ: i. Gal. 6:10 ESV “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

TURN & READ: ii. James 1:26-27 ESV “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

1. See also: Titus 3:4-8; James 2:14, 26.

b. UNDER THIS HEADING: “SINS of OMISSION”…NOT DOING the GOOD.

READ: James 4:17 ESV “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

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c. NEGATIVE: AVOIDING SIN (SINS of COMMISSION, doing evil).

TURN & READ: i. Colossians 3:1-10 ESV “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

1. BELIEVERS ARE COMMANDED to FLEE!....from sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:18) idolatry (1 Cor. 10:14) from youthful passions (2 Tim. 2:22).

B. NOW,, OVER NEXT FEW WEEKS,, WE’LL BE STUDYING SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES...

IMPORTANCE

HOW GOD USES THESE THINGS to MAKE US MORE LIKE HIS SON

CAUSING US to GROW

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES/SACRAMENTS, ETC. ARE LIKE TOOLS in GOD’S HAND…HE USES to FASHION US.

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V. Takeaways

1. The Christian’s PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION is the RESULT of THE INITIAL WORK of GOD IN SALVATION... where HE SETS US APART as HOLY & JUSTIFIES US THROUGH HIS SON...

REMEMBER WE DON’T WORK FOR ACCEPTANCE…BUT FROM ACCEPTANCE....

2. GOD = ACTIVELY WORKING in OUR SALVATION…IT’S ONLY BECAUSE of HIS GRACE THAT WE CAN GROW!.

3. SANCTIFICATION = GOD’S WORK,, BUT ALSO OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

ONLY GOD CAN “HOLY” US…BUT WITHOUT OUR COMPLIANCE,, WE WON’T GROW!

4. BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN FREED FROM SIN’S POWER,, AND HAVE a NEW CAPACITY FOR GODLINESS,, THAT UNBELIEVERS DON’T HAVE!

BY GRACE of GOD & POWER of HOLY SPIRIT,, WE HAVE POWER to WALK in A WAY PLEASING to GOD!

5. A CHRISTIAN’S GROWTH in GODLINESS REQUIRES BOTH ACTIVELY DOING GOOD (POSITIVE ELEMENTS) & ACTIVELY AVOIDING SIN (NEGATIVE ELEMENT).

BOTH “TO-DO’S” & “TO-DON’TS”

CLOSE in PRAYER

[1]Letham, R. (2019). Systematic Theology(p. 741). Crossway. [2]Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). In A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 778). University of Chicago Press. [3]Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2054). Crossway Bibles. [4]Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 515). Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.