Scripture
Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13 (ESV)
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Devotional #85: Sanctification - "Work of God’s Grace"
“Sanctification 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.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism A. 35)
Many believe that justification is God’s work, but that sanctification is solely theirs. God saves us, but then we are left with our fragile humanity to live a life of holiness. On the contrary, sanctification is also a grace given to God’s people.
When the believer is united with Christ, we are granted the gifted of sanctification. “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). The work of sanctification is Christ’s work in us.
This work of renewal is evidence of our regeneration. We seek to be like God, because of the Spirit’s work in us. The God who began a good work in us, will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).
Many believe that justification is God’s work, but that sanctification is solely theirs. God saves us, but then we are left with our fragile humanity to live a life of holiness. On the contrary, sanctification is also a grace given to God’s people.
When the believer is united with Christ, we are granted the gifted of sanctification. “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). The work of sanctification is Christ’s work in us.
This work of renewal is evidence of our regeneration. We seek to be like God, because of the Spirit’s work in us. The God who began a good work in us, will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).
Questions
- Can we desire the things of God on our own?
- Can we make ourselves or others grow in Christ? How does this change the way we love people?
Scripture
Romans 6:1-14 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free[b] from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free[b] from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Devotional #86: Sanctification - "Love of God"
When we were justified, God ceased to keep records of rights and wrongs. As God sanctifies us, he does not suddenly pull out your record and begin tallying all the times you fail. And neither should we. We should not approach our obedience to God as a slave attempting to curry favor to our master. Our desire to be holy stems from God’s love for us and our resultant love for him. We want to be like our God. We want His kingdom to work through us. We want to reflect His glory. So, let us focus on Christ and His infinite love to compel us to love! (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Question
Does your sanctification stem from fear or love? Do you see holiness as a chore or as a good and joyful endeavor?
Scripture
Romans 6:1-14 (ESV)
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free[b] from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free[b] from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Devotional #87: Sanctification - "Obedience & Love"
We all wish that we would want to follow Jesus all the time. But we know that on this side of heaven, we can’t. Many of us have used this as an excuse not to obey the Lord. We say to God, “You have to change my heart before I can show them love.” However, this way of thinking is misguided. This is not the gospel. God did not wait for us to change before he showed us love. But he loved us in our rebellious state. Many times, we are called simply to obey. Buy them coffee. Have them over for lunch. Keep engaging them. We know this can be hard in the beginning. But as we obey, the Lord often softens our heart to love. Whether they come to faith is up to the Lord, but we have changed. We have learned to love with God’s strength and not ours. Perhaps this is how Jesus was able to love Judas Iscariot so well. Even though he was to betray him, Jesus served him, included him, and ultimately loved him. Let us obey the Lord. He shall surely change our hearts.
Questions
- Does your love come with conditions? What might they be?
- Can you think of something that you know God wants you to do, but you just don’t want to? Pray over it well and have wisdom and courage to obey.