The Means & Mode of Sanctification

Heb 10:1-14

Intro:

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 6791 Proportion of Tree to Roots

Woodsmen report that, roughly estimated, the root spread of a tree equals the spread of its branches, though there are exceptions such as the saguaro. Perhaps one-tenth of a tree, they suggest, is concealed in its roots. The combined length of the roots of a large oak would total several hundred miles. The giant saguaro of the southwest desert region spreads its roots laterally as much as forty or fifty feet underground from the trunk. Hair-like as some tree roots are, an entire system of them exerts a tremendous pressure.

For instance, a birch tree, though less sturdy than many others, can lift a boulder weighing twenty tons. A good root system serves two purposes in the tree’s development: it functions as an anchor and the roots collect moisture, without which the tree could not thrive.

Your spiritual growth and maturity is both my concern and responsibility; I want you to be rooted and grounded in Christ.

Colossians 1:28–29 NASB95

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

The process of your spiritual growth and maturation is sanctification

Message:

Sanctification is an inner position that leads to an outer practice.

Sanctification is a major biblical doctrine; it is typified in the OT, and realized in the NT.

Hebrews 12:14 NASB95

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

This is why we have been preaching on spiritual growth; I want you all to “see the Lord.”

The size and volume of fruit we produce is the evidence of growth, but the process is sanctification.

Luke 6:45 NASB95

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Sanctification literally means to make holy (αγιαζω [verb] αγιος [noun] ).

In the OT, saints were told to sanctify themselves, their clothes, or their home for a specific occasion.

Religion tries to make one holy from the outside in.

“...consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy...”

Exodus 19:10–11 NASB95

The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

In both references the word “consecrate” is the Heb. kadash and means “sanctify.”

These are referring to an external sanctification that allowed the people to receive a visitation from the presence of God.

Under the new covenant, that sanctification is internal allowing for habitation of the presence of God.

Four Aspects of Sanctification

Act of Grace.

Every work of God in our lives is a work of grace.

He separates us in order to inhabit and fellowship w/ us.

Sanctification is an act of separation.

Accompanies Salvation

The moment of our new birth; the Spirit of God sets us apart and inhabits us.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

13But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Though we are sanctified inwardly by the presence of the Holy Spirit; that sanctification must be fleshed out through the renewing of our minds to the word.

Accomplished only by The Word and The Spirit.

The word and the Spirit are the means of our sanctification.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Therefore, we are sanctified from the inside out.

If there is no change in our outward person, it is highly likely that there has been no change in our inward person either.

Already/Not Yet Theology

We “have been” sanctified. The verb is perfect passive.

This means our sanctification is a finished work of the Spirit.

Sanctified here is present passive meaning our sanctification is an ongoing process.

1 Thes 4:1-12

How can it be both?

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Sanctification comes b/c of the work of Jesus on Calvary.

God doesn’t look at us in the process of our struggle; He sees us complete in Christ. He is confident in the power of the Spirit He has placed in us to bring us to perfection!

Look closely again at Heb 10:14.

The Mode of Sanctification

While our sanctification comes only through the modes of the Spirit’s indwelling and the word of God, the means of that sanctification comes only one way!

Surrender

Surrender is the mode of our salvation.

If we don’t surrender to the Holy Spirit and walk obediently to the word, we will remain unchanged.

We are never told in NT to “sanctify ourselves;” we are only told to sanctify Christ in our hearts.

1 Peter 3:18 NASB95

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

1 Peter 3:15 NASB95

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

As we surrender to the process of sanctification, we grow and produce more and bigger fruit.

If we don’t surrender to the Holy Spirit and walk obediently to the word, we will remain unchanged.