02/09/18 SANCTIFY YOURSELVES... INTRODUCTION
SANCTIFY YOURSELVES
(this article is addressed to those who have already been saved by grace through faith and created by Christ Jesus for the purpose of doing good works, Ep. 2:8-10).
INTRODUCTION
WARNING WARNING WARNING
(if you think that obedience to God is legalism and if you think that God does not require anything from believers, you might want to walk away from the computer. If you venture any further, you might need to take drugs, just to keep from blowing a gasket)
GOD REQUIRES US TO PURIFY OURSELVES IN ORDER FOR HIM TO ENTIRELY SANCTIFY US.
This Divine principle is evident in Paul's words to the Philippians.
Philippians 3:7-16
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
TO SANCTIFY is to SET APART.
NO, I am not referring to works of the flesh or legalism. I am referring to the Biblical view (Old and New Testaments) of believers being SET APART.
NO, I am not saying that we impart the Holy Spirit to ourselves or that we fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit, which results in the purifying of the heart, and the removal of evil from the heart, and filling the heart with love.
I am saying, in agreement with the word of God, that we must make the deliberate choice to receive the purifying work of God by "cleansing ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Co. 7:1).
THE PLAN OF GOD IS TO SET HIS PEOPLE APART
Apart FROM Sin (the negative work of removing sin) and
Apart TO God (the positive work of adding God likeness).
God will do the purifying of the heart, but He will only sanctify those who consecrate (dedicate) themselves and sanctify themselves. Yes, God requires, enables and expects His children to turn completely from sin and completely to God if they want to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Ro. 8:29). We are enabled by God's grace to do that which He requires.
SAVING and ENABLING GRACE
In our path to perfecting holiness, God gives us...
Grace (Ro. 6:12-14),
Abounding grace (Ro. 5:20),
Abundant grace (2 Co. 4:15),
All grace (2 Co. 9:8)
Exceeding grace (2 Co. 9:14),
Great grace (Ac 4:33),
Manifold grace (1 Pe. 4:10),
More grace (Ja. 4:6),
Sufficient grace (2 Co. 12:9),
True grace (1 Pe. 5:12).
FALLEN FROM GRACE
Those who have turned back to self saving works of the flesh have fallen from grace (Ga. 5:4).
Those who do not follow peace with all men and holiness, have failed at grace, actually have fallen from grace or fallen back from grace (He. 12:15).
NO GRACE
It does not take any grace to sin.
It does not take any grace to refuse to move forward.
It does not take any grace to slide backward.
It does not take any grace to presume on God.
It does not take any grace to walk against the light.
THIS IS THE POINT OF THIS ARTICLE
Here is where we run into something interesting. In order to experience the purifying, empowering grace of God, we need to personally turn from the beggerly things of this world.
If we want God to do the miraculous work of purifying our hearts and our lives, we must walk in the light that He is presently providing.
We cannot focus our affection and loyalty in two different directions.
We cannot take hold of God tightly if we are fondling the world.
We cannot love God with the whole heart if we are maintaining a dalliance with another "lover."
God requires human response and participation and God tells us what we must do. Here are seven passages, which address the need for believers to purify themselves in obedience to God and His plan to Sanctify them Entirely.
