Our Sanctification is the Will of God

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2Ti 2:15

Sanctification

Sanctification refers to a Godly lifestyle. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us we have been created for good works. It means to be separated to God for His use. Unlike Justification which refers to our standing with God, sanctification refers to our lifestyle.

God, through Salvation, empowers His people to live Godly lifestyles.

His people, are to conform their behavior to His behavior, He gives the ability to do this. We are to act like Him, He is the Example for right living. Notice, the Lord refers to Himself, as the reason we give ourselves to Holy living:

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV) 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

The Lord tells His people, to stop sinning.

Ephesians 5:1-5 (NKJV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Our sanctification is God's will.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 (NKJV) 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

Sin will not have power over God's people.

Romans 6:11-14 (NKJV) 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Willful Sin

When we talk about sin, we mean willful, habitual sin, reflected by a lifestyle given to sinful habits, practices, or attitudes. Habitual sin is a choice, listen to the scripture:

Romans 6:15-16 (NLT) 15 So since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.

All Christians Must Stop Sinning!

Reality is that all Christians have the God given ability to stop sinning. God calls His people to act like Him! He tells them to stop sinning. If they cannot stop sinning, it is because they love sin and choose to practice it.

1 John 3:1-10 (GNB) 1 See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children—and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us: it has not known God. 2 My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure. 4 Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is a breaking of the law. 5 You know that Christ appeared in order to take away sins, and that there is no sin in him. 6 So everyone who lives in union with Christ does not continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen him or known him. 7 Let no one deceive you, my children! Whoever does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 8 Whoever continues to sin belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for this very reason, to destroy what the Devil had done. 9 None of those who are children of God continue to sin, for God’s very nature is in them; and because God is their Father, they cannot continue to sin. 10 This is the clear difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: all who do not do what is right or do not love others are not God’s children.

The Lord is gracious and merciful as we walk out our Christian life.

He calls us to Godly living, and then, by His Spirit, enables us to live holy lives. He gives His Word which cleanses and sanctifies our heart and lifestyle as we follow His teachings. All His people have an ongoing war, inward and outward, with sinful attitudes and practices, but, thanks be to God, Jesus Christ, gives us victory over the Devil, victory over our flesh, and victory over the world.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (KJV) 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Thank you, Lord Jesus

2Cor 6:17-18 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Jn 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1Cor 1:30-31 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Rom 13:12-14 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

1Thess 4:3-7 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

1Cor 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

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