Speaker is Reverend Doctor Raymond Petzholt
Sanctification: The Present Process & Future Perfection
Our last Study revealed 3 distinct aspects to our Sanctification and we focused on the past supernatural work of God in us. If we have genuinely repented of our sins & believed on Jesus Christ as our LORD & Savior then we have been sanctified (past tense) (ICor. 1:2; 6:11; Heb. 10:10, 14). Thus all believers are “saints” (I Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Jude 1)
This initial supernatural experience is the work of the Holy Spirit “in” us. Jesus Baptizes us with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Mk. 1:7-8; Lk. 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:15-16; I Cor. 12:13) & thus our soul is now totally immersed in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:8-14).
The Holy Spirit also performs “the circumcision made without hands” that separates our soul from the power of the sin nature that dwells in our flesh (Col. 2:11-13; Phil. 3:3; Rom. 2:29). We have Biblically & literally died to our flesh & are thus freed from the slavery to our sin nature (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20). This extraordinary act of spiritual circumcision fulfills the Prophesies of the circumcision of the Heart (Deut. 30:6; Ezek. 11:19-20; 36:26-27). This once & for all initial sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in us is the same as being “born again” (Joh 3:3-7; IPet. 1:3, 23; IJoh 3:9; 5:18). God gives us faith to be born again when we hear & believe the Gospel (James 1:18; I Pet. 1:23; John 6:63). This initial act of sanctification that sets us apart for the holy purposes of God is also called “regeneration” in the Bible (Titus 3:5).
We will now study the two other aspects of our sanctification that we must “rightly divide” (2 Tim. 2:13KJV) if we are to understand our salvation experience & the process by which we grow as Christians. Romans 6:22 reveals all three aspects in one verse. “But now being made free from sin (a past initial work of God in us), and become servants to God (a present continuous work of God in us), ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (a future hope of God’s final perfecting work in us) (Rom. 8:29; I John 3:2-3). We were saved from the Penalty of Sin when we were born again. We are being saved from the Power of Sin in the process of sanctification. And we will be saved from the Presence of Sin when we are finally Glorified!
TWO WARNINGS:
Through our union with Christ & the Holy Spirit in us, sin no longer has dominion over us. The devil will constantly try to deceive us into thinking that we are under the dominion of sin in order to defeat us.
On the other hand there is nothing more pathetic than someone trying to succeed in the process of sanctification who was never “born again” or “regenerated” through a genuine conversion experience. They can’t get victory over sin because they have never experienced a radical cleavage with sin as revealed in Romans 6. There is a big difference between remaining sin & reigning sin. There is a big difference between a child of the devil complacent in his sin & the child of God who battles & overcomes his sin. When we receive the Holy Spirit He takes control of our soul away from satan & gives it to Christ (Col. 1:13; Act 26:18).
II.) SANCTIFICATION: THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS WORK OF GOD IN US (Called experiential/ progressive sanctification. We live in victory over the Power of Sin in our daily lives)
Once we know we have been “Sanctified” we can look forward to the rewarding adventure of “being sanctified” where we grow in holiness and become more like Jesus (Heb. 12:14; 2 Cor. 3:18).
THE GLORIOUS GOAL OF SANCTIFICATION
This continuing process of sanctification refers to “the work of God’s free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God (Col. 3:10). We are enabled more & more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness. It is a lifelong process” (2 Cor. 3:18). There is a Divine beauty in Holiness (Ps. 29:2; 96:9). Illus.: 5 Cow wife.
The Goal of this initial work of sanctification and the continuing process is nothing less than the elimination of all sin from our life & conformity of the entire person to the image of Christ (I John 3:1-3; Rom. 8:29-30). Jesus Christ died on the Cross “… that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14; Act 15:9; Heb. 9:14; I Pet. 2:24). There is not only an outward change in how we live; there is also an inward change of Heart. We must not become whitewashed tombs (Matt 23:27; Pro 30:12)
THE CHALLENGING CONCEPT OF A LIFELONG PROCESS
“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1; I Thess 3:13)
The scriptures reveal a constant transformation (2 Cor. 3:18), a constant renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23; 2 Cor. 4:16), a constant growth (2 Pet. 3:18; Eph. 4:15), a constant pruning (John 15:2 – Gk = present tense), a constant washing (John 13:10) and constantly putting to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5).
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO GROW IN HOLINESS
We understand the initial experience of Sanctification is a supernatural work of God’s grace through the Baptism & Circumcision of the Holy Spirit. Only God can do it & He gets all the Glory for our salvation. But in the continuing process of sanctification we must recognized our own responsibility before a Holy God (Heb. 12:14).
Sanctification will occur as we hunger and thirst for a deeper closer relationship with God in Christ. But we are just as dependent on God’s grace for the continuing process as we were for the initial work of sanctifying grace (2 Cor. 3:18; 12:9-10). We are not only saved by faith but “we walk by faith” (2 Cor. 5:7).
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed…. now much more… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will & to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13; Lev. 20:7-8).
We must remove or flee from the possible sources of sin & temptation (2 Tim. 2:22; 2 Pet. 1:5-10). Illus.: Joseph (Gen. 39:7-12).
We “have put off (past tense) the old man with his deeds and put on the new man” (Col. 2:9-10; Rom. 13:14). Though we have been freed from our bondage to the sin nature we still dwell in the same body. So sin has been dethroned but not eradicated. That doesn’t happen until we get our glorified bodies (I Cor. 15:42-44). We will experience a constant struggle between the flesh and Spirit for control of our soul (Gal. 5:17-25). Which one will win the Battle? Why?
Illustration: the Native American
God’s Word is essential to our sanctification. We must feed on the Word of God (Jer. 15:16; Ps. 119:11, 103; Joh 17:17; 2Tim. 3:15-17).
SUFFERING IS NECESSARY TO SANCTIFY SINNERS:
Often in our human weakness we have to suffer for our sin before we will separate from our sin! (I Peter 4:1-5). Every sin has built in consequences! (i.e. Immorality: get STD or die).
We must learn to understand & submit to the Loving Discipline of our Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:3-11). It for our Protection!
THE TRANSCENDANT EXPERIENCE OF SANCTIFICATION
As we grow in sanctification (holiness) we begin to perceive self transcendence. We grow in awareness of a deepening relationship with the Trinitarian God. This spiritual growth requires the development of a disciplined devotional life. God the Father draws of closer to Himself by sanctifying us (John 17:17; I Thess. 5:23; Ex. 31:13); God the Son draws us closer to Himself by sanctifying us (Heb. 13:12; 9:13-14; 10:9-10). Jesus “is made unto us sanctification” (I Cor. 1:30); & God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us (Rom. 15:16; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Thess. 2:13). The Holy Spirit gives us desire to become what we are predestined to be when we enter our eternal home in Glory (2 Cor. 5:4-5; Rom. 8:11-16).
We experience an ever increasing separation from the temporary sinful pleasures of the world with a growing participation in the “fullness of joy & eternal pleasures” of doing God’s will (Ps. 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:17).
THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION IS ESSENTIAL:
- To Prepare for Eternity (Hebrews 12:14) You will not even see the
Lord without holiness (John 5:27-29).
- For our comfort (IJohn 2:3-4) It brings a strong assurance of salvation.
- For our usefulness to God’s eternal purpose (2 Timothy 2:21)
The intensity of our light as believers is directly related to the degree of our sanctification (Phil. 2:15; Mat 5:16). “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more & more unto the perfect day (Prov. 4:18).
- To Prepare for Christ’s Rapture of His Church (I John 3:2-3)
III. OUR FUTURE ETERNAL GLORIFICATION WITH CHRIST
This refers to our complete conformity to the perfect image of the glorious Christ (I John 3:1-3; Rom. 8:29-30; Jude 24, 25). This will occur when Jesus comes back to Rapture His Church out of this World right before the Great Tribulation begins (I Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9-10). At that point we get our new glorified bodies (Col. 3:4; I Cor. 15:42-44, 51-58). With those bodies it will be impossible for us to ever sin again. And thus we shall ever be with the Lord.
EACH ASPECT OF SANCTIFICATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT’S APPLICATION OF THE DEATH, RESURRECTION & ASCENSION OF CHRIST TO OUR LIFE
We were Crucified with Christ because of our sin (Rom.6:6; Gal. 2:20). The Holy Spirit applied the death of Christ to our life & we “died with Christ.” This accomplished the past supernatural work of God in us which enabled us “to die to sin” (Rom. 6:7-8). Thus we are saved from the Penalty of sin: which is eternal damnation!
We were Resurrected from being “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1, 5; Rom. 6:4-5; 8:2; Col. 3:1-4). We are now united with Christ “in the power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10); made possible by the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit “in” us (Rom. 8:12-17). This spiritual union with Christ empowers us to succeed in the lifelong process of sanctification. Thus we are saved from the Power of sin!
We are presently spiritually Ascended: “raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1-3). But the day is coming soon when we will literally and physically, in our glorified bodies, Ascend up into to Heaven (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-54). This Ascension with Christ completes the final stage of our Sanctification: being Glorified forever in the presence of God & Christ (I Pet. 4:13-14; 5:10; Rev. 5:8-13; 21:1-8). Thus we shall be saved from the Presence of sin forever! Hallelujah!