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Colossians 3:1-4
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. We have studied God’s part in our sanctification, and we have studied our part in our sanctification. We have learned we are sanctified or set apart completely when we are saved, and we refer to that as our positional sanctification where God sees us as completely pure because He is looking at us through Christ’s righteousness. As I often do, I am using the outline of one of my favorite theologians. Let’s look into some of the blessings of our sanctification beginning with the:
- COMPLETENESS OF OUR SANCTIFICATION. Like so many other facets of our salvation, our sanctification affects our entire person. Many people believe humans are tripartite, meaning they have a soul, spirit, and body. Many others believe we are bipartite, meaning only body and soul. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul teaches us sanctification affects our mind or knowledge or intellect. Read Col 3:1-11. Notice how what we do, and what God does is all interrelated! When we do what we are supposed to do, He does what He is supposed to do. Sanctification also affects our emotions. Our emotions are the expressions of our character. Our character is who we really are. Someone once said your character is who you are when no one is around! Our sanctification also affects our will. Our will is our desire toward anything. Here is a truth for you to remember: We are never to look at Scripture through life, but we look at life through Scripture. If we do that our will or desires will be in line with what God “wills/desires” for us. Sanctification also affects our spirit. When we get to the spirit part of life we are dealing with the deep rooted fundamentals of our life. In our spirit is where the real truth about the motives and intents of our lives are found. Read 2Cor. 7:1, 2. God is telling us even our most inward thoughts must be sanctified. You will notice Scripture tells us we are to cleanse ourselves… That means we must make a conscious effort to change the way we are in the very essence of our being. When we have made every effort to change the way we are inside, then our sanctification also E. affects our physical body. You can tell when a person is allowing the Lord to have sovereign control over their life because it shows in their physical life. Everything about them changes for the better. Let’s look at:
- THE CAUSES OF OUR SANCTIFICATION. One writer gives this summary list of motivations or causes of our sanctification. One truth we must understand is: all cause or motivation for sanctification begins with desire to please and obey God. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” And, “He who has my commands and keeps them, it is he who loves me.” John 14:15, 21. A 2nd cause of sanctification is the need to keep a clear conscience before God. Read 1 Tim. 1:3-7. Paul is saying, be careful not to get caught up in meaningless discussion about untruths, what might happen or be; and focus on all things God. A 3rd cause for sanctification is to see others come to Christ, listen, by watching our lives as we live a life pleasing to God. Allowing the Lord to work in your life in such a dynamic way, that someone asks you to help them have the life you have, is the best blessing of sanctification.
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