Sanctified in Christ
The believer’s sanctification
is at once both complete and incomplete.
Just as we have been fully and
completely justified, we have also been completely
sanctified in Christ. The Bible says, “You are in
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and
righteousness, and sanctification and redemption.”
“By one offering He has perfected forever them that
are sanctified.” “You are washed and you are
sanctified.” Yet, the apostle admonishes, “Let us go
on unto perfection.”
How can we go on to perfection
if we have already been perfected?
As a gift of grace,
sanctification is conferred on each Christian as
soon as he believes. But there is the sense that it
is “hid with Christ in God.” It is “held on
deposit.” We appropriate it through daily communion
and gradual apprehension of Christ.
Does that mean we are already
sinless? No. We have not reached a state of
practical and realized sanctification in our
personal lives. On the daily practical side what has
been crucified must be mortified. We die daily to
sin and what has been buried must be kept buried. It
is still true that “In me, that is, in my flesh,
dwells no good thing.” “If we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” We
simply have not reached holy perfection as long as
we dwell in this body. We will be without sin only
when we appear with Him in glory. Only then shall we
be fully conformed to Christ. All our holiness is in
Christ and from Him. It is only in the open vision
of His face and in His light that our likeness to
Him will be rendered perfect.
Every aspect of our imputed
righteousness rests upon our being in Christ. And
every condition of our practical sanctification
rests on our abiding or continuing in Christ.
With equal emphasis the Bible
stresses our progressive sanctification. “He that
abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth
much fruit” (John 15:5).
As we make ourselves available
to Christ, He gives Himself to us to reproduce
Himself in us.
Christ our Vine is not limited
in Himself. Moreover, only the fruits of
righteousness can grow out of that divine life. As
we make ourselves available to Christ there is an
inflow of His life to us that reproduces itself
without restraint.
In sanctification the Holy
Spirit works out the divine life He has placed
within us at the new birth. He is at work unfolding
to us the utmost limit of the divine life which is
ours in Christ.
This likeness to Christ does
not come automatically. It depends upon our
communion with Christ. It is an intimate, personal
walk by faith in Christ.
The person who abides in Christ
ought to walk even as He walked. There is an
expected result or product when we have a right
relationship with Him. The quality of our
relationship with Christ determines the character
and quality of all other relationships in life. The
world is sure to be in its proper place only when we
adjust our hearts to Christ. “Put on Christ, and you
are certain to put off sin.”
The Holy Spirit applies the
truths of God’s word to our lives. He takes the
things of Christ in His Word and teaches us. He
brings “the Life” to our life, and makes the
sanctified One to be more and more our practical
sanctification “until we are filled up with His
fullness.”
Consistently, yet gradually God
is bringing this new divine life work to completion
in us. While the outward man is perishing, the
inward man is renewed day by day.
Therefore, why do we seek fruit
from without instead of from within? God is at work
within us. His goal is to reproduce Christ in us and
this takes a lifetime.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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Reports on what God is doing through Bible believing evangelical Christians in Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, India and Ecuador. Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).
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