Passage: The Gospel & Salvation | Lesson 07

Passage: The Gospel & Salvation | Lesson 07

  Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 10:18 PM    Unknown

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SANCTIFICATION
Kevin Chan, Ph.D. | November 02, 2014

Should Christians continually ask God to forgive their sins?
[1 John 1:8-10, 1 John 3:9 vs. Heb. 10:10-18]
The answer to this question tests your fundamental understanding of the Gospel, i.e., by grace we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  Some say no, because through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all our sins (past, present and future); there is no need to ask for forgiveness when you have already been forgiven.  Some say yes, because God is holy and sin in our lives will harm our standing before Him.  There must be some sort of consequence to sin in a believer’s life, or else a believer can just keep living in sin without penalty.  What do you think?

“3 Stages” of Salvation: Justification, Sanctification and Glorification
One way to describe the comprehensive and amazing doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ is by categorizing God’s salvation plan in three stages: Justification, Sanctification and Glorification.  The previous lesson on Justification showed God’s salvation plan for us from our past condition.  God justifies us through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and saves us from the penalty of sin.  Through Jesus Christ, we have the forgiveness of sin and are positionally right before God.  God’s wrath was spared from us and we have become children of God.  This lesson will cover Sanctification and will show God’s salvation plan from our present condition.  Lastly, the next lesson will be on Glorification and will show God’s salvation plan for us in the future.

The Context of Sanctification

1. Bible Usage
1. “hagiosmos” (N.T. Greek) –  means “set apart” or “separated”; related to “to make holy”, “consecrate”, “sanctify”; also related to “saint”, “hallowed”
2. Two Senses [i.e. two ways the word is used in the Bible]
1. 1 Cor. 6:11 – ONE TIME “SET APART” TO GOD AT TIME OF SALVATION (JUSTIFICATION)
2. Rom. 6:19 – ONGOING PROCESS OF GROWTH FOR A BELIEVER (SANCTIFICATION)
2. Definitions
1. Standard (i.e. conceptual)– Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity, of being made or becoming holy
2. Working (i.e. practical) – Sanctification is the progressive work of God and man to bring us into the likeness of Christ [so to experience what it is to be created in the image of God].
   
   

The Calling of Sanctification (1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; 1 Pet. 1:14-16) 
All believers are called by God to the saving process of Sanctification.  It is the will of God.  Believers are called to pursue holiness because God is holy.  This is His character that God wants us to grow in.

 The Goals of Sanctification 
1. Christ-likeness (Eph. 4:13, cf. John 1:16-18) – Spiritual maturity is modeled after the fullness of Christ, who came in the fullness of God’s truth and grace. He was a man, perfectly embodied God’s nature of holiness.  By striving after Christ-likeness, believers will also carry out God’s calling to holiness.

2. So that others can see God (Heb. 12:14, cf. Matt. 5:16) –  It is through our distinctive godly character apart from the world that will point others to God.  Through the sanctification of God’s children, the world can see the true and powerful effect of the Gospel.  [Note: It is often through times of hardship and suffering where the outcome of sanctification in a believer’s life is revealed.  James 1:2-4, 1 Pet. 1:6-8.  Believers who undergo sanctification will respond and appear differently, such that others will see who God truly is].

The Means of Sanctification 

1. God's work of sanctification
1. By God’s Word, John 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:16, [See also Ps. 119:9]
   Sanctification starts with God’s truth, i.e. His word.  God gives us Scripture so that we can know His character and what it means to become Christ-like.
2. By the Holy Spirit, 2 Thess. 2:13, Gal. 5:16
   Walk by the Spirit, and not carry out the desire of the flesh.  The influence of the Spirit and flesh are mutually exclusive; one pushes out the other.  Therefore if one desires to live a holy life and not influenced by the flesh, one should seek, submit, trust, and obey the Holy Spirit daily.
2. Man's work of sanctification
1. By the individual believer, Phil. 2:12-13
   Believers should have the proper attitude toward their faith.  They should “own” their faith and “work out” their salvation.  The latter means to personally seek out the implications of the Gospel and sanctification to every area in life.
2. By the community of believers, Heb. 10:24-25
   A believer cannot mature in Christ-likeness alone. 
   
   

The Marks of Sanctification

1. Internal Marks (i.e. inward evidences)
1. Repentance and greater hatred for sin
2. Obedience and greater delight in God
2. External Marks (i.e. outward evidences)
1. Gal. 5:22-23 – Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit, i.e., love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
2. Matt. 5:16, Heb. 12:14 – Growing in effectiveness as a “light” of the Gospel in the world or sphere of influence (i.e. school, home, friends, work, church).

Should Christians continually ask God to forgive their sins?
[1 John 1:8-10, 1 John 3:9 vs. Heb. 10:10-18]
The answer to this question tests your fundamental understanding of the Gospel, i.e., by grace we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  Some say no, because through Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all our sins (past, present and future); there is no need to ask for forgiveness when you have already been forgiven.  Some say yes, because God is holy and sin in our lives will harm our standing before Him.  There must be some sort of consequence to sin in a believer’s life, or else a believer can just keep living in sin without penalty.  What do you think?

The Question of “Entire Sanctification” 
1. Is it possible for a Christian to attain to a life in this world without sinning?
Yes.  We have a choice & power to NOT sin (1 Cor. 10:13; Rom. 6:19-22)
No.  Our sinful flesh will continue to “distract”.  (Rom 7:19-21; 1 Jn. 1:8-10)

2. How would these answers affect your attitude and behavior as a Christian?
Do not be discouraged.  Continue to strive to be “perfect”.  (Phil. 3:13-16; Matt. 5:48.)

The Relationship between Justification and Sanctification

1. Now that I am saved, can I continue to sin?  Rom. 6:1-13
1. No!  Your IDENTITY has changed.  Consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, Rom. 6:11
2. Sanctification begins with Justification (i.e. identity change).
3. So if you are not justified (i.e. born again), you cannot be sanctified (i.e.live a life genuinely pleasing to God).  Check your spiritual birth!
2. Now that I am saved, can I do anything?  Rom. 6:14-23
1. No!  Your MASTER has changed.  Present yourselves as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.  Rom. 6:19
2. Justification (i.e. being a Christian) leads only to Sanctification (i.e.maturing in Christ-likeness).
3. So if you are not being sanctified (i.e. showing the marks of Christ-likeness), you may not be justified (i.e. be a Christian).  Check your growth!

So, should Christians continually ask God to forgive their sins? [AN ANSWER] 
Though the work of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of all our sins (i.e. past, present and
uture), Heb. 10:12, 18.  This is a trustworthy and secured truth for all believers.  So by faith, we can claim and should proclaim this amazing forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.

However because of the flesh, Christians still struggle with sin.   Sin is real and cannot be ignored or neglected in a believers life.  God is holy and cannot tolerate sin.  Sin interferes with our “familial” relationship or fellowship with Him (e.g. a disobedient child and a forgiving father).  God is grieved by our sins.  He may withhold His intended blessings upon us and may discipline us for our good.  Sin hinders God’s presence in our lives and prevents us from fully carrying out His will.

Thankfully God saves us in our current state through Sanctification.  So when the Holy Spirit reveals sin in our lives, we should seriously consider the severity of sin, promptly confess them to God (i.e. “agree with God of our sins”), repent of them with a contrite heart, and live in Spirit-led obedience to God.