Sanctification is a once and for all act but also an ongoing one
 |
| christfellowshipnc.org |
Recently I was listening to a short podcast by Sinclair Ferguson on sanctification and holiness. He is a gifted and very learned biblical teacher amongst many other things. It immediately drew my attention as I had previously written a blog on believers ‘walking worthy’. This caused me, again, to meditate on this essential component of the Christian life – sanctification.
To sanctify something, simply explained, means ‘to set apart’. Its biblical meaning is that something is set apart for God’s special use and purpose. Most of the time when we as Christians use the term sanctification, we mean the progressive work of God in making a believer more Christ like – more holy.
Sanctification, however, is also a position where we are placed as believers at conversion. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints …’ (1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV); ‘…’you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (1 Corinthians 6:11). Note the past tense usage, therefore sanctification has already occurred by grace through faith in Jesus. Sanctification is a once and for all act but also an ongoing one.
In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster divines, in answer to question 35: What is Sanctification? states [it] ‘is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness’.
Part of the progressive process of sanctification believers are commanded to: ‘…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God’ (Colossians 1:10, ESV)
‘I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called… (Ephesians 4:1, ESV).
Walking is not passive; it requires effort and determination and we as individuals are responsible for ‘walking’. It may be baby steps to begin with. The timing and distance travelled is certainly variable between individuals but with the help of the Holy Spirit, that indwells all Christians and His grace, progress is not only achievable but also mandatory. Paul issues the command to ‘work out your own salvation’ (Philippians 2:12). Here he is referring to the ongoing work, required of every believer, in exercising faith and obedience in actively pursuing progressive sanctification in their daily walk with the Lord – enabled, of course, by God working in them and this of course for His good pleasure.
 |
| dailyverse.knowing-jesus.org |
In Peter’s first letter, chapter 1:15-16, he instructs believers to be …’obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, …’ in doing so we are being made more Christ like, becoming more like Him, more holy and in pursuing growing in godliness we more clearly reflect Jesus in our lives and bring honour to Him.
We grow in our Christian life, first and fore mostly by what God through His Spirit is doing in us, but we are not passive in this process, we are called to respond and work in harmony – to abide in Him (John 15: 4-5). We have been granted the means of helping us achieve and be successful in this by the word of God, prayer, the sacraments, and the meeting together for fellowship with fellow believers.
Evidence of new birth is a progressive change in the believer. The Holy Spirit is the agent of sanctification working in us and enabling the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’, (Galatians 5:22). All these attributes need to be developed in the believer. As we have been told, in so many sermons, it is one fruit with nine flavours. There is no ‘pick & mix’. If there is no evidence, no alteration in conduct, behaviour, attitude, if we don’t become more ‘set apart’ as we journey with Christ damming results are the consequence. The writer to the Hebrews says we must ‘strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord’. (12:14). 'This verse does not make holiness a prerequisite for salvation, but it recognises it as the certain result. Sanctification is a characteristic of all who are redeemed, not a condition’ (MacArthur J. The Gospel According to Jesus, pp 211 2008).
Yes, we get things wrong, yes, we make mistakes, yes, we stumble and fall in our Christian walk and yes, the enemy seeks to destroy. We must not trivialise this source, indeed the word says: ‘submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7, ESV). However, for most Christians it is the world around us and the flesh within us that causes us the most trouble with wrongdoing! Nevertheless, let us remember Paul’s words to the Corinthians, ‘if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV).
Hallelujah! What assurance.
‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20, ESV).
--------------------------------------------
Going back to that podcast. Sinclair Ferguson told a story about bonsai trees – with application to sanctification! He clearly stated that he knew nothing about these miniature trees. Nonetheless, what he heard tell by a Japanese bonsai expert was that all bonsai trees are shaped in the form of a triangle, all perfectly proportioned miniatures. All carefully, and no doubt, lovingly tended throughout their lives. The interesting ‘thing’, however, is that every triangle on a bonsai tree is not necessarily at the same angle on every tree. Using this natural observation, Sinclair thought this picture was a great metaphor for our sanctification. ‘Holiness, Christ likeness becomes evident in our lives when the fruit of the Spirit in increasingly well proportioned in us and has a Christ like shape BUT, the angle that shape takes in each person’s life will be slightly different from every other Christian’. An interesting comment to think about! ‘We are all being re-shaped in the image of Christ but in a slightly different way.’ (Sinclair Ferguson (25.8.23) Principles for Holiness: Things Unseen Podcast
Author: Irene Cherrill
May God bless and enrich your life
Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.
No comments:
Post a Comment