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Salvation: Sanctification · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
Okay, I've got a confession to make. I'm not a coffee guy. I don't really know a lot about coffee.
0:08
If you make it for me, I might drink it, like the guys who live with me make really good coffee.
0:13
And I'll ask them sometimes, like, hey, are you going to make any coffee?
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And they're like, no, but you can make some if you want.
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And I'm like, that's okay, never mind.
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That's as far as my love for it goes.
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But because I am ignorant of coffee, like I drank some a little while ago because it's kind of just fading.
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And now I'm like just really messed up.
0:36
So we'll see how it goes tonight.
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But a little out of sorts.
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Yeah.
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Well, tonight we're talking about sanctification.
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What a word.
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You know, what a confusing word at times.
0:52
And I think if I have a title for tonight, it would be sanctification, becoming who we are in Christ.
1:02
So becoming who we are in Christ.
1:05
So I kind of have an introduction, and then I have four different, or five, something like that, questions we're going to look at just on this.
1:14
But to understand what sanctification is, we need to ask another question, and that is, what does holy mean?
1:23
What does holiness mean?
1:25
And when we talk about the holiness of God, what does that mean?
1:30
And from that, we need to, from there, we can kind of continue on about what sanctification is.
1:35
But the Old Testament root, the Hebrew word for holy, it implies a lot, okay?
1:44
There's not just one fixed definition that you can actually put on for what holy means.
1:49
It's really quite difficult.
1:51
But when talking about holy, at least in the root word in the Hebrew, it's an idea that means to be separated,
1:59
to be utterly different and distinct from anything else, and to be utterly devoted to something else.
2:07
And when applied to God, it's meant that God's holiness is His separateness.
2:12
It's the way of God being in a class all by Himself.
2:18
If you have to pick one term almost to define who God is, it's holy.
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He's totally separated from everything that is not God, in a way, if you want to put it that way.
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He's being in a class all by Himself.
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And because He is in a class all by Himself, that makes Him, like, supremely, infinitely valuable,
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because of Him being in this category by Himself.
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He's distinct from all else that is not God.
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So it kind of implies transcendence, otherness.
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It's a part of God's very essence.
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There's no lack or deficiency in God at all.
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I'm going to just read out of Revelation 4.8.
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You don't have to turn there.
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But there's this scene going on around the throne of God.
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And there's these angelic beings that are flying around and they're crying out to God.
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It says,
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The four living creatures, each of them has six wings, are full of eyes all around and within.
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And day and night they never cease to say,
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Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.
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So that's what is constantly going on.
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It says they don't stop doing that.
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That's constantly going on around the throne of God.
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These creatures are crying out to God,
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Holy, holy, holy.
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And so, if you wanted to limit holiness just to being separate,
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they've got to be saying more than, like, separated, separated, separated.
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It just doesn't roll out like that.
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It implies a lot more.
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It's a holiness is where our language kind of runs out and we can't describe who God is anymore.
4:08
And we're kind of like, we've reached the edge.
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And then beyond that is just the vastness of who God is.
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It really, we can't actually put our hands on it.
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But holiness does mean that God is, like, utterly separated from all things that are sinful,
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all things that are evil.
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He's in a completely different category in and of himself.
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And Isaiah had a similar experience.
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Like when he was in the throne room of God,
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he saw angelic beings, seraphim, flying around and crying out,
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Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
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The whole earth is full of his glory.
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And he was confronting with that.
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If you were here a long time ago for one of the first messages,
4:50
that was a passage we actually looked at.
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And a lot of us, you know, we have this idea that we just kind of want to, like, run right upon God.
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We want to see God.
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We want to behold God.
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And kind of almost an idea of just, like, waltzing right into his presence.
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But everyone in Scripture seems to have a completely different kind of experience.
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Because whenever they encounter God, whenever they encounter the holiness of God,
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they're utterly terrified.
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Like, they are, some of them almost, some of the experiences almost even kill them.
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Because that's how powerful it was.
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And this holiness of God is in a category in and of itself.
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And that's why in Isaiah, all throughout Isaiah, which I'm kind of reading right now,
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I didn't count how many times, but I mean, I at least saw it seven times,
5:39
where God says something kind of like this,
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To whom then will you compare to me, that I should be like him, says the Holy One.
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God's always, like, daring people to find something to compare to him.
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And it's because he is completely other, completely separate, completely immorally pure, is God.
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So look at this. Turn to 1 Peter, chapter 1.
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So, God is holy means God is God.
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If you want to think about it that way.
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Yeah, so, what does this have to do with sanctification?
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Well, since God is holy, he calls his people also to be holy.
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Those who belong to him, those who are in Christ.
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So, 1 Peter 1, verse 14.
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It says this,
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As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.
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So don't be like you were before you were a Christian.
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But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
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Since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy.
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And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds,
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conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,
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knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers,
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not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
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but with that which is the precious blood of Christ,
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like the lamb without blemish or spot.
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So, it says basically here, God is saying,
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You will be holy, for I am holy.
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And that's quoted out of Leviticus 11, 44.
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It says this,
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Yahweh, your God, He is holy.
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You must consecrate yourselves because He is holy, for He is holy.
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So, it's this idea that because God is holy,
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He now calls His children, those who belong to Him, to also walk in holiness.
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If you look at the language here,
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it kind of carries the language of like children to a father.
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And you see that here?
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He commands us to be holy,
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but He's not giving us an arbitrary command.
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He's basically saying that like,
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Look, if you belong to God, holiness is a family trait.
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Like, holiness is like the spiritual DNA that we have received from God,
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and it should be in us.
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If we truly are born of God,
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if we truly have been born again by the Spirit,
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then like His DNA has been put in us.
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And so, He's saying,
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Walk as the children that you are.
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Walk as those who have been changed by God.
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And then He goes on, He says,
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Because, you know,
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you were ransomed by the precious blood of Christ.
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Like, you were made His,
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you were made His child through the precious blood of Christ.
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So, you were bought.
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Right?
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You no longer belong to yourself.
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You belong to God.
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And you want it to be that way.
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Right?
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The freest person in the world is the one who's a slave to a perfect master.
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Right?
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We want to belong to God.
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And we want to be who He's called us to be.
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The spiritual DNA that's in us is holiness.
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So, point being here,
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whenever the New Testament talks about sanctification,
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it's basically talking about holiness.
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Okay?
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That's kind of what the focus is.
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You can't really understand it without the others.
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So, let's get into some of the things here.
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The first question,
9:32
which we're going to kind of unpack this with,
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is what is sanctification?
9:37
What is sanctification?
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And so,
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just talk about terms a little bit.
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Don't get lost in this.
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I tried to condense this as much as I could.
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But,
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the English word sanctify,
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or sanctification,
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comes from the Latin word,
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you know,
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sanctus.
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And it,
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which means holy in Latin,
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sanctus.
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But,
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the problem is,
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like,
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in our English language,
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the adjective holy,
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we don't have a way of,
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like,
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converting that into a verb.
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We don't have,
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um,
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holification.
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You know,
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it doesn't exist,
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like,
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in the English language.
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But,
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um,
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but in the New Testament,
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the adjective for holy
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can also be made into a verb,
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which means to make holy,
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or to set apart as holy.
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It can be turned into a verb.
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So,
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so,
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the adjective holy
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can be implied as
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the condition of being holy,
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right?
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The condition of being holy,
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holiness,
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or it can imply
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to the process of becoming holy.
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It's,
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uh,
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either one of those,
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which would be like holification,
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uh,
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which doesn't really exist.
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Again,
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if the word existed.
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So,
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we use sanctification.
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That's,
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basically,
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what we're,
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what we're getting this word from.
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Um,
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so,
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the crucial point is this,
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all right?
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Anytime you read in the New Testament,
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the word sanctify,
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you know they're talking about holiness.
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That's what,
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that's what you need to,
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to kind of read into
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when you're,
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when you're reading those words.
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Okay?
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So,
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therefore,
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the goal tonight
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is to talk about
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not just being holy,
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but like becoming holy.
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It's,
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it's both of those.
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Uh,
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as the New Testament talks about it.
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And so,
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the New Testament refers to our holiness
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in both senses,
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a condition of being holy
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and becoming holy.
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All right?
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So,
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uh,
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but,
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if you start really researching this
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and studying this,
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you're going to find like the word
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sanctify,
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sanctification,
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is used for like a lot of different
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kind of things.
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And you're going to be like,
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how do you put all this together?
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It's not as clear a term as like
11:39
regeneration or justification.
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It's really broad.
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But,
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it can be said
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that there's two ways
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that it occurs the most.
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There's two different ways.
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So,
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so in what ways
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does scripture speak about
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sanctification?
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Okay,
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now,
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this is the two that you want to write
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underneath that first title.
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What is sanctification?
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Excuse me.
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But the first one is
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called definitive
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sanctification.
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A big word,
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definitive,
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right?
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Try to spell that,
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whatever.
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Definitive sanctification.
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All right,
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and I'm just going to read
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a definition of it for you
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by John Frame.
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It's not really that long,
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but
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in this sense,
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definitive sanctification
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is a once-for-all event
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simultaneously
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with regeneration
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that transfers us
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from the sphere of sin
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to the sphere of God's holiness.
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From the kingdom of Satan
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into the kingdom of God.
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It's this act
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that God does himself
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where he like takes us
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from the realm of sin,
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the realm of Satan,
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and moves us to
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the realm of the kingdom of God.
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It's like a transfer
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that he's done.
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He's made us
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like his people.
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I'll give you an example of this.
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In 1 Peter 2,
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it says this.
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Are you already in Peter?
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Are you still in Peter?
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Oh, how about that?
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Go ahead and flip over
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to chapter 1,
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verse 2.
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Excuse me,
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chapter 2,
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verse 9.
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All these words
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are blending together.
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Chapter 2,
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verse 9.
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It says this.
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And this is one way
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we can think of
13:11
definitive sanctification.
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But you are a chosen race,
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a royal priesthood,
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a holy nation.
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See that?
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A people for God's own possession
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that you may proclaim
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the excellencies of him
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who called you out of darkness
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into his marvelous light.
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Once you were not a people,
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but now you are God's people.
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Once you had not received mercy,
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but now you have received mercy.
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You see that?
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It's like this transfer
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of like you were this
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and now you're this.
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God has like brought you there.
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He set you aside
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to be his people
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and to live for his purposes.
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That's one way
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that this is used.
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But I didn't intend
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for you to turn there,
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but turn to 1 Corinthians 6
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real quick.
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I'll show you another
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example of this.
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1 Corinthians 6.
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Then go to verse 9.
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Alright?
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So it says,
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Or do you not know
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that the unrighteous
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will not inherit
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the kingdom of God?
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Rhetorical question.
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Do not be deceived,
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neither sexual, immoral,
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nor adulterers,
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nor men who practice
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homosexuality,
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nor thieves,
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nor the greedy,
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nor drunkards,
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nor revilers,
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nor swindlers
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will inherit
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the kingdom of God.
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Okay?
14:34
So he's saying like
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that's,
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that's,
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those kind of actions
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are manifestations
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of someone's sinful condition.
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They come out of us
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because we are sinful.
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So he's saying
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if you live by those things,
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if that's what's coming
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out of your life constantly
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and that's what you live for,
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he's like,
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you won't have,
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you won't not inherit
14:53
the kingdom of God.
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But then he changes
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his kind of tone
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and he says,
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and such were some of you,
15:00
the Christians he's talking to,
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but you were washed,
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you were sanctified,
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you were justified
15:06
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
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by the Spirit of our God.
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Pretty awesome.
15:11
Like a picture of like us
15:13
moving from this realm
15:14
to that realm.
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That's who a lot of us were.
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Some of you may still be
15:18
in that realm,
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but God has all the power
15:21
to move you into
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his realm,
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the kingdom of light
15:24
and to be a part
15:26
of the holy nation,
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his own possession.
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So,
15:30
so definitive sanctification
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redeems us,
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okay,
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this is important.
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Definitive sanctification
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redeems us
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from the ruling power
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of sin in our life
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and it frees us
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from the slavery of sin.
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Okay,
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so it,
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so we still sin,
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okay,
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right,
15:47
as believers,
15:47
we all know that,
15:48
that's where we're kind of,
15:49
where we're kind of going here.
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But,
15:51
but it's not the same
15:53
like as it was before,
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before we were in Christ.
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The power of sin
15:57
has been broken.
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So,
15:59
if you really have become
16:00
a believer
16:01
and God's Spirit
16:02
is in you,
16:02
you should notice
16:03
over time,
16:05
like,
16:06
sin weakening
16:07
in your life
16:08
in certain areas.
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Not totally being demolished,
16:10
but like,
16:11
God's power
16:12
and God's Spirit
16:13
inside of you
16:13
is causing you
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to have more
16:15
and more victory
16:16
over those sins
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in your life,
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in your actual life.
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So,
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and that's because
16:21
of definitive sanctification.
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God has
16:23
caused you
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to be born again.
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Some of you were here
16:26
when Nathan,
16:27
if you weren't here
16:27
when Nathan preached
16:28
on regeneration,
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I don't know
16:30
if we have the sermons
16:31
up yet,
16:32
but do we have
16:32
the sermons up yet?
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Okay,
16:36
working on it?
16:37
Yeah,
16:38
but,
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but if that has
16:40
happened to you,
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you now are not
16:43
a slave to sin anymore,
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you're not a slave
16:44
to Satan anymore,
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you belong to God
16:47
and by His power
16:47
you can like walk
16:48
in victory over sin.
16:50
So,
16:51
it destroyed the dominion
16:52
of sin over your life.
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So,
16:54
sanctification in this sense
16:56
is decisive
16:57
and it's a radical break
16:59
with the power
17:01
and pleasure of sin,
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okay?
17:02
It's like a,
17:03
and God does this,
17:04
it's an act that God does
17:05
at regeneration
17:06
as He moves us
17:07
from one kingdom
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to another.
17:10
So,
17:11
that's the first one.
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Thank God for that one.
17:14
That's the first way
17:15
it's used.
17:15
We've been set apart
17:16
as God's people
17:17
for His purposes.
17:20
Sorry.
17:21
The second way
17:22
this is mostly used,
17:24
alright,
17:24
and this is probably
17:25
the one that we're
17:25
most familiar with,
17:27
is progressive
17:28
sanctification.
17:30
Progressive
17:30
sanctification.
17:33
And Wayne Grudem,
17:34
he defines it
17:35
this way,
17:37
it's a progressive
17:38
work of God
17:39
and man,
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key phrase there,
17:41
work of God
17:42
and man,
17:43
that makes us
17:44
more and more
17:45
free from sin
17:46
and like Christ
17:48
in our actual lives,
17:49
like right now.
17:50
Read that again.
17:52
It's a progressive
17:53
work of God
17:54
and man
17:54
that makes us
17:56
more and more
17:56
free from sin
17:57
and like Christ
17:59
in our actual lives.
18:01
So,
18:02
so in definitive
18:04
sanctification,
18:05
it's all the work
18:06
of God.
18:07
Justification,
18:08
all the work
18:09
of God.
18:10
You don't cooperate
18:11
at all.
18:12
Being born again,
18:13
completely the work
18:14
of God.
18:14
But in sanctification,
18:16
at least in this sense,
18:17
we do cooperate
18:18
with God.
18:20
We exercise
18:20
our new natures
18:22
and the new desires
18:23
and wills
18:24
that we have
18:24
that were given
18:25
to us
18:26
to love God.
18:27
So what?
18:27
So guess what?
18:28
We're not puppets,
18:29
right?
18:30
We're not machines
18:31
dangling around.
18:31
We have real
18:32
actions.
18:34
Our actions
18:34
mean things.
18:36
And we can choose
18:37
to love God
18:38
or choose to
18:39
disobey God,
18:40
even as believers.
18:42
So,
18:43
in this sense,
18:44
we can think of
18:45
sanctification
18:45
as the outworking
18:46
of the new life
18:48
that we have
18:49
in Christ.
18:50
Okay?
18:50
It's like
18:50
the new life
18:52
that was given
18:53
to us
18:53
in regeneration,
18:54
we're actually
18:55
now moving
18:55
more and more
18:56
into our new nature
18:58
that was given
18:59
to us
19:00
when we were born
19:00
again.
19:01
And this involves
19:02
like a gradual,
19:04
incremental,
19:05
progressive work,
19:06
spiritual work
19:07
inside of us
19:08
when we're still
19:09
putting to death
19:10
remaining sin
19:11
in our lives.
19:12
All of us still
19:12
have remaining sin
19:13
in our lives.
19:14
I know I do.
19:16
But by God's power,
19:17
what I'm able to do
19:18
is I can rely
19:19
on His strength
19:21
and I can have
19:22
more and more
19:22
victory over
19:24
those particular sins
19:25
that are in my life.
19:27
And I can become
19:27
more like Christ
19:28
in this life.
19:30
So we do play a role.
19:32
We cooperate.
19:34
Alright?
19:34
Let's just say
19:34
you're facing
19:35
that moment
19:35
of temptation.
19:36
Right?
19:37
It's before you.
19:38
And everything in you
19:39
is wanting to go for it.
19:40
Like your flesh,
19:41
which actually
19:43
is not your nature.
19:43
That's a whole new talk.
19:45
You have one nature now.
19:47
Right?
19:48
It lives in
19:48
corrupted,
19:49
sinful flesh,
19:50
but you have
19:50
one spiritual nature.
19:51
And that's the new man
19:52
that's come from
19:53
the act of regeneration.
19:56
So you're faced
19:56
with temptation.
19:58
Alright?
19:59
Now you have a chance there.
20:00
The Holy Spirit,
20:02
this is His operation
20:03
and us,
20:04
by the way.
20:05
He's saying like,
20:06
don't do this.
20:08
This is close enough.
20:10
Stop now.
20:11
You know this is going
20:12
to lead to disaster.
20:13
You know that God
20:13
is so much better.
20:15
Trust me.
20:16
Right?
20:17
And then He will
20:18
begin teaching you
20:19
and showing you ways
20:20
to get out of that situation.
20:22
And what?
20:22
You can either say,
20:24
okay,
20:27
alright,
20:28
I'm out of here.
20:29
You know,
20:29
like whatever it is.
20:30
Or you can be like,
20:31
you know what?
20:31
I really don't want
20:32
to fight right now.
20:32
So I'm just going
20:33
to lay down
20:33
and get into my sin.
20:34
Right?
20:35
So that's an example
20:37
of how this works
20:38
in reality.
20:39
We do play a role.
20:40
We cooperate
20:41
with the Holy Spirit
20:42
as children of God.
20:44
And we have to yield
20:45
to His work.
20:46
I'll turn to
20:46
Colossians 3.
20:52
I'll show you
20:53
an example of this.
20:59
Sorry.
20:59
Sorry.
21:01
So here,
21:06
Paul writes,
21:07
okay,
21:08
to the Christians here,
21:09
in light of your new identity
21:11
in Christ,
21:13
in light of what
21:14
Christ has done for you,
21:16
because of that,
21:17
live this way.
21:18
That's kind of what he's saying.
21:20
Because of who you are now,
21:21
live this way.
21:23
Walk this way.
21:25
Colossians 3,
21:26
verse 5.
21:27
And you'll see
21:28
this is a picture
21:29
of progressive sanctification.
21:30
It says,
21:31
put to death,
21:32
therefore,
21:33
what is earthly in you,
21:35
sexual immorality,
21:36
impurity,
21:37
passion,
21:37
evil desire,
21:39
and covetousness,
21:40
which is idolatry.
21:42
On account of these,
21:43
the wrath of God
21:43
is coming.
21:45
In these,
21:46
you too,
21:46
once walk.
21:47
There's that idea of like,
21:48
hey, you know what?
21:48
You used to be that way.
21:50
That's who you were
21:50
before Christ.
21:52
Then he's making a present
21:53
connection.
21:55
But he says,
21:55
but now,
21:56
you must put them
21:58
all away.
22:00
Anger,
22:01
wrath,
22:01
malice,
22:02
slander,
22:03
obscene talk
22:04
from your mouth.
22:05
Do not lie to one another.
22:07
Seeing that you have been,
22:09
you have put off
22:10
the old self
22:12
with its practices,
22:12
and you have put on
22:14
the new self,
22:15
which is being renewed
22:16
in the knowledge
22:17
after the image
22:18
of its creator.
22:19
Right?
22:20
So,
22:21
if you remember the talk
22:22
a good while back
22:23
when Kyle talked about
22:25
sin and the fall of man
22:27
and how we were,
22:28
man was the shattered
22:29
image of God,
22:30
the broken image of God,
22:31
how we were meant
22:32
to reflect who God is,
22:34
right?
22:35
His holy character
22:37
and His dominion.
22:38
And sin shattered that.
22:41
Okay?
22:41
But as believers now,
22:43
people that have been
22:44
born again,
22:44
have a new nature,
22:46
most of us sin here,
22:48
we can now actually
22:49
reflect who God is.
22:51
You see that?
22:51
It says there
22:52
at the end.
22:52
It says,
22:53
He's being renewed
22:54
after the knowledge,
22:55
or excuse me,
22:56
the knowledge
22:56
after the image
22:57
of its creator.
22:58
We can now reflect
23:00
to the world
23:00
who God really is.
23:02
It's really cool.
23:03
We can actually do that
23:04
now as believers.
23:06
But He says,
23:07
you know,
23:07
put what's earthly
23:08
in you to death.
23:10
Stop these things
23:11
because
23:11
that's not
23:13
who you are anymore.
23:15
And really sorry
23:16
Bible teaching,
23:16
which I grew up with a lot
23:18
and a lot of us
23:18
have been exposed to,
23:20
they'll jump immediately
23:21
like,
23:21
do these,
23:22
don't do these,
23:23
do these,
23:23
don't do these.
23:24
But the problem,
23:26
a great example of this,
23:28
maybe John remembers this,
23:30
maybe not,
23:31
but a long time ago,
23:32
we were teaching
23:33
through Ephesians
23:34
when we were all
23:35
in college,
23:36
and the first three chapters
23:38
of Ephesians,
23:39
okay,
23:40
are about who we are
23:41
as children of God,
23:44
who we are in Christ.
23:45
It talks about our identity,
23:47
right,
23:47
our new identity.
23:48
And then the next three chapters
23:49
talk about,
23:52
now,
23:52
in light of who you are,
23:54
walk this way.
23:55
That's kind of,
23:56
this is what the new man
23:57
looks like.
23:59
So it's a totally different
24:00
way of thinking.
24:01
It's saying like,
24:01
wow,
24:02
this is who we are.
24:04
You always hear Nathan
24:04
and Wes and I say,
24:05
you were created to be
24:06
and not to do,
24:07
and now the being
24:08
comes to doing.
24:09
This is what we're talking about.
24:11
So put to death
24:11
these things
24:12
that remain in you,
24:14
right?
24:15
So that's progressive
24:16
sanctification.
24:18
So,
24:20
I'm going to show you
24:21
probably one of the wildest
24:22
verses in the Scripture,
24:24
I think.
24:25
It's very interesting.
24:27
Look at Hebrews 10
24:28
real quick.
24:31
Is there any places
24:32
where you see
24:34
definitive and progressive
24:36
sanctification
24:36
in the same verse?
24:38
And the answer is yes.
24:40
That's kind of
24:41
mind-boggling here.
24:42
But look at
24:43
Hebrews 10,
24:44
verse 10.
24:48
So,
24:50
these passages
24:52
demonstrate how
24:53
true Christians
24:53
are sanctified,
24:56
they are holy,
24:57
but then it says
24:58
they also are
24:59
being sanctified,
25:00
they're becoming holy.
25:02
It's really a
25:03
crazy thing,
25:05
but both are true.
25:07
So look at verse 10.
25:09
And by that
25:10
we have been
25:12
sanctified
25:13
through the offering
25:15
of the body
25:16
of Jesus Christ
25:17
once for all.
25:18
See that?
25:19
So which one do you think
25:20
that's implying to?
25:21
It says,
25:22
and by that
25:24
we will have been
25:25
sanctified
25:26
through the offering
25:27
of the body
25:28
of Jesus Christ
25:28
once for all.
25:30
Which one?
25:31
Definitive or progressive?
25:32
Someone say something.
25:33
Definitive.
25:34
Yeah.
25:34
He's like
25:35
taking us
25:35
and moved us here.
25:37
Okay?
25:38
So then,
25:39
in the same chapter,
25:40
look at verse 14.
25:41
Let's go down
25:42
just a little bit.
25:43
Here's like the verse
25:44
that just is like,
25:45
what?
25:47
It says,
25:48
for by a single offering,
25:50
Christ has perfected
25:52
for all time
25:53
those who are being
25:55
sanctified.
25:57
Right?
25:59
Christ has perfected
26:00
for all time
26:01
those being
26:02
sanctified.
26:03
So there is a sense,
26:05
right,
26:06
by which
26:06
we believe in Jesus
26:08
and we are sanctified
26:09
in this verse.
26:10
We are holy.
26:12
Right?
26:12
But then later on,
26:13
like in this verse,
26:15
we see that Christians
26:15
are both perfected,
26:17
we already are holy,
26:19
and then we also
26:20
are being sanctified.
26:21
We're being made holy.
26:23
It's pretty crazy.
26:25
So one of the greatest
26:27
sources of joy
26:28
for us as believers
26:29
is that
26:30
to endure
26:31
and keep fighting,
26:32
which I think
26:33
Chris McKean
26:34
is going to talk
26:34
about that next week.
26:36
You don't want
26:36
to miss that.
26:37
It's going to be
26:37
a good one.
26:38
So where it says,
26:40
for by a single offering,
26:41
namely Christ Himself,
26:42
right?
26:43
Just look at the verse.
26:45
He has perfected
26:46
for all time
26:47
those being
26:47
sanctified.
26:49
And that's amazing
26:50
because in the same
26:51
sentence,
26:52
right,
26:52
he says we are
26:53
being sanctified
26:54
and that we already
26:55
are perfect.
26:57
Isn't that nuts?
26:59
So being sanctified
27:00
means that we are
27:01
imperfect,
27:01
right,
27:02
in the process
27:03
of,
27:04
but we are
27:04
becoming holy
27:05
but not because,
27:07
but we're not
27:08
fully holy.
27:09
And I'll read you
27:09
this quote by
27:10
John Piper
27:11
on this particular
27:12
verse,
27:13
right?
27:14
The joyful
27:15
encouragement here
27:16
is that the evidence
27:18
of our perfection
27:19
before God
27:20
is not our
27:21
experience perfection
27:22
but our experience
27:24
progress.
27:26
See that?
27:27
I'll read that again.
27:28
The joyful encouragement
27:29
here is that the
27:30
evidence of our
27:32
perfection before God,
27:33
right,
27:33
being holy,
27:35
is not our
27:35
experience perfection.
27:36
Most of us don't
27:37
really experience
27:38
what it's like to be
27:38
perfectly holy,
27:39
right?
27:39
We don't in this life.
27:41
But he says
27:41
the evidence of our
27:43
perfection before God
27:44
is our experiential
27:45
progress.
27:46
Are you growing?
27:47
That's the evidence
27:48
that you already are
27:49
perfected.
27:51
And this is what he
27:52
says,
27:52
the good news
27:53
is that being
27:54
on the way
27:54
is proof that
27:56
we have already
27:56
arrived.
27:58
Pretty awesome.
28:00
The good news
28:01
is that being
28:01
on the way
28:01
is proof that
28:02
we have already
28:03
arrived.
28:04
So don't ask,
28:05
like,
28:06
am I perfectly
28:06
holy yet?
28:07
Because the answer
28:07
is going to say,
28:08
like,
28:08
experientially.
28:09
No,
28:10
you're not.
28:10
But are you
28:11
growing in holiness?
28:13
And you can answer
28:13
yes,
28:14
then that's evidence
28:15
that you've already
28:17
arrived.
28:17
That's kind of
28:18
like what he's
28:18
saying.
28:19
So that's the two
28:20
ways that the
28:22
Bible mostly
28:22
talks about
28:23
sanctification.
28:24
But number
28:24
two,
28:25
the big number
28:26
two,
28:27
second point
28:28
or question,
28:30
what is the
28:31
difference between
28:32
sanctification and
28:34
justification?
28:36
Those are
28:37
serious distinctions.
28:39
You might
28:40
couldn't call
28:41
yourself Christian
28:42
if you don't
28:43
understand,
28:44
at least in
28:45
experience,
28:45
right,
28:46
what these
28:46
differences are.
28:48
There's a big
28:49
difference.
28:50
So we have to
28:50
be careful to
28:51
distinguish the
28:53
two,
28:53
but also not
28:53
to separate
28:54
them.
28:55
We can't
28:55
have one
28:56
without the
28:57
other.
28:57
Some people
28:57
actually want
28:58
to make that
28:59
happen.
28:59
The same thing
29:00
is like light
29:01
and heat from
29:02
the sun.
29:02
You can't
29:02
really separate
29:03
those things.
29:04
The sun
29:05
gives out
29:05
light and
29:07
heat.
29:08
We both
29:08
need those
29:09
things.
29:10
And so
29:11
they're not
29:12
the same,
29:13
but they're
29:13
not separated
29:14
either.
29:14
They're still
29:15
together.
29:15
It's what the
29:16
sun gives
29:16
us,
29:17
right?
29:17
So the
29:19
problem is a
29:20
lot of
29:20
people want
29:20
to say,
29:21
I've been
29:22
justified,
29:23
like I've
29:23
been made
29:24
right before
29:24
God,
29:25
but then
29:25
they actually
29:26
don't experience
29:27
any kind
29:28
of growth
29:30
in this
29:31
life,
29:32
right?
29:33
That can be
29:34
dangerous.
29:34
They want to
29:34
kind of
29:35
separate those
29:36
two things.
29:37
And also,
29:38
at least in
29:39
church history,
29:40
the Roman
29:41
church would
29:42
put sanctification
29:43
before
29:45
justification.
29:46
Saying that
29:47
you actually
29:47
have to,
29:48
like,
29:48
make yourself
29:49
holy enough
29:50
in this
29:51
life to
29:52
actually be
29:53
justified.
29:54
I'm glad
29:55
that's not
29:55
the case.
29:56
It would
29:57
mean that
29:57
we have to,
29:58
like,
29:58
make ourselves
29:59
godly,
29:59
right?
30:00
And that he
30:01
only would
30:01
justify us
30:02
when we
30:02
had made
30:03
ourselves
30:03
godly.
30:05
It's a big
30:06
difference.
30:07
We believe
30:08
that sanctification
30:09
is the evidence
30:10
of justification.
30:12
It's the
30:13
outflow of
30:14
what God
30:14
has done.
30:15
So I'm
30:16
going to
30:16
give you
30:16
some statements,
30:18
okay?
30:20
And just
30:21
differences,
30:22
just to kind
30:22
of make
30:22
a clarification.
30:25
The justification
30:26
versus
30:26
sanctification.
30:28
Justification
30:29
is being
30:30
declared
30:31
righteous
30:31
by God.
30:33
Sanctification
30:34
is being
30:34
made righteous.
30:36
Declared
30:36
and then
30:37
made,
30:37
right?
30:39
Justification
30:40
is about
30:41
God's
30:41
attitude
30:42
to me
30:43
changing.
30:45
Sanctification
30:45
is about
30:46
God
30:46
changing
30:47
us,
30:48
right?
30:48
He
30:48
accepts us
30:50
because of
30:50
what Christ
30:50
has done,
30:51
right?
30:52
Kind of
30:52
the point
30:53
there.
30:54
Justification
30:54
is our
30:56
position or
30:57
status before
30:58
God,
30:59
legally
31:00
speaking.
31:01
But
31:02
sanctification
31:02
is a
31:04
practice that
31:04
continues
31:05
throughout
31:05
our lives.
31:05
It goes
31:07
on and
31:07
on throughout
31:08
this life
31:08
on earth.
31:08
all right?
31:10
So,
31:11
this is a
31:12
big one.
31:12
Justification
31:13
is immediate
31:14
and complete
31:15
upon
31:16
conversion.
31:18
It's like
31:19
that,
31:19
okay?
31:20
It's
31:20
instantaneous
31:21
with being
31:22
born again.
31:24
So,
31:25
what's cool
31:25
about that
31:26
is you
31:26
can't be
31:26
more justified
31:27
today or
31:28
tomorrow than
31:29
the moment
31:30
you first
31:30
believed.
31:32
You can
31:32
have a
31:32
terrible,
31:33
awful day
31:33
and like
31:34
falling to
31:35
grievous
31:35
sin.
31:36
That
31:36
doesn't
31:36
make
31:36
you
31:36
any
31:36
less
31:37
justified
31:37
before
31:38
God
31:38
as
31:38
your
31:39
so-called
31:40
best
31:40
day
31:40
where
31:41
you
31:41
share
31:41
the
31:41
gospel
31:41
with
31:42
five
31:42
people
31:42
and
31:42
you read
31:42
your
31:42
Bible
31:43
for three
31:43
hours.
31:44
You're just
31:46
as justified
31:46
before God
31:47
as you
31:47
always have
31:48
been.
31:49
So,
31:49
that's
31:50
big.
31:50
And so,
31:50
comparing
31:51
that to
31:52
sanctification,
31:54
sanctification
31:55
is a
31:55
progressive
31:56
process.
31:57
It's a
31:57
process.
31:58
We are
31:58
being
31:59
sanctified,
32:00
growing
32:01
into
32:01
holiness.
32:03
then,
32:04
okay,
32:05
justification
32:06
is
32:07
objective.
32:09
Sanctification
32:09
is
32:10
subjective,
32:12
right,
32:12
because we
32:12
cooperate
32:13
with God.
32:15
All right,
32:15
and then
32:16
the last
32:17
one here,
32:18
justification
32:18
is completely
32:20
an act
32:20
of God,
32:22
monergistic,
32:22
God alone.
32:24
Sanctification,
32:26
we actually
32:27
play a role
32:27
by cooperating
32:28
with the
32:29
Holy Spirit
32:29
and growing
32:30
in holiness.
32:32
So,
32:32
those are
32:33
major
32:34
differences.
32:35
If you
32:35
switch those
32:36
around,
32:36
we would
32:36
be in
32:36
trouble,
32:37
because it
32:37
would be
32:37
like God
32:38
standing on
32:39
top of
32:39
Mount Sinai
32:40
saying,
32:40
like,
32:41
you have
32:41
to,
32:41
like,
32:41
climb all
32:42
the way
32:42
up here,
32:44
obey every
32:44
single law
32:45
with your
32:45
heart,
32:45
your mind,
32:46
your soul,
32:47
on your
32:47
own,
32:48
and when
32:48
you get
32:48
up here,
32:49
I'll
32:49
justify you.
32:52
No,
32:53
that's not
32:54
the way the
32:54
Bible actually
32:55
talks about it.
32:56
It says that
32:56
justification
32:57
came first,
32:59
clearly.
33:00
That's what the
33:00
whole Reformation
33:01
was about,
33:02
almost.
33:03
So,
33:03
Luther would argue,
33:05
so,
33:06
all together
33:06
now,
33:06
let's kind
33:07
of put this,
33:07
all these
33:08
statements together.
33:10
All right,
33:10
so,
33:11
when you were
33:12
born again,
33:13
right,
33:13
God raised you
33:14
from spiritual
33:15
death to life.
33:18
Like Lazarus
33:19
being called
33:19
out of the tomb,
33:20
Christ said,
33:21
Lazarus,
33:21
come out,
33:22
and he came
33:23
out.
33:24
And,
33:24
so that's
33:25
regeneration.
33:25
generation.
33:26
The result
33:27
is,
33:28
the new
33:29
life you
33:29
have actually
33:30
breathes air.
33:31
That is
33:32
saving faith.
33:33
The air that
33:33
the new
33:34
person breathes
33:35
is saving
33:35
faith.
33:37
Right?
33:38
That's what
33:39
happens at
33:39
conversion.
33:41
And then once
33:41
we have,
33:43
says what,
33:43
we're justified
33:44
by,
33:44
we were here,
33:45
last week,
33:46
justified by
33:47
what?
33:47
Works or
33:48
faith?
33:49
Faith.
33:50
So we
33:51
were justified
33:51
by faith.
33:53
So when you
33:53
actually have
33:54
saving faith,
33:55
in that moment,
33:55
God justifies
33:56
you.
33:57
It's all like
33:58
this.
33:58
It's not a,
33:59
well,
33:59
I was born
34:00
again,
34:00
but I don't
34:01
think I'm
34:01
justified yet.
34:02
It's like this
34:03
one instantaneous
34:04
act.
34:05
We actually
34:05
just know
34:06
that there's
34:07
some sort
34:07
of sequence
34:08
based on how
34:08
Scripture
34:09
talks about
34:09
it.
34:10
And it
34:11
carries on.
34:12
So if
34:13
we're justified,
34:14
right,
34:15
we've been
34:15
established
34:17
permanently as
34:18
a living,
34:19
breathing,
34:19
new nature,
34:20
child of
34:20
God,
34:21
right?
34:22
And so
34:23
how we put
34:23
sanctification
34:24
into this?
34:25
Sanctification
34:26
is the
34:26
exercising of
34:28
or the
34:29
working out
34:29
of the
34:30
new nature
34:30
in which
34:31
the Holy
34:32
Spirit is
34:32
like our
34:33
trainer.
34:33
He pushes
34:34
us and
34:35
disciplines us
34:37
and encourages
34:37
us as our
34:38
teacher to
34:39
like walk
34:40
more like
34:40
the person
34:40
that we
34:41
now are
34:41
before God.
34:43
If you
34:43
want to
34:43
think about
34:43
it that
34:44
way,
34:44
it's like
34:44
the exercising
34:45
of the
34:45
new man,
34:46
right?
34:47
So another
34:49
example is
34:49
like,
34:51
I mean,
34:52
whatever,
34:53
Jesus might
34:53
have been a
34:54
carpenter,
34:55
maybe,
34:55
I mean,
34:56
his dad was,
34:56
his earthly
34:57
dad was,
34:57
so maybe he
34:58
learned that,
34:59
but there's
34:59
really nothing
34:59
in the
34:59
scripture that
35:00
says that
35:00
Jesus was a
35:01
carpenter,
35:01
but necessarily.
35:04
Let's just
35:04
say that like
35:05
Christ being the
35:06
carpenter,
35:07
he carefully
35:07
crafts us into
35:08
something beautiful,
35:09
right?
35:10
The construction
35:11
is messy,
35:12
and it
35:13
takes time,
35:15
and it
35:15
does hurt
35:15
us from
35:16
time to
35:16
time,
35:17
and he
35:17
has to
35:17
move things
35:18
around,
35:18
but like
35:19
major
35:19
renovations,
35:20
right,
35:20
require,
35:21
you know,
35:21
us to like
35:22
get rid of
35:22
things that
35:23
are in
35:23
us,
35:23
right?
35:24
We need
35:24
to push
35:25
those out
35:25
and allow
35:26
him to
35:26
work.
35:27
And so,
35:29
I read this
35:31
somewhere,
35:32
this is this
35:32
side of
35:33
heaven,
35:33
right?
35:34
We never
35:34
will reach
35:36
complete
35:37
perfection in
35:38
this actual
35:39
life,
35:39
it's not
35:39
going to
35:40
happen.
35:40
But with
35:41
something we
35:42
should strive
35:42
for and
35:43
move into.
35:45
And so,
35:45
God basically
35:47
kind of hangs
35:48
this sign of
35:49
our heart that
35:49
says under
35:50
construction.
35:51
And when we
35:51
go to heaven,
35:52
we go to
35:52
glory,
35:53
which glorification
35:53
will be in
35:54
a few weeks,
35:55
we then will
35:55
be completely
35:56
and fully
35:57
holy,
35:58
perfect,
35:59
sinless.
36:01
That's when
36:02
it's completed.
36:03
So,
36:04
I remember
36:06
this really
36:06
kooky saying,
36:08
all right?
36:09
I remember
36:09
when I was
36:10
an early
36:10
Christian back
36:12
in the
36:13
early 2000s,
36:13
I liked
36:16
him a lot.
36:17
He's a nice
36:17
guy.
36:17
He's kind
36:17
of a traveling
36:18
Baptist
36:19
preacher.
36:19
He was from
36:20
the North
36:20
American Mission
36:21
Board,
36:21
I think.
36:22
He was an
36:23
old guy,
36:23
and he was
36:23
like really,
36:25
he did a
36:26
really good
36:26
exposition of
36:27
John 3,
36:27
I think.
36:28
But then he
36:28
said this,
36:29
all right?
36:30
When God
36:31
saves you,
36:32
there's an
36:32
inward
36:33
transformation,
36:34
which leads
36:36
to an outward
36:36
demonstration,
36:37
not sanctification,
36:39
which leads
36:39
to an upward
36:39
destination.
36:41
When God
36:43
saves you,
36:43
there's an
36:44
inward
36:44
transformation,
36:45
it leads
36:45
to an
36:46
outward
36:46
demonstration,
36:47
which leads
36:48
to an upward
36:48
destination.
36:49
But you
36:50
couldn't say
36:50
that something
36:51
actually happened
36:51
inside of you
36:52
if there was
36:52
not something
36:53
showing for
36:54
that.
36:55
Big difference.
36:57
So,
36:57
you can
36:58
remember it
36:59
that way,
36:59
maybe.
37:00
So,
37:00
number three,
37:02
what is our
37:04
role in
37:04
sanctification?
37:06
Right?
37:06
Tell me what
37:07
to do.
37:07
So,
37:07
what is our
37:10
role in
37:10
sanctification?
37:11
Look at
37:11
Colossians 1.
37:13
We're going
37:14
to stay in
37:14
Colossians just
37:15
for a minute.
37:23
Colossians 1,
37:24
verse 9.
37:25
Colossians 1,
37:25
verse 9.
37:25
What is our
37:34
role in
37:35
sanctification?
37:36
Alright,
37:37
verse 9.
37:38
Paul says,
37:39
And so,
37:40
from the day
37:41
we heard,
37:42
we have not
37:42
ceased to pray
37:43
for you,
37:43
asking that
37:45
you may be
37:45
filled with
37:46
the knowledge
37:46
of His
37:46
will and
37:47
all spiritual
37:47
wisdom and
37:48
understanding.
37:50
And then he
37:50
says this,
37:50
So,
37:51
walk,
37:52
so as to
37:53
walk in
37:54
a manner
37:54
worthy of
37:55
the Lord,
37:55
fully pleasing
37:56
to Him,
37:57
bearing fruit
37:57
in every good
37:58
work,
37:59
and increasing
38:00
in the knowledge
38:00
of God.
38:01
Alright,
38:02
so it kind of
38:02
says there,
38:04
if you look at it,
38:04
it's like,
38:05
yeah,
38:05
walk this way,
38:06
do this,
38:07
bear fruit
38:08
in every good
38:08
work,
38:09
increasing the
38:10
knowledge of
38:10
God.
38:11
It's kind of
38:11
like telling
38:11
you to do
38:12
something here.
38:13
So,
38:13
we want to
38:14
please God,
38:15
right,
38:15
and with our
38:16
attitudes,
38:16
and bearing
38:17
fruit is kind
38:18
of the example
38:18
of that.
38:19
So,
38:21
this fruit
38:21
that we have
38:22
in our
38:22
Christian life
38:23
is evidence
38:26
of God's
38:28
work in us,
38:29
right?
38:29
It's the outflow
38:29
of what God
38:30
has done in us.
38:32
And so,
38:34
if you want to
38:34
take a statement
38:35
here,
38:37
if you want to
38:37
just ask the
38:38
question,
38:38
what is our
38:38
role?
38:39
We are called
38:40
to be faithful,
38:42
obedient,
38:44
to labor,
38:46
and to toil
38:46
in the work
38:48
of being holy.
38:50
In growing
38:50
in holiness,
38:51
we do play
38:52
a role.
38:52
We are like
38:52
to strive
38:53
for this,
38:54
you know,
38:55
and just
38:56
even practically
38:56
speaking,
38:57
you know,
38:57
what does that
38:58
look like?
38:59
It means like
38:59
taking advantage
39:00
of every means
39:01
of grace
39:02
that God
39:02
has given us.
39:03
You being
39:03
here tonight
39:04
is a means
39:04
of grace
39:05
because you're
39:05
hearing the
39:06
word of God,
39:06
you're reading
39:07
the word of
39:07
God,
39:08
being around
39:09
the people
39:09
of God,
39:10
the church,
39:10
the body
39:10
of Christ,
39:11
that's a huge
39:12
means of grace.
39:13
Something that
39:13
probably 60-70%
39:16
of college students
39:16
neglect because
39:17
they're content
39:18
to just be on
39:19
campus,
39:19
you know,
39:20
but the body
39:21
of Christ
39:22
will help you
39:22
grow in holiness.
39:24
You need to be
39:25
around older
39:25
individuals that
39:26
have gone before
39:27
you and have
39:28
lived, you know,
39:29
different lives
39:30
and they can
39:30
teach you and
39:31
disciple you.
39:31
and ultimately
39:34
prayer, like
39:35
sitting, talking
39:36
to God,
39:38
pouring out your
39:38
heart to Him,
39:39
listening to what
39:39
His heart is,
39:42
and meditating,
39:43
reading, and
39:43
practicing the
39:44
word of God.
39:44
Those are all
39:46
means that He's
39:46
given us.
39:47
Those are the
39:47
primary means,
39:49
right?
39:50
So, that's it.
39:52
We're to be
39:52
faithful, obedient,
39:53
to labor,
39:54
to toil.
39:55
It's not the
39:56
whole let go
39:56
and let God.
39:58
It's kind of
39:59
like a,
40:00
applying it to
40:01
growing in holiness
40:02
is kind of like
40:03
not true.
40:04
In some situations
40:05
when you're trying
40:05
to control everything,
40:06
maybe it is,
40:07
but we are to
40:09
be active,
40:09
proactive in this,
40:11
being obedient
40:11
children.
40:13
All right,
40:14
which brings us
40:14
to the next
40:15
question,
40:15
number four.
40:16
What is the
40:16
Spirit's role
40:17
in sanctification?
40:19
All right?
40:20
And you find
40:21
that in the next
40:21
verse,
40:22
verse 11.
40:24
It says,
40:25
May you be
40:25
strengthened with
40:26
all power,
40:27
according to
40:28
his glorious
40:29
might,
40:30
for all endurance
40:31
and patience
40:31
with joy,
40:33
giving thanks
40:33
to the Father
40:34
who has qualified
40:35
you to share
40:36
in the inheritance
40:37
of the saints
40:38
in light.
40:40
Saints mean
40:41
holy,
40:42
holy ones,
40:43
right?
40:44
So those who
40:44
have been set
40:45
apart,
40:45
that same idea
40:46
uses the word
40:47
there.
40:48
So the Holy
40:49
Spirit gives us,
40:51
according to this,
40:51
the divine strength
40:52
we need
40:53
to live holy
40:55
lives.
40:56
He, like,
40:56
gives us that.
40:57
He shapes
40:58
our desires
40:58
and our wills.
41:00
He comforts us.
41:01
He guides us.
41:02
He teaches us.
41:04
Wes taught in the
41:04
Holy Spirit a few
41:05
weeks ago.
41:06
Good, great message.
41:08
You can go back
41:08
and hear it once
41:09
we get that up
41:10
and running again.
41:11
But the Spirit
41:12
empowers us,
41:12
right,
41:13
to live for God.
41:14
He gives us
41:15
the strength we need.
41:17
So,
41:17
the second statement
41:18
here,
41:19
all right,
41:19
so what's the
41:20
Spirit's role?
41:21
As we step out
41:22
in faithfulness
41:23
and obedience,
41:25
as we move,
41:26
right,
41:27
the Holy Spirit
41:28
is faithful
41:29
to empower
41:30
and encourage
41:31
and guide
41:31
and comfort us
41:32
while we're
41:33
growing in holiness.
41:35
All right?
41:36
And so that's
41:37
the great spiritual
41:37
mystery,
41:38
right?
41:39
Some people just
41:40
want to make it
41:40
one or the other.
41:41
It's either all God
41:42
or it's all us,
41:42
but in this case,
41:44
it's both.
41:45
We have a clear
41:46
calling and a clear
41:47
part to play in this,
41:48
but ultimately,
41:50
it's God's power
41:50
that's working
41:51
inside of us.
41:52
And since you're
41:54
in Colossians,
41:55
jump to the end
41:56
of the chapter
41:57
to verse 27,
41:58
right?
41:59
And we're going
41:59
to see like how,
42:00
again,
42:00
both of these
42:00
work together.
42:05
Verse 27,
42:06
to them God
42:06
chose to make known
42:08
how great among
42:08
the Gentiles
42:09
are the riches
42:10
of the glory
42:11
of this mystery,
42:13
which is Christ
42:14
in you,
42:16
the hope of glory.
42:17
All right?
42:18
That's the message.
42:19
And here's what
42:20
Paul says.
42:21
Him we proclaim,
42:22
warning everyone,
42:24
teaching everyone
42:24
with all wisdom
42:26
that we may present
42:27
everyone mature
42:28
in Christ.
42:30
For this I toil,
42:31
struggling.
42:32
See that?
42:32
I'm toiling,
42:33
I'm fighting.
42:34
He actually uses
42:35
the word agonize
42:37
in lots of his letters.
42:39
He is like toiling,
42:41
fighting,
42:41
struggling.
42:42
Then it says this,
42:43
with all his energy
42:44
that he powerfully
42:46
works within me.
42:48
What?
42:49
You know?
42:49
So like,
42:50
as we step out
42:51
and are active,
42:52
being proactive,
42:52
being obedient,
42:53
God gives us
42:54
the strength we need
42:55
to endure.
42:57
All right?
42:58
So,
42:59
kind of wrapping this up.
43:00
We got started
43:01
a little late tonight,
43:02
but I apologize
43:03
for that.
43:05
Number five,
43:06
the last one.
43:08
And this is
43:09
the encouraging part.
43:10
God will finish,
43:12
you might feel like
43:13
you're never going to ride,
43:13
but God will finish
43:14
what he started in us.
43:16
God will finish
43:17
what he started in us.
43:19
Right?
43:20
So one of the greatest
43:21
heartaches in the Christian life
43:23
is like the slowness
43:24
of our change.
43:26
We like,
43:27
it's so slow.
43:28
Personally,
43:29
I get very discouraged
43:31
at how slow I change
43:33
and are black thereof
43:36
of change
43:36
in my life at times.
43:38
I get very discouraged.
43:40
I'm not seeing
43:41
a lot of spiritual growth
43:43
during certain seasons
43:43
in my life
43:44
and I can be very hard
43:46
on myself.
43:46
I really long
43:47
to love God
43:49
with all my heart
43:49
and all my mind.
43:52
Right?
43:53
I want to love him
43:54
fiercely.
43:55
I want my whole life
43:56
to be consumed by him.
43:57
I want that.
43:58
I know that
43:59
that's what most of you
44:00
want too.
44:01
But then you find yourself
44:02
just slipping back
44:03
into a reoccurring
44:05
state in your life
44:05
and you get discouraged
44:06
and dang it,
44:08
you just want to quit.
44:09
I know the feeling
44:10
and I know I'm not alone here.
44:15
So,
44:16
if you feel like that sometimes,
44:19
be encouraged
44:20
because,
44:22
unlike us,
44:23
who start a lot of things
44:25
and don't finish them,
44:26
right,
44:27
God never does that.
44:29
Whatever he starts,
44:30
he always finishes.
44:31
He always brings you
44:32
completion.
44:34
Right?
44:35
So,
44:35
our destiny,
44:37
one day,
44:38
is to be one day
44:39
like completely holy,
44:41
sinless,
44:41
perfect before God.
44:42
That's where he's going
44:43
to take us.
44:44
I think in three weeks,
44:46
something like that,
44:47
four weeks,
44:48
we're going to talk about
44:49
the doctrine of like
44:50
glorification,
44:51
which is basically
44:52
being perfect
44:53
and being with the Lord
44:54
in eternity.
44:56
And he's going
44:57
to take us there.
44:58
Philippians 1.6
44:59
says this.
45:01
Most of you
45:01
have heard this verse.
45:02
Philippians 1.6
45:03
I am sure of this,
45:06
sure of this,
45:07
that he who began
45:09
a good work in you
45:09
will bring it
45:11
to completion
45:11
at the day
45:13
of Jesus Christ.
45:15
He will complete it.
45:17
So,
45:17
true,
45:17
genuine believers,
45:19
right,
45:20
who have experienced
45:21
God's saving power
45:22
and have the confidence
45:23
that one day
45:24
the work that God
45:25
started right now
45:26
is going to be completed.
45:28
It's going to be finished.
45:29
He will complete it.
45:31
Another man
45:32
discouraged about
45:32
the slowness of his change,
45:34
kind of like I can be,
45:36
and maybe like most of you,
45:38
hopefully,
45:38
that you grieve over your sin,
45:40
the sin of your life,
45:42
was John Newton,
45:44
former slave trader
45:47
and brigand
45:48
and drunk
45:49
and brawler
45:50
who became a believer
45:50
and completely had a life change,
45:53
completely was devoted to
45:55
to Christ
45:56
and actually helped
45:57
bring down the slave trade
45:58
in the British Empire
45:59
years later.
46:01
But he said
46:02
in that hymn,
46:02
Amazing Grace,
46:03
it was grace that taught
46:04
my heart to fear
46:05
and grace my fears relieved.
46:08
How precious did
46:09
that grace appear
46:10
the hour I first believed.
46:12
Right?
46:13
And what he says
46:14
right here,
46:15
a very cool statement.
46:16
He says,
46:17
I am not what I ought to be.
46:19
I am not what I want to be.
46:22
I am not what I hope
46:23
to be in another world.
46:25
But still,
46:27
I am not what I used to be.
46:30
And by the grace of God,
46:31
I am what I am.
46:33
Pick that up like,
46:34
I'm not where I want to be.
46:36
The one encouraging thought
46:37
is I'm not who I used to be.
46:39
Right?
46:39
And by God's grace,
46:40
I am what I am.
46:41
Very powerful.
46:43
So,
46:43
we'll close with this text.
46:44
Let's look at
46:45
1 Thessalonians 5.
46:46
Just to kind of wrap this up.
46:52
1 Thessalonians 5.
46:53
Just showing you
46:54
another verse here.
46:57
Verse 23.
47:05
And this is kind of a prayer
47:07
of Paul.
47:09
And he would pray it
47:09
for us too.
47:11
He says this.
47:13
Verse 23.
47:15
Now may the God
47:15
of peace Himself
47:16
sanctify you completely
47:19
and may your whole spirit
47:21
and soul and body
47:22
be kept blameless
47:23
at the coming
47:24
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
47:27
Right?
47:28
He who calls you
47:29
is faithful
47:30
and surely He will do it.
47:32
See that?
47:33
He's going to do it.
47:35
He's going to bring us
47:36
to completion.
47:37
Holy and blameless.
47:38
And it's going to be
47:39
God's power.
47:39
He will do it.
47:41
So let's pray together.
47:42
Let's pray together.