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God Didn’t Save Us to Make Us Better…
One of the key elements of salvation is something called sanctification. This strange word means to be separated unto God. It is the act of becoming personally more dedicated to God. Literally, it means living a life of holiness, which is the very reflection of the character of God. And sanctification is a part of the process of salvation, whereby we become more like Christ and less like the world. Hence, after salvation, we are commanded not to “walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1), which is the perfect description of sanctification.
And sanctification is a product of our will and a practical result of our obedience to Him. In fact, most of the commands God gave us after salvation are those we choose to do because of our love for Him. Consider the implied you in these classic passages.
(You implied) Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Finally, my brethren, (you implied) be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
(You implied) Put on the whole armor of God, that (who) you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil – Ephesians 6:10-11.
This is something you have to choose to do. It is not something done for you.
(You implied) Rejoice always,
(You implied) pray without ceasing,
In everything (you implied) give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for (who) you.
(You implied) Do not quench the Spirit.
(You implied) Do not despise prophecies.
(You implied) Test all things; (you implied) hold fast what is good.
(You implied) Abstain from every form of evil – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.
Get the point? And then there is the granddaddy of all sanctification truths, Romans 12:1-2.
I beseech (who) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that (who) you present (who) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is (who) your reasonable service. And (you implied) do not be conformed to this world, but (you implied) be transformed by the renewing of (who) your mind, that (who) you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God – Romans 12:1-2.
So we know what the Scriptures say regarding our responsibility regarding sanctification. But how do we incorporate these truths into our lives?
He Saved Us to Make Us New
Everything in our relationship with Christ is activated by faith. That’s right, faith. We are saved by faith. We are sanctified by faith? We live a victorious, overcoming life in Christ by faith? And we have the assurance of eternal life with Him by faith. In fact, the faith chapter in Hebrews tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). Get that? Impossible.
And one key command of the Lord, especially regarding sanctification and faith, is for us to not be conformed to the world, but to think, act, live, and feel differently because of Him. Remember Romans 12:2?
And do not be conformed (to fashion alike, to be behaviorally or socially similar to something or someone, to become shaped, formed, or molded into a certain pattern) to this world (not kósmos but aiṓn) but be transformed (metamorphóō – to change one’s form, to transfigure, to change completely into something else) by the renewing (to renew qualitatively, a renovation to an improved or like-new state) of your mind (noús),
And what happens if we do?
that you (personal promise) may prove (test, discern, judge to be right or commendable, to accept as trustworthy) what is that good (of moral excellence, best, upright, virtuous) and acceptable (well-pleasing, that which gives pleasure and satisfaction) and perfect (complete, finished, having reached its intended goal or purpose, full, wanting nothing) will of God.
But how do we receive this promise personally? How does what Romans 12:2 says become real to us? You know the answer. It’s by faith.
This means that everything we are going to discover together is already yours. All you have to do is receive it by faith. And if that is so, then there is really no excuse for not experiencing all the Father promised us as a child of His. For our Father has already provided for us everything we need to live His abundant life (John 10:10). All we have to do is believe and live according to our beliefs.
Are you ready? If so, join us today and let’s learn how conformity to our world brings nothing but death and disaster to a child of His who is being conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).
