Saints in ChristSaints in Christ

Colossians 1:1-2Colossians 1:1-2

Colossians 1:1-2Colossians 1:1-2

• Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and TimotheusGod, and Timotheus our brother, our brother,

• To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: which are at Colosse:

• Grace be unto you, and peace, Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

OutlineOutline

• SaintsSaints• FaithfulFaithful• BrethrenBrethren• Grace & PeaceGrace & Peace

NOTNOT 2 Categories 2 Categories

Vs. 2Vs. 2– Saints (and)Saints (and)• AdjectiveAdjective

– Faithful BrethrenFaithful Brethren

• Saints and Faithful describeSaints and Faithful describe Brethren Brethren

Every brother and sister in Christ Every brother and sister in Christ is a Saint.is a Saint.

What is a Saint?What is a Saint?

CommentaryCommentary

• According to F. F. Bruce,According to F. F. Bruce,

– The word “saints” marks them out as God’s The word “saints” marks them out as God’s holy people, chosen and set apart by him holy people, chosen and set apart by him for himself.for himself.– See Eph 2:19See Eph 2:19

Ephesians 2:19Ephesians 2:19

• Now therefore ye are no more strangers and Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, foreigners,

• but fellow citizens with the saints, but fellow citizens with the saints, • and of the household of God;and of the household of God;

CommentaryCommentary

• The term “saints” conveyed the idea of The term “saints” conveyed the idea of separation and holiness expected in the OT separation and holiness expected in the OT (Num 23:9) and included (Num 23:9) and included the righteousness the righteousness already imputed to these believers because of already imputed to these believers because of the work of Christ on their behalf.the work of Christ on their behalf.

New American CommentaryNew American Commentary

SanctificationSanctification

• Theologically, we call the work of God by Theologically, we call the work of God by

which He makes us holy which He makes us holy sanctificationsanctification..

• SanctifySanctify– Set Apart for Holy ServiceSet Apart for Holy Service

In the LatinIn the Latin

• Sanctify means “to make holy” Sanctify means “to make holy” – from two Latin wordsfrom two Latin words• Sanctus = HolySanctus = Holy• Facere = to MakeFacere = to Make

1 Thessalonians 4:31 Thessalonians 4:3

• For this is the will of God, For this is the will of God, – [even] your [even] your sanctificationsanctification

Set Apart for Holy ServiceSet Apart for Holy Service

SanctificationSanctification

Positional Practical(which is)

Decisive(which is)

Progressive

The RealityThe Reality

• All those who are born-again are saints All those who are born-again are saints in a in a positionalpositional sense but may not be sense but may not be saints in a saints in a practicalpractical sense. sense.

SaintSaint• Set ApartSet Apart•Make HolyMake Holy

John 17:17John 17:17

• Jesus prayed to the Father that He would:Jesus prayed to the Father that He would:

–SanctifySanctify them [His disciples] through thy them [His disciples] through thy truth: thy word is truth.truth: thy word is truth.

How is one sanctified?How is one sanctified?

Or, how does one receive the sanctification Or, how does one receive the sanctification that Christ obtained on the cross?that Christ obtained on the cross?

Turn in Your BiblesTurn in Your Bibles

Acts 26:12-18Acts 26:12-18

Positional SanctificationPositional Sanctification

• Acts 26:18 Acts 26:18 – To open their eyes, and to turn them from To open their eyes, and to turn them from

darkness to light, and from the power of darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.me.

Positional SanctificationPositional Sanctification

• God’s Grace positions the believer “among God’s Grace positions the believer “among them which are sanctified.”them which are sanctified.”

What is grace?

GraceGrace

• Grace is God’s unconditional goodwill toward Grace is God’s unconditional goodwill toward men and women which is decisively expressed men and women which is decisively expressed in the in the saving work of Christ saving work of Christ (F.F. Bruce). (F.F. Bruce).

This is why faith must be in the person and work of

Christ.

Positional SanctificationPositional Sanctification

• God’s Grace positions the believer “among God’s Grace positions the believer “among them which are sanctified.”them which are sanctified.”

• This happens when you are born-again and This happens when you are born-again and adopted into the family of God.adopted into the family of God.

• Thus, Paul addresses them as “brothers and Thus, Paul addresses them as “brothers and sisters in Christ.”sisters in Christ.”

Future

Eternity Past

Present Life

SanctificationSanctification

God has already set believers apart in Christ

In the present, humans decisively make this a reality

by grace through faith in Christ.

God Finishes

His Work

Believers Believers cancan have positional have positional sanctification without a practical sanctification without a practical

application of that application of that sanctification, but not without sanctification, but not without

chastisement.chastisement.

For ExampleFor Example

• 1 Corinthians 1:2 1 Corinthians 1:2 –Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth,

to them that are sanctified in Christ to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saintsJesus, called to be saints, with all that in , with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Colossians 1:2Colossians 1:2

• To the saints and To the saints and faithfulfaithful brethren in Christ brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: which are at Colosse:

• GraceGrace be unto you, and peace, from God our be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Practical SanctificationPractical Sanctification

• Positional Sanctification is a decisive work of Positional Sanctification is a decisive work of God’s Grace.God’s Grace.

• Whereas, practical sanctification involves Whereas, practical sanctification involves man’s responsible participationman’s responsible participation..

Faithful Describes Man’s Responsible Participation

ProgressiveProgressive

• Galatians 4:19 Galatians 4:19 –My little children, of whom I travail in birth My little children, of whom I travail in birth

again until Christ again until Christ be formed in yoube formed in you,,

Practical SanctificationPractical Sanctification

• ““Faithful” involves:Faithful” involves:– Separation from the sinful practices of the Separation from the sinful practices of the

present world.present world.– Consecration to God’s service.Consecration to God’s service.– Formation of Christ-like actions and Formation of Christ-like actions and

attitudes.attitudes.

11stst Century Pharisees would Century Pharisees would walk with their eyes toward the walk with their eyes toward the ground to avoid the sins caused ground to avoid the sins caused

by the eyes.by the eyes.

This overreaction lead to a This overreaction lead to a challenge to open their eyes and challenge to open their eyes and

see the needs around them.see the needs around them.

Commission vs. OmissionCommission vs. Omission

Progressive Practical Progressive Practical

• SanctificationSanctification–Manifests itself in becoming more and Manifests itself in becoming more and

more of a fully-functioning follower of more of a fully-functioning follower of Christ.Christ.

• It is NOT obeying a laundry list of do’s and It is NOT obeying a laundry list of do’s and don’ts don’ts

1) Worship1) Worship 2) Word of God2) Word of God

3) Good Work3) Good Work 4) Witness4) Witness

Christ’s Work of SanctificationChrist’s Work of Sanctification

Makes PEACE with God PossibleMakes PEACE with God Possible

BelieversBelievers

• Believers who have been and are being Believers who have been and are being sanctified by God do not experience His sanctified by God do not experience His wrath; instead, God disciplines and chastises wrath; instead, God disciplines and chastises them like the perfect parent.them like the perfect parent.

• The only time I am not at peace is when I am The only time I am not at peace is when I am ignoring the Holy Spirit.ignoring the Holy Spirit.

The First StepThe First Step

• Practical sanctification always begins with this Practical sanctification always begins with this question:question:

• Acts 9:6Acts 9:6– Lord what wilt thou have me to do?Lord what wilt thou have me to do?

The best evidence of true salvation is The best evidence of true salvation is not having raised a hand or prayed a not having raised a hand or prayed a

prayer or having been baptized. prayer or having been baptized. Instead, the true test of an authentic Instead, the true test of an authentic

work of God in one’s life is work of God in one’s life is sanctification as God continues the sanctification as God continues the moral transformation he began in moral transformation he began in

regeneration.regeneration.