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LIVING A HOLY OR SANCTIFIED LIFE

Introduction

Thus far we’ve seen that sanctification is the setting apart of something for a particular purpose.

I.            SANCTIFICATION IS A WORK OF GOD!

The sanctification process begins with God.

Apart from God’s work in sanctifying us we would have no hope of living a holy or sanctified life.

II.           SANCTIFICATION IS A WORK OF GOD’S PEOPLE!

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4–"3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

WE MUST:

               1.         Cease To Continue In Sin As A Lifestyle! 

               2.          Cleanse Ourselves From The Filthiness Of The Flesh And Spirit!

               3.          Keep Ourselves From The Pollution Of This World! 

               4.          Abide In Christ!

               5.          Abide In Fellowship With Other Believers!

               6.          Put On The Whole Armor Of God!

               7.          Hear And Be Obedient To God’s Word!

               8.          Be Sensitive To God’s Presence And Care!

               9.          Love Righteousness And Hate Wickedness!

               10.        Identify In The Death, Burial, And Resurrection Of Christ!

               11.        Submit To God’s Chastening Or Discipline!

               12.        Yield To The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit In Our Lives!

III.         HOW LONG DOES SANCTIFICATION TAKE?

In order to answer that, we have to look at the two aspects of sanctification. There is our Positional Sanctification and there is our Practical Sanctification.

               A.         Our Positional Sanctification–Instantaneous At Salvation!

We Need To Understand That This Aspect Of Sanctification Is A Definite, Immediate Act That Takes Place At Salvation!

Positional sanctification is not a slow process that takes place as we forsake sin little by little.

God doesn’t dish out His sanctification in small increments.

                            1.          By Grace We Have Become Part Of God’s Church! (1 Corinthians 1:1-2)

                                         a)         God’s called out group or assembly!

                                         b)         The Body of Christ of which Christ is the Head! (Colossians 3:18)

                                         c)         We are complete in Him!

Colossians 2:9-10–“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

                            2.          By Grace We Have Been Sanctified In Christ Jesus Once And For All! (1 Corinthians 1:2)

The word “sanctified” here means “to make holy, that is, to purify or consecrate; to venerate.”

Hebrews 10:10–“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

                            3.          By Grace We Have Been Perfected Forever Through The Sacrifice Of Christ!            

Hebrews 10:14–“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

                            4.          By Grace We Have Been Called To Be Saints.

The term “saints” means “sacred; pure, morally blameless; consecrated.”

                            5.          By Grace We Have Been Washed!

                                         (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

(The word translated “washed” means “fully washed.”)

                            6.          By Grace We Have Been Justified!

(The word translated “justified” means “to render, show, or regard a guilty party as being just or innocent.”)

                            7.          By Grace We Have Been Set Free From Sin’s Bondage!

Romans 6:18–“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

                            8.          By Grace We Have Been Once And For All Set Apart By God As His Peculiar Possession!

Titus 2:14–“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

1 Peter 2:9-10–“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

                            9.          By Grace We Are Preserved In Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:1–“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”

                            Our Positional Sanctification–Instantaneous at Salvation!

               B.         Our Practical Sanctification–A Lifelong Process!

We Need To Understand That This Aspect Of Sanctification Is A Growth Process That Begins At Salvation And Continues Throughout Our Life Here On Earth.

Practical sanctification is a continuing process that takes place as we put off the old man and put on the new man.

Romans 1:11–“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;”

Romans 16:25–“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”

                            Example–The Corinthian Church.

1 Corinthians 15:58–“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 3:18–“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5–“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Ephesians 4:11-15, 22-24

                            Philippians 1:9-11

                            Colossians 1:911; 2:6-8; 3:1-3, 5, 8

2 Peter 3.18–“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

And we could go on and on showing from Scriptures how the aspect of our Practical Sanctification is a lifelong process.

Conclusion

So, the question is this–Have you been sanctified by God? What I mean is have you let Jesus save you from your sin and give you new life?

Have you been born again?

If not, why not come tonight, repenting of your sin and trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary and let God do His sanctifying work in your life!

If you have been sanctified by God, praise the Lord! How is the practical sanctification coming along? Are you growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Are you more like Christ today than you were this time last year? Or is something impeding the growth process?

The altar is open! Why not come spend some time with God and get rid of whatever is standing in the way of your growing like you should.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!