Devotionary

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Ep 895 – Sanctification – Romans 5:1-5 May 30, 2019

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Do you love God? I hope your answer is a resounding and unapologetic, "Yes!" And if I was able to ask you why you love God, I assume you might say that it is because of all that He has done for you, especially for providing the gracious gift of salvation made possible through His Son's death, burial and resurrection. But do you realize that your capacity to love God is also a gift from Him. The apostle John would have us remember that we love because God first loved us. In other words, our ability to express love to God and others is not self-manufactured or the product of our own determination. It is the result of Christ's redemptive work on our behalf and the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God in our lives. As we'll see in this episode, God has poured His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who He has given us. And, as a result, we now have the capacity to love the one who first loved us.

Ep 893 – Sanctification – 1 Peter 2:21-25 May 28, 2019

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The believer's unity with Christ is an essential, yet often overlooked topic that is meant to provide us with a strong sense of assurance and hope in this life. Jesus came to earth and took on the very nature of a man. He was born as a helpless baby and spent His early years navigating the ups and downs of childhood and adolescence. He worked alongside his father, Joseph, and no doubt enjoyed the company of friends and companions in His hometown of Nazareth. But as He reached the age of 30, Jesus began His earthly ministry, fulfilling the will of His heavenly Father. Jesus became a man so that He might one day complete the task given to Him by His Father from before the foundation of the world. Jesus came to live as a man, but more importantly, so that He might die in the place of sinful men. And because He lived in perfect obedience to His Father we are able to live to righteousness.

Ep 892 º Sanctification – Hebrews 2:8-11 May 27, 2019

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In this episode, we continue to discuss the topic of our union with Christ. In Hebrews 2:8-11, we are going to see that this union has tremendous ramifications for us. By placing our faith in Christ, we become one with Him, sharing in His death and resurrection. All our sins were put to death on the cross and, when He was raised from the dead, we were raised along with Him. Just as He enjoyed new life, so do we. We have been raised to walk in newness of life. And our union with Christ also results in our sanctification. As the author of Hebrews would have us remember: "he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source." Jesus was set apart by God and given a specific role to play. And the same is true of us. We too have been set apart and deemed holy by God. We are one with Christ. And we share in all that is His – both in this life and in the one to come.

Ep 891 – Sanctification – Romans 6:3-5 May 26, 2019

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Union with Christ. It's a comforting idea, but rather difficult to get our heads around. It has a religious-sounding ring to it that can often end up producing more sizzle than steak. For all the verses that speak about the Christian being united with Christ and Christ indwelling the believer, we sometimes find ourselves wondering just what all the talk is about. When we read the words of the apostle Paul: "Christ in you, the hope of glory," we can easily find ourselves questioning whether Christ has vacated the premises. His presence seems difficult to discern. And, far too often, the glory His presence is supposed to ensure, seems in short supply. But one of the amazing things the doctrine of sanctification guarantees is our unbroken union with Christ, made possible through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Ep 890 – Sanctification – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 May 25, 2019

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The New Testament is fairly clear about the fact that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within those who place their faith in Christ. Jesus promised it, the book of Acts describes it, and generations of Christians can give testimony concerning it. And yet, we still find it hard to imagine the third person of the Trinity actually taking up residence within us. Especially when we consider how unsuitable our earthly tents can become at times. After all, we still find ourselves committing sins that grieve the Holy Spirit. And, far too often, we do things that end up quenching the full weight of His power in our lives. And yet, as we will see in today's episode, His presence within us is guaranteed, and proof that we have indeed been made fully righteous and holy by the blood of Christ.

Ep 889 – Sanctification – Ephesians 4:1-10 May 24, 2019

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Most people prefer the light of day over the dark of night, unless they're trying to sleep. Darkness is great if you're trying to rest, but when you need to see where you're going, the lack of light can be a big problem. And the Bible has a great deal to say about darkness and light. It's a reoccurring theme used to juxtapose the righteousness of God and the wickedness of this fallen world in which we live. And a big part of the message of sanctification is that God has made a way for people, who once were overwhelmed by the darkness of sin, to step into the light of His glory and grace. God sent His Son to be the Light of the world. Jesus took on human flesh, penetrating the gloom and despair left as a result of man's rebellion against a just and holy God. And those who place their faith in Him are delivered from the domain of darkness and redeemed as children of light – sons and daughters of God.

Ep 888 – Sanctification – Hebrews 10:19-21 May 23, 2019

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Most Christians have no problem acknowledging their ongoing struggle with sin. It's hard to deny it when the natural proclivity to sin is so obvious and seemingly unavoidable. In fact, the apostle John said, "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth." But he went on to say, "if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." So, sin is an ever-present reality for every believer. But because of the presence and power of the indwelling Spirit of God, we have the capacity to resist sin and pursue righteousness. But that brings up an important aspect of sanctification that is sometimes misunderstood. Does God expect His people to sin less so that He might love them more? In other words, does our ability to live righteously make us more acceptable to God? Or is God already fully satisfied with our sanctification?

Ep 889 – Sanctification – Matthew 9:10-13 May 22, 2019

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How righteous do you have to be? When it comes to salvation, how good does God expect you to be? These kinds of questions have plagued believers for more than two centuries. Few of us would deny the fact that we are sinners who tend to sin regularly. And we know that God is holy and cannot tolerate sin in the lives of His people. So, it only stands to reason that we must live righteous lives if we hope to have any kind of a relationship with God. But is that what the Bible teaches? Is that what the doctrine of sanctification is all about? In Matthew 9:10-13, Jesus reveals that He came not to call the righteous, but sinners. He didn't die on behalf of those who had their spiritual act together, but for those whose lives were marked by sin, not sanctification. Jesus died for sinners. And it was His death that made righteousness available to those who could never have produced it on their own. When we come to faith in Christ, we receive His righteousness, and by virtue of that, we receive a right standing with God the Father.

Ep 886 – Sanctification – 2 Corinthians 7:1 May 21, 2019

Show notes

Are you already sanctified, in the process of being sanctified, or in a temporary holding pattern as you await your future sanctification? If you answered yes, you're absolutely correct. That's right, all three are true. And that's just one of the many mysteries surrounding the doctrine of sanctification. As we'll see in today's episode, our sanctification is much deeper and multi-faceted than we might have imagined. According to passages like 1 Corinthians 1:2, followers of Christ are already sanctified by virtue of their union with Christ. But in 2 Corinthians 7:1, Paul tells us to cleanse ourselves so that we might bring our holiness to completion. And according to Hebrews 12:22-23, we're already enrolled in heaven where we stand as perfect before God. So, whether you refer to your sanctification in the past, present, or future, you're covered. And that's good news.

Ep 885 – Sanctification – Leviticus 10:10 May 20, 2019

Show notes

What does God want from you? What are His expectations? If salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, what could we possibly do that adds anything to our relationship with God? Well, while we can do nothing that will earn us a right standing with God, that does not mean there is nothing left for us to do. We have been called to live holy lives. That is, we are to conduct ourselves in a way that lines up with our status as God's children. And in Leviticus 10:10, God provides a necessary prerequisite for living a holy life: We have to know the difference between the holy and the common, the unclean and the clean. Otherwise, we will tend to live our lives in a state of constant moral compromise. God is holy and He has set us apart as His own, fully expecting us to live lives marked by holiness. But if you don't know what holiness looks like, living a holy life will be impossible.

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