“Unfinished” week 2

“Unfinished Sanctification”

Review . . .

In our last study, we looked at the unfinished work of atonement. We explored the thought that Christ’s atoning work on His cross accomplished all that is needed for us spirit, soul, and body.

Christ is our Savior, and He is also Christ our Healer, and Christ our Deliverer.

The emphasis of our previous teaching was an encouragement for each of us to pursue the fullness of Christ’s provision through His atoning work.

Opening . . .

Today, I want to continue our thoughts and talk about our unfinished work of sanctification.

What do we mean by sanctification?

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, who also will do this.”

Here we see in the apostle Paul’s writing to the church in Thessalonica, the Scriptural foundation as to what we mean by sanctification.

Paul says . . .

God, Himself sanctifies us

It is God’s desire to sanctify us “completely.”

Paul identifies three parts of our humanity which are brought into sanctification; our spirits, souls, and bodies.

The purpose of our sanctification is for being made complete “at the coming of our Lord Jesus.”

Paul concludes by saying; “God is faithful to do the work.”

Let’s take a look at the sanctification process for spirit, soul, and body.

Sanctification of spirit . . .

The sanctification of our spirit begins at the time of salvation. When we accept Jesus as Savior, our sanctification of spirit starts.

We are made instantly in right standing with God through the sacrifice of Christ. We cannot earn our salvation, neither do we deserve our salvation.

Paul clearly states: Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”

After our conversion, we must learn how to stay in step with the Holy Spirit.

Paul also wrote: Galatians 5:25 “If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.”

To follow the Spirit requires us to develop an intimate relationship with the Spirit in order to hear His still small voice.

God’s Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit.

As such, the sanctification of our spirit has to do with the process of learning how to rightly discern the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit.

Paul addresses this process of sanctification when he writes: Ephesians 4:22–24 “that you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.”

Here we see that a “putting off” and a “putting on” is required in order for us to continue growing in the process of sanctification.

Sanctification of soul . . .

Remember with me that I have stated in past sermons that we understand our soul to consist of our mind, will, and emotions.

Although we are saved and going to heaven, after salvation, there is much work to be done in the area of our thinking, the choices of our will, and our emotions.

The sanctification of our souls is where the battle is fought. We are under constant attack in the areas of our minds, wills, and emotions.

There is much Scriptural instruction which pertains to the sanctification of our souls.

Here are a few references:

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pleasing, whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Colossians 3:2–3 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

What we think affects what we feel, and then what we feel often affects what we choose.

I believe this is why so much emphasis is placed on our thinking throughout Scripture.

Sanctification of soul must begin in our minds and then extend into our emotions and will.

Sanctification of body . . .

When we surrender to Christ, our bodies become the “temples of the Holy Spirit.” As such, we are instructed to keep the Spirit’s “temple” in good order.

1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

This teaching of Paul’s to the church in Corinth emphasizes the fact that “we are not our own to do as we please.” We belong to God, and that includes our bodies.

The imagery of the “temple” is associated with the Old Testament depiction of the temple which Solomon built to house God’s presence.

When we read the work and detail that went into the construction of the physical temple, we clearly see God’s specific instructions as to how the the Temple should be built and maintained.

From a New Testament perspective, we can apply this same thinking to God’s temple today which is our bodies.

The sanctification of body therefore has to do with understanding the significance of God’s ownership of His Temple.

1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God with your body.”

We have been bought with price of Christ’s blood. He paid the full price for our purchase to belong to the Father.

The end result, Paul says, is that we must “glorify God with our body.”

In summary . . .

We see that the sanctification of our spirit begins at the time of salvation and then extends as we learn how to walk in step to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

We also see that the sanctification of our souls begins with our thought life, and then extends to our emotions and wills.

We see that the sanctification of our bodies is based on God’s ownership of His temple.