It is a great relief and joy for the struggling believer to realize that when he received Christ as his righteousness by faith, he also received Him as his sanctification. Many people struggle and work for a righteousness of their own, until they finally receive His righteousness by faith. Then, as believers, they set about to labor through the whole futile process again, struggling to produce a sanctification of their own instead of resting in His sanctification as a gift. —This is how we ended the last consideration, where we need to now draw our attention and pick it up today where we left off.
ONE of my favorite verses that over the years has almost become a constant reference point for me is Col 2:6, As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. Paul reminds us that the bases for our daily walk differs not one degree from how we entered in – it is by faith. We received Christ on the basis of faith and continue to walk on the basis of faith – faith in the Word and Holy Spirit revealed facts and promises of our God. Our author continues with this theme in the text below, expanding this section on our Sanctification. As the author Miles Stanford speaks to conditional sanctification, let me repeat again that there are three aspects, or what is sometimes called phases, of sanctification: positional, progressive, and final sanctification.
I ENJOY reading a series on mystery novels. Quite often through the storylines the hero finds himself somewhat disoriented and confused. There are forces at play and unknown to him that mess with his head, manipulating circumstances, causing him to be —well, often confused, frightened, disorientated, and sometimes discouraged even though he perseveres with surprising outcomes. Of course, in the midst of his confusion and apparent disorientation the author knows where he is taking him, and as a reader now familiar with the writer’s style there is excitement in reading the unfolding story, anticipating the pending outcome and certain resolution. For the hero, the moment is not a pleasant experience, but this too shall pass, and in the end – as before in previous narratives- there will be a satisfying revelation, rest, and illuminating deliverance from the conflict. It’s called the epilog, and Paul tells us ahead of time what our epilog is in Rom. 8:18, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And where as the hero in the reading of these fictional novels does not really know what’s going on or why until the end (and maybe not completely even then, maybe having to wait for the next narrative to begin), we know exactly why and what our story is all about as Paul goes further on in Roman 8 to explain in verse 29, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren, This is exactly where our Phase 2 – progressive, conditional, sanctification is leading us, conformity to Christ. Again, Gal. 4:19, My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. This is the narrative of Col. 2:6.
NOW to today’s consideration –
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 23—Sanctification and Consecration (Continued – Pt2)
…….. The Lord Jesus sent Paul unto the Gentiles “to open their eyes … that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18, NASB).
As is everything else in our position in Christ, our sanctification is perfect, once for all, complete, eternal. It could not be otherwise, since the Lord Jesus Himself is our sanctification. Hebrews 10:10 and 14 leave no question about this wonderful fact: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His life, our Father has created us anew and given us a completely separated position before Himself—separated from all that would hinder that blessed relationship. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it…” (Eccl. 3:14).
Condition
As we abide in our position of sanctification, there is growth in our condition of sanctification. Although the Holy Spirit participated in establishing our positional sanctification — “But you were washed, but you were sanctified … in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11, NASB)—He is mainly concerned with our condition of sanctification. He it is who brings us into experiential separation unto our Father. Peter wrote his first epistle to the “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit” (1 Pet. 1:2).
Truth is the basis upon which the Holy Spirit carries out His ministry. He is the Spirit of truth, the truth of the Scriptures (John 16:13). “…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13). The Lord Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
It is by means of the Spirit-ministered Word that we see and understand the facts concerning our position of sanctification in the Lord Jesus. Without the scriptural facts, there would be nothing upon which we could base our faith. But as we see that the Holy Spirit has already sanctified us in Christ, we are able to trust Him to separate us unto God in our condition. The Spirit carries out His subjective work in our lives from the basis, the source, the standing, the position, the objective truth, of our eternal completeness in our risen Lord Jesus Christ.
In this matter of faith in the Word, it is essential to distinguish between God’s promises and His facts. Promises are to be anticipated; facts are to be accepted. We wait upon our Father to fulfill His promises in His own time, according to His will and His integrity. On the other hand, facts are to be appropriated and enjoyed now; we are to accept them with thanksgiving.
By faith we know that we are justified (Rom. 5:1), that we are reconciled (Col. 1:20–22), that we are accepted (Eph. 1:5–7), and that we are sanctified (Acts 26:18). Since the Holy Spirit ministers to us through the channel of faith, He gives us in our condition what we appropriate from our position. For instance, in the matter of peace, from our position of justification we receive peace concerning the penalty of our sins; from our reconciliation, peace with God; from our acceptance, the peace of God; and from our sanctification, peace and assurance that He will conform us to the image of our Lord Jesus.
…….. to be continued
