THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 30)
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3328
THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 30)
From Glory to Glory ( Study 9 )
THE 3 PHASES OF SANCTIFICATION #2
Sanctification is a three-stage process – past, present, and future.
The first stage occurs at the beginning of our Christian lives. It is an initial moral change, a break from the power and love of sin. It is the point at which believers can count themselves “dead to sin but alive to God” (Romans 6:11). Once sanctification has begun, we are no longer under sin’s dominion (Romans 6:14). There is a reorientation of desires, and we develop a love of righteousness. Paul calls it “slavery to righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).
The second stage of sanctification requires a lifetime to complete. As we grow in grace, we are gradual – but steadily – changing to be more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). This occurs in a process of daily spiritual renewal (Colossians 3:10). The apostle Paul himself was being sanctified even as he ministered to others. Paul claimed that he had not reached perfection, but that he “pressed on” to attain everything Christ desired for him (Philippians 3:12).
The third and final stage of sanctification occurs in the future. When believers die, their spirits go to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Since nothing unclean can enter heaven (Revelation 21:27), we must be made perfect at that point. The sanctification of the whole person—body, soul, and spirit—will finally be complete when the Lord Jesus returns and we receive glorified bodies (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49).
Abba Father, these 3 phases of sanctification require a balanced approach.
Our role in sanctification is both passive and active.
Passively, we are to trust God to sanctify us, presenting our bodies to God (Romans 6:13; 12:1) and yielding to the Holy Spirit. “It is God's will that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3), and God will have His way.
Actively, we are responsible to choose to do what is right. “Each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable” (1 Thessalonians 4:4). This involves putting to death the “misdeeds of the body” (Romans 8:13), striving for holiness (Hebrews 12:14), fleeing immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), cleansing ourselves from every defilement (2 Corinthians 7:1), and making every effort to supplement our faith (2 Peter 1:5-11).
To emphasize the passive role tends to lead to spiritual laziness and neglect of spiritual discipline. The end result of this course of action is a lack of maturity.
To emphasize the active role can lead to legalism, pride, and self-righteousness. The end result of this is a joyless Christian life.
We must remember that we pursue holiness, but only as You empower us to do so. The end result is a consistent, mature Christian life that faithfully reflects Your nature of our holy God.
