The Sufficiency of Scripture in our Sanctification

Final Presentation Outline: The Sufficiency of Scripture for Sanctification

Notes for Delivery

Tone: Pastoral, warm, unifying; avoid terms like “means of grace” or “efficacious.”

Baptist Sensitivity: Use “ordinances” instead of sacraments and “Scripture-guided worship” instead of liturgy, per London Baptist Confession (LBC) terminology.

Engaging Differences: If asked about ordinances or worship, respond: “Scripture gives us these practices to point to Christ, and it’s sufficient to guide how we use them.” Defer specifics to the pastor.

Style: Extemporaneous delivery from this outline, with key Scriptures and confessions memorized for smooth delivery.

Introduction (5 minutes)

Goal: Create a warm, unifying tone, affirm Scripture’s sufficiency, and honor the host church.

Key Points:

Warm greeting

Express gratitude

Introduce topic: “Scripture is sufficient for all things, but particularly for sanctification—God’s work of making us holy.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

King James Version Chapter 3

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Outline

Follow LBC & WCF framework—doctrine (what we believe) then practice (how we live).

Part 1: The Doctrine of Sanctification (12 minutes)

Goal: Define sanctification.

Definition (WCF XIII.1; cf. LBC XIII.1):

The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible What Man Ought to Believe concerning God

Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath before the foundation of the world chosen to be holy, are in time through the powerful operation of his Spirit, applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin and rise unto newness of life.

It is by God’s grace - “...a work of God’s grace...”

By grace, through faith, unto good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).

It is accomplished in time, through the operation of God’s Spirit - “...through the powerful operation of His Spirit...”

Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

It is progressive - “...more and more die unto sin and rise unto newness of life.”

We can forget our “purging from old sins,” so give diligence to make your election sure. Implying a dynamic element to our sanctification, not static: there can be periods of forgetfulness and wavering (2 Peter 1:8-11) .

Perfecting holiness in the fear of God implies that it is something that must be done progressively (2 Corinthains 7:1)

It is by means of the Gospel - “...applying the death and resurrection of Christ...”

Salvation through belief of the Truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Sanctified by truth (John 17:17)

Sanctification by means of the Word (Ephesians 5:25-26)

Summary

God graciously saves us from our sin in time. His Spirit applies His Word to us, progressively conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ.

Illustration: So for us, we can say that we are sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit. To illustrate we can look at Ephesians 5:18-19 & Colossians 3:16.

Ephesians says to be filled with the Spirit. This results in speaking in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

Colossians says to let the Word of Christ dwell in you. This results in speaking in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

If being filled with the Spirit and the Word of God equals the same outcome, then perhaps these two things are very closely linked together.

Sanctification is accomplished by God’s Word and Spirit, and it equals the progressive destruction of sinful patterns of living and establishment of righteous patterns of living. We are more and more coming under the control of the Word of God, that is, God’s Spirit. The more we let the Word of God subdue us, the more we will be sanctified into the image of Jesus Christ.

And now that we know what sanctification is, let’s talk about how it is accomplished through the Word.

Part 2: The Practical Outworking of Sanctification (10 minutes)

Goal: Demonstrate Scripture’s sufficiency in guiding sanctification through the Word, ordinances, and worship.

The Word

It teaches us the duty God requires of man (Micah 6:8, Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18)

The Word shows us our sin (Heb. 4:12) - “...discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

It keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11).

It furnishes us with every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

In other words: We see God’s righteous standard, our inabality to keep it, our salvation from the consequences of our inability, and our transformation into God’s people.

Not only is the Gospel applied to us in our salvation (meaning that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is imputed to us, or given to us in our justification), but it is also the very means by which we are progressively changed from a hateful, evil sinner, into a loving, righteous, slave of Yahweh.

Ordinances

The Word also prescribes two ordinances. They were ordained by Christ, and I argue, crucial in our sanctification because they remind us of the Gospel.

Baptism

The Lord’s Supper

Baptism: Signifies union with Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3–4; LBC XXVIII.1).

Lord’s Supper: Reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice (1 Cor. 10:16–17).

Because these are reminders of the Gospel, they are therefore helpful in our sanctification. God knew that we needed pictures, or visible signs of what He has accomplished. So, these ordinances strengthen sanctification by picturing our washing from sin and our fellowship with God by means of Christ’s sacrifice.

Scripture-Guided Worship:

King James Version Chapter 10

Hebrews 10:24-25

Scripture emphasizes the assembling of God’s people to provoke us to good works, therefore integral to our sanctification (Hebrews 10:24-25, Psalm 95:1-7). If we combine this with other elements of worship we see that it actually is shaped by the Gospel.

God calls us together (Hebrews 10:25)

Speaks to us through His Word (Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2)

We respond with sacrificial praise (Romans 12:1, Colossians 3:16)

What we do when we assemble reflects what God has done for us: He called us, washed us, sanctified us, communes with us, and then sends us out into the world to proclaim the same good news to others.

Summary

The Word teaches us what God requires, shows us our sin, saves us from our sin, conforms us to righteousness.

In God’s Word, we see that Christ instituted His ordinances as complimentary means of our sanctification by their visible demonstration of what Scripture teaches, namely the Gospel.

Baptism demonstrates our washing.

Communion demonstrates our peace with God.

The assembly provokes us to good works because we commune with each other, hear from God, and respond in praise. Our assembly itself pictures our salvation: God calls us, cleanses us, sanctifies us, communes with us, and commissions us.

Example:

Hebrews 10 says to not forsake assembling (God calls us),

2 Thessalonians 2:13 says that it is by the Spirit and the Truth that we are saved (God cleanses us),

in Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2 we see God’s word read and preached (God consecrates us),

1 Corinthians 11, when they gathered they were communing at the table. We commune with each other at each assembly, but when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, there is a special sense in which we commune with Jesus and each other (God communes with us),

Then, Matthew 28:18-20, the church is commissioned to be God’s witnesses (God commissions us).

Most protestant Christian worship services follow this pattern when they meet together: there is usually a call to worship, a special remembrance of the Gospel, a time for reading and preaching of the Word, a time of communion, and a time of sending out.

Conclusion (3 minutes)

Goal: Inspire trust in Scripture for sanctification and affirm unity.

Key Points:

Recap: “Scripture teaches sanctification’s doctrine and guides its practice through the Word, ordinances, and worship.”

Encourage: “Immerse yourselves in Scripture—read it, hear it preached, obey it in worship” (Josh. 1:8).

Affirm: “We’re united in trusting God’s Word to make us holy, and I’m thankful for your faithfulness under Pastor [Name].”

Close with prayer for growth in holiness and Pastor [Name]’s ministry.