"SANCTIFICATION"

>>>Series is “What’s Next?”-moving forward into summer/after salvation.

>>>Baptism/sharing Christ has already been discussed, but what happens after salvation in the heart? Sanctification.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

>>>To be sanctified is to be set apart/made holy. God has the goal of presenting all who trust in Him to be holy like Him. This is what is normally termed spiritual growth/Christian walk.

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>>>Being saved is like sitting in a chair-new dependency, new foundation, new purpose.

>>>How do we grow in Christ?

GOD’S ROLE

>>>Listen to all that is on God’s part in the discipleship process.

2 Peter 1:3 “for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 5:27 “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.”

Jude 24 “Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy,”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

>>>God is the One Who is able to save, and He is the One Who is able to grow/equip.

>>>What is God’s role in the spiritual growth process?

*God has given us all we need to live godly lives (Holy Spirit, Bible, prayer, church, etc.)

*God justified us and gave us a “clean slate” to follow Him.

*Jesus will make us new.

*God started the work of sanctification when He saved us, and He will complete it.

*God is Who will present us.

*God is Who works in us, enabling us to do His will.

*God keeps us from stumbling/falling in His presence.

*God’s glory renews us each day to be like Him.

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OUR ROLE

>>>There is no such thing as a works based salvation, but there is also not works based salvation. However, believers are to seek living a holy life.

2 Timothy 2:21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Colossians 3:1 “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

Colossians 3:5 “Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”

Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

Philippians 2:12–13 “So then, my beloved, just as you 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; for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.”

>>>Notice nothing is said about Bible reading, church or prayer.

>>>These verses are about confessing/turning away from sin and living in the Spirit. There are also verses about intentionally seeking God’s kingdom and walk in what He prepared for His people.

>>>Our life in Christ and becoming more like Him is intentionally seeking His will/turning away from sin. While God gives us everything for godliness, we must apply it. While God does the growing, we must open ourselves to Him in seeking Him.

*This is where spiritual disciplines come in. They show us how to live, allow us to speak to/hear from God, and keep us from sin.

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>>>When Jesus saves us, He doesn’t just change us; He continues to change us.

>>>The goal of every believer to become more and more like Christ and sinning less and less.

>>>Be in the Bible, have a prayer life, and find accountability through the church. Ultimately, keep Jesus and pursuing Him at the front of your minds.