The Examination of Sanctification

transcript

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also

justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Rom. 8:29-30

Foundationsof the Earth

SalvationEternity

SalvationEternitybirth

Conversion (rebirth)

Death or Christ’s return

Foreknew/Predestined

calledForeknew/Predestined

Justified

Sanctified

Justified

Religion: Trying to be sanctifiedwithout being justified

Salvation

GraceEternitybirth

Sanctified

Justified

called

Salvation

GraceEternitybirth

Sanctified

Glorified

Justified

called

SalvationfaithGrace

EternitybirthConversion

(rebirth)

Sanctified

Glorified

Justified

called

Accomplished

”… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling … ”

Phil. 2:12

Salvation is a process

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Rom. 6:4

Conversion: The end of one life, the beginning of another

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification …”

1 Thes. 4:3a

What’s next?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Eph. 6:12

Entering the battle

Sanctification Two parts: Mortification and Vivification

• Mortification is the putting to death those things which rob us of our affections for Christ.

• Vivification is the filling of ourselves with those things which stir our affections for Him.Example: Gardening, pulling weeds and sowing seeds.

They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,Saying, 'Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.

Jer. 6:14

Mow over

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Gen. 3:7

Cover up

Step 4: We made a searching and fearless moral

inventory of ourselves.

“Let us examine and test our ways, and let us return to the Lord.”

Lam. 3:40

“ …these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

2 Cor. 2:10-11

The Holy Spirit reveals

Fearless?

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Heb. 10:31

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

Mark 7:21-22

Want to look deeper than moral symptoms

to what is reigning and ruling the heart

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

1 Sam. 16:7

The Lord sees your heart

Balanced Inventory

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—

unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

1 Cor. 15:1-5

Of first importance

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Gal. 3:1-3

Be careful not to…

Learning to war against accusation

But God…

Redeeming Truth of Step Four

Now armed with the Spirit of God and in full view of the gospel, we engage in the spiritual battle over reign and rule of our hearts. We have been set apart for holiness and look to put to death those areas of ourselves that keep us from living out the greatest command and reflecting the radiance of Christ to a dark and dying world. We want to look much deeper than moral symptoms and identify the root issues of our hearts, namely pride and various forms of idolatry that drive ungodly thoughts, actions and emotions.

Active vs. Passive Heart Model

Passive Heart Model

What the world subscribes to: man’s wisdom.

a. My joy and contentment are dependent on others and my circumstances

example: advertising

Passive Heart Model

example: advertisingb. What will I seek to change?

Passive Heart Model

Situation/Circumstance

Response

Passive Heart Model

Response

example: advertisingb. What will I seek to change?c. Therefore, I am not responsible for what is coming out of

me (attitudes and actions) – I am a victim! (of my family of origin, my circumstances and others.

Passive Heart Model

Society

Family

Passive Heart: Determined by outside influences

No culpability

Society

Family

Nurture or Nature? Am I a product of my environment?

Society

Family

Body Sin/Self-ruleOr

Christ and His rule

Affected, but not determined. Ultimately, I am determined by what reigns and rules

in my heart.

Society

Family

Heart is an active agent, which

produces fruit – for this I am

responsible

Without Christ, the sin to which we are exposed as a result of a fallen world will defeat us because we cannot defeat it ourselves. But in Christ, we may be affected by world around us, but it does not determine us – we will rise.

Active Heart Model

What the Bible subscribes to: God’s wisdom.

a. My joy and contentment are dependent on a right vertical relationship with God (Gal. 5:22-23).

Active Heart Model

b. What will I seek to be changed?

Active Heart Model

Response

b. What will I seek to be changed?c. I am responsible (Matt. 15:19-20) – I am not a victim

(Rom. 8:37-39).

Active Heart Model

b. What will I seek to be changed?c. I am responsible (Matt. 15:19-20) – I am not a victim

(Rom. 8:37-39).

Active Heart Model

Passive Heart vs. Active Heart Statements

When I stand before God, I must take responsibility for my affections, attitudes, thoughts, motivations and actions. Without taking responsibility, I can’t repent or grow.

Example: Danger of labels if used incorrectly

Society

Family

Affected, but not determined. Ultimately, I am determined by what reigns and rules

in my heart.

Sin/Self-ruleOr

Christ and His rule

Examples:1. JESUS2. Jeremiah 17:7-83. Habakkuk 3:17-

194. Philippians 4:11-

The Examination of Sanctification

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