How God Transforms Lives Keith Palmer Associate Pastor

How God Transforms Lives Keith Palmer Associate Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Granbury

Definition Sanctification is an aspect of salvation where a believer is progressively transformed more and more to be like Christ

Misunderstandings about Sanctification Post Salvation Commitment - A post-salvation commitment allows the believer to begin a victorious and consistent life of obedience. Sanctification is primarily accomplished through passive trust in the work God, sometimes referred to as "letting go and letting God. " Perfectionism – A second work of grace translates a believer into a state of sinlessness, sometimes called "entire sanctification. " Sin is redefined to mean only things done "intentionally" against the law of God. The believer grows by performing good works.

Misunderstandings about Sanctification The result: l l Christians believe sanctification is primarily a passive activity that God does Christians wait for some divine event that will take away the strong pulls of sin and eliminate the need for concentrated discipline Many Christians admit they sin "all the time" but very seldom confess it or ask forgiveness Christians think that Bible reading and prayer alone will magically change them – without diligently applying Scripture

The Biblical view of Sanctification A lifelong cycle of sin, repentance, renewal, and growth toward Christlikeness that will only be Socomplete then, my beloved, just as the you. Lord have always when believers meet in glory. The Bible teaches sanctification both the obeyed, not asthat in my presenceis only, butwork nowof God and the work of a believer (Phil. 2: 12 -13). The much more in my absence, work outrenews your his believer grows in Christ-likeness as he salvation fearactive and trembling; for it isthat God mind andwith pursues discipline, trusting the Holy is energizing his efforts who is Spirit at work in you, both to will(Rom. and 12: 1 -2, to work 1 Tim. 4: 7, Rom. 6, etc. ). While God alone produces forthe {His} good pleasure. – (Phil. 2: 12 -13) ultimate growth and gets the glory for Christ-like change, the believer is none-the-less actively and continuously involved in the pursuit, effort, and obedience of God's Word.

Presuppositions A person must first be saved before they can be sanctified Sanctification is based solely on the finished work of Christ on the cross (Rom. 6) God will complete His work of Sanctification in each genuine believer, both in maturity (Phil. 1: 6) and in ultimate, final glory (Rom. 8: 28 -30, cf. 1 Cor. 15: 51 -52)

Essential concepts in Sanctification

Repentance a turning from sin to God for help For the sorrow that is is according to {the part will} {of} Repentance a necessary of God produces a repentance without regret, {leading} to salvation (Luke 3: 3, 2 world Cor. produces 7: 10) death. salvation, but the sorrow of the – (2 Cor. 7: 10) Repentance remains a continuous, "Be on your guard! If your sins, rebuke him; necessary part of abrother believer's life after and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against salvation (Ps. 51, Luke 17: 3 -4) you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, "I repent, ' forgive him. “ – (Luke 17: 3 -4)

Elements of repentance Understanding – There must be an understanding of the truth as it relates to our sin and what Scripture says about it Confession – "to say the same thing" – Confession is acknowledging to God the fact of our sin and agreeing with God about the nature of sin (Prov. 28: 13, 1 John 1: 8 -9) Remorse (a guilty feeling because of sin), Sorrow (feeling sorry for the sin), Regret (wishing the sin had not been committed) – (2 Cor. 7: 10, Ps. 51, 32) Seeking Forgiveness – A repentant person will seek forgiveness from God and from those whom he has offended Choosing – a willful resolve to put off the sin and grow in righteousness (Eph. 4: 22 ff, cf. Prov. 28: 13)

Forgiveness a releasing or pardoning of sin, just as if it was never committed. Forgiveness is also a promise to not bring up the sin either to the one forgiven or to others (cf. Jer. 31: 34) God's Forgiveness – people need God's forgiveness, both at salvation (judicial forgiveness – Rom. 4: 3 -8, Col. 2: 13 -14) and after salvation (parental forgiveness – Matt. 6: 12, Heb. 12: 5 -11) People's Forgiveness – people need to forgive one another, just as God has forgiven them (Eph. 4: 32)

Replacement Real, biblical change must involve both a "putting off" of unrighteous attitudes and sins as well as a "putting on" of righteous, God-honoring attitudes and actions (Ps. 1: 1 -2, Is. 1: 16 -17, Rom. 13: 14, Eph. 4: 22 -32, 1 Thes. 5: 21 -22, Heb. 10: 25, James 5: 12, 1 Pet. 3: 9, 3 John 11) that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in {the likeness of} God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. – (Eph. 4: 22 -24)

Mind Renewal A person changing their mind such that they think biblically The natural mind/heart is corrupt, blind, and futile (Rom. 1: 28, 2 Cor. 4: 4, Eph. 4: 17 -18) At salvation, one's mind is given a new capacity to understand obey Scripture (1 Cor. 2: 14 -15, Rom. 1: 16, Luke 10: 27, Eph. 5: 17 -18, Col. 3: 16) One's mind is renewed by continuous study, meditation, and application of Scripture (Col. 3: 16, 2 Cor. 10: 5)

Mind Renewal And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, - (Rom 1: 28) But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. – (1 Cor. 2: 1415) Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms {and} hymns {and} spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. – (Col. 3: 16)

The Process of Sanctification

Put off sinful attitudes & actions (vs. 22) Identify the heart-attitude sin behind the behavior Confess & repent of the sin (this involves seeking forgiveness from God and perhaps from anyone sinned against)

Change your thinking by studying Scripture (vs. 23, Rom. 12: 1 -2) Investigate Scripture to see what can be learned about the matter Pray for wisdom to understand the Scriptures and understand your own heart (James 1: 5) Ask questions: What in my thinking was wrong that led to me sinning? What should have I been thinking instead? What were my motives? What were my presuppositions? What was I assuming? What were my expectations? What was I feeling? What wrong beliefs did I have about God? Change your thinking in light of what you learn in Scripture (Phil. 4: 8, 2 Cor. 10: 5)

Put on righteous attitudes & actions (vs. 24) Replace the sinful heart-attitude with a righteous, renewed heart-attitude Replay the scenario in your mind, thinking righteously (renewed) about the situation and how you should have responded

Examples Falsehood vs. truthful speech (v. 25) Stealing vs. honest labor & sharing (v. 28) Unwholesome words vs. edifying words that give grace (vs. 29) Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander vs. kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness (vv. 31 -32)

Other examples Gal. 5: 19 -21 vs. Gal. 5: 22 -23 Col. 3: 5 -11 vs. Col. 3: 12 -17 Rom. 12: 9 -21 Eph. 5: 1 -21

Chart

Why people don't grow: Disobedient Ignorant of Scriptures Been taught falsely Not believers

Examples: