Good News about Christian Sanctification, part 1 of 4

Good News about
Christian Sanctification
Part 1 of 4

Sanctification and Your Relationship with God

Due to the extended length of this Bible study on Christian Sanctification, it has been divided
into sections, using four separate webpages. Since each part is essential to understanding
the subject more completely, consider downloading all four pages to obtain a
comprehensive review. Each page link follows below.

Sanctification and Your
Relationship with God,
part 1 of 4

Conversion, part 2 of 4

Sanctification in the Life,
part 3 of 4

Confidence in God,
part 4 of 4

Introduction

The previous parts in this salvation series : Good News about Faith for People
in Need and How to be Right with God, addressed two foundation stones in the
plan of salvation, and yet there is a third that shouldn't be overlooked:
sanctification in the Christian life, to prepare us to live forever with God in
His kingdom.

In this study we will examine what sanctification is, and how it affects the daily
life. Questions such as, "If salvation is a free gift, why is sanctification
necessary?" and "What role do works play in salvation's plan?", will be
considered.

Beyond this introduction, for the most part, we have left the Scriptures to address
each study section independently of any outside commentary so that the Lord can
present, through His word, the truth on this subject as He wants it to be known.

The Bible teaches that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, and the grace of God.
Through faith we receive forgiveness of sin, an opportunity to enter heaven
to live with God, and enjoy the blessings of eternal life.

Good works have nothing to do with the earning of salvation. Salvation was
purchased through Jesus' death on Calvary and is presented in the Bible as a free
gift. Any works that are done are a fruit (or result) of the new relationship we
have with God when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

It is important to understand, however, that although the gift itself is free,
it does have some conditions. Meeting the conditions doesn't earn salvation for
anyone, but reveals who truly has a living relationship with God, and is being
prepared to receive the eternal gift. Satisfying the conditions for salvation is not
the same as earning salvation.

As an example, if you were sent a check for a large amount of money to be
received as a free gift, you would still have to get the gift to a bank, or cash it,
before it could be utilized. You would also have to sign the check, and take the
money in your own hands. These would be the conditions for the gift to be
realized.

You wouldn't be earning the gift by doing these things; but fulfilling what was
necessary to make the gift completely yours. If you should fail to meet the
conditions the gift will be nothing more than writing on a piece of paper that,
one day (usually within a few months), would not be valid any longer, and would
be of no value. The gift was free, but you had to participate in meeting its
reasonable requirements.

The same is true with the plan of salvation. Jesus made the gift of eternal life
possible, but we must cooperate with Him in order for it to become reality for us.

We must accept Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord, as well as learn to love
and obey Him, and love all mankind, just as He did.

He came to save people from sin; not in their sin. So there needs to be, not only
an acceptance of the offer of the gift for eternal life, but a corresponding change
in the life also.

The Bible states that we must be born again, renewed, and transformed, before
we can live in God's presence. Sin must be overcome and put away, and our life
reveal that we truly love and serve the One who made the gift of life possible.

The problem of sin cannot be overcome without help, but God has promised to
assist us with His mighty grace and power and make us victorious at last.

The process of preparing for eternity is called sanctification. As it goes forward
in our daily life, changes are made which show that God is in us, and working
through us. He will finish successfully what He has begun if we don't hinder Him;
and when Jesus returns He will find us prepared and ready to take possession of
the promised inheritance and eternal life.

God's Desire Regarding
Sanctification

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them,
Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. Leviticus 19:2

For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves,
and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:.. Leviticus 11:44

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner
of conversation;
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15, 16

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:7

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain
from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification
and honour... 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple
of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 Corinthians 3:17

...know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in
your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

...he that built all things is God. Hebrews 3:4

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall
receive his own reward according to his own labour.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are
God's building. 1 Corinthians 3: 8, 9

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple
of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16

...teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause
them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Ezekiel 44:23

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness
and true holiness. Ephesians 4: 23, 24

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,
even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:13

... to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Colossians 1:22

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord: Hebrews 12:14

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come
before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the
beauty of holiness. Psalms 29:2

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Psalms 96:9

Sanctification and Your
Relationship with God

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of
the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of
their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find
him, though he be not far from every one of us:
For in him we live, and move, and have our being... For we are also his
offspring. Acts 17: 26 - 28

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15: 1 - 5

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:21

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself
for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Ephesians 5:1, 2

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 1 Peter 5:6-9

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will
of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that
doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 11

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 9

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts
of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will
hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with
all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11 - 13

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

*Unless otherwise noted, all verses presented
are from the King James version of the Bible

To Continue to the Next part in this study
use these links:

Sanctification and Your Relationship
with God, part 1 of 4

Conversion, part 2 of 4

Sanctification in the Life,
part 3 of 4

Confidence in God,
part 4 of 4

Other Visda studies regarding
the plan of salvation include:

Good News about Faith for People in Need

Good News about Christian Sanctification

Grace in a Barren Place

Additional World Light links can be found
by visiting the Site Menu

Visda Point Design by C. Teske
E-Mail: visdapoint@sbcglobal.net