Sanctification (RG)

The Foundation of Sanctification

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Sanctification

Refers broadly to the concept of being set apart as sacred. In Gen 2:3, God “sanctified” the seventh day, meaning He set it apart as sacred. In Leviticus, Yahweh tells the entire people of Israel to maintain being sanctified (Lev 11:44–45). This aspect of the concept of sanctification is closely related to holiness and biblical regulations for maintaining purity. The New Testament similarly reflects the idea that followers of Christ have been sanctified or set apart as a result of Christ’s holiness (Acts 20:32; 26:18; 1 Cor 1:30; 2 Thess 2:13). This idea that Christians have been made holy before God through their faith in Christ is related to justification. In Christian theology, a distinction is sometimes made between justification and sanctification where justification refers to having saving faith and sanctification refers to the process of gradual purification from sin and progressive spiritual growth that should mark the life of the believer.

The foundation of our sanctification is our union with Christ. We have been ‘set apart’ as holy through our faith in Christ.

Set apart: my fountain pen. I am the only one who uses it—it has been set apart for my purposes.

Union with Christ is, in fact, the foundation of all the blessings of salvation. Justification, sanctification, adoption and glorification are all received through our being united to Christ.

Romans 6:1–4 NIV

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Notice there that Paul indicates our union with Christ: can you see the parallel between Christ’s death and resurrection and our own?

Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness Dead to Sin and Alive to God

Christ died and was buried

We were baptized into his death (6:3) and buried with him in baptism (6:4)

Christ was raised from the dead

So that we could now walk in newness of life (6:4)

and

Ultimately be united with him in a resurrection like his (6:5)

The reason we can now walk in newness of life is because of our union with Jesus. Implication for RG: Is everyone in our group a believer? Have they put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour?

Christian change has at its center, not a discipline or some secret knowledge or technique but a Person, Jesus. The center of change is relationship with that Person.

So have we checked whether our participants have a relationship with Jesus? Are they talking to Jesus, interacting with Jesus? Do they believe Him, obey Him, seek to serve Him?

The foundation of all change is relationship with Jesus. A biblical understanding of change is covenantal = relationship with Jesus is the foundation.

The Framework of Sanctification

The 3 Trees Model: helps them see the important elements. Guards against imbalance; visualizes their situation so that they can personalize the diagram to fit their own situation.

How do you use this model in your group sessions? How do you use it as a facilitator?

The Factors of Sanctification

In David Powlison’s excellent set of articles / book, he identifies five factors, each one contributing to our lifelong gain in godliness.

God changes us

Philippians 2:13 NIV

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

RG implication? Pray

God’s Word changes us

Psalm 19:7 NIV

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

RG Implication? Use God’s Word

Wise People change us

Proverbs 13:20 NIV

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

RG Implication: human relationships and group dynamics matter.

Suffering and Struggle change us

Suffering and Struggle change us

James 1:2–4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-

RG Implication:

We Change

Romans 6:11 NIV

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

RG Implication: it’s up to our participants—we cannot make them active participants in their renewal process.

The Phases of Sanctification

Faith in Jesus is the foundation for all sanctification. But there are various factors that help us grow in different phases of our life. In different stages/seasons, we need specific things from these various factors. God has given us these various factors, and different factors will apply to different people at different times in their lives. The means God uses for me today, may be very different from what he uses for you tomorrow.

RG Implication: what helped me doesn’t always help you

Powlison speaks of balancing and unbalancing truth. “Ministry ‘unbalances’ truth for the sake of relevance; theology ‘rebalances’ truth for the sake of comprehensiveness.” Our theological framework gives us a balanced understanding of the means God uses in sanctification while ministry calls on us to choose and employ just one or two of them at a time. Here is how he puts it: “because you can only say one thing at a time, a timely word must be a selective word focusing on the need of the moment. And this selective focus produces a kind of imbalance. But stepping back from the need of the moment, many things can be said, and this larger theological picture helps us maintain balance.”

“the task in any ministry moment is to choose, emphasize, and ‘unbalance’ truth for the sake of relevant application to particular persons and situations.” The skill we need to apply to ourselves and others is the skill of unbalancing truth in just that way.

“In order to actually minister to people, you need wise selectivity, while bearing in mind the fullest possible repertoire of options from which to choose. You do not build a house with only one tool in your toolbox when God gives you a truckload of tools. But you do use your tools one at a time, the right tool for the right job.”

So what does this participant need, now? Keep the 3T in view—then act on some detail. How do you think we can keep this tension?