Introduction
In lesson eight we covered Regeneration and Justification. To put sanctification in its proper perspective it would be good to compare it with Regeneration and Justification.
REGENERATION |
JUSTIFICATION |
SANCTIFICATION |
1. Takes place in the believer's heart. |
Takes place before God |
Takes place in the believer's conduct |
.2.Impartation of new life. |
Declared righteous before God. |
Becoming righteous in our daily walk. |
3.God's answer to spiritual death. |
God's answer to the problem of guilt. |
The believer's response to God's work. |
4.Places us into right relationship with God. |
Declares our right relationship with God. |
Exhibits the fruit of our relationship with God. |
The doctrine of sanctification is of importance to us because it has to do with the way the believer behaves. If
regeneration has truly taken place, the believer begins to behave in a Godly manner.
I. THE MEANING OF SANCTIFICATION
1. Separation from evil.
is the turning away from all that is sinful and all that defiles the believer.
1 Thess 4:3,7, "For this is the will of God your sanctification that you should abstain from sexual
immorality. For God did not call us to unclearness, but in holiness."
2. Dedication to God.
In the Old Testament anything sanctified was for the exclusive use of the Lord. To be sanctified not only
means to be separated from sin, but even more importantly, it means to be dedicated to God's exclusive use.
1 Cor 6:19,20, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you
have from God and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your
body and in your spirit which are God's."
II. THE ASPECTS OF SANCTIFICATION
1. The Initial Act (Positional).
The moment a person is saved, they are said to be sanctified, i.e. separated from evil and dedicated to God.
This is the way that God sees them.
1 Cor 6:1, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God".
2. The Practical Act (Progressive).
Even though positionally before God we are sanctified, there is still a progressive act of sanctification. What
we have positionally, we must seek experientially. The New Testament makes it abundantly clear.
2 Cor 3:18, We "are being transformed into the same image (of Christ) from glory to glory, just as by the
Spirit of the Lord".
1 Thess 4:1, We "ought to abound more and more, just as you received from us, how you ought to walk and
to please God".
2 Cor 7:1, "Let us clea
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