Sanctification / Christian Growth
The foundation of all our growth is Jesus Christ, the gospel of His life, death, and resurrection. The empowerment to live holy is Christ in us through faith in the love and goodness of God. If we do not have a firm foundation in who God is, then our growth will suffer, and we will fall victim to sin and doubt. If we do not correctly understand our identity as sons of Adam and sons of God, made in the image of God with value and worth, we will also struggle in our pursuit of godliness. Faith, hope, and love are the three great virtues whereby we press on into maturity in Christ and overcome the world (1 Cor 13; 1 Jn 5:4; Eph 6). By aligning our heart, mind, and will to the heart, mind, and will of Jesus, we transcend from one level of glory to another and become more acquainted and united to the nature of God, fulfilling Jesus' High Priestly Prayer (Jn 17:20-23; 2 Cor 3:18). We walk after the footsteps of Jesus, living the cross-life of denying ourselves and crucifying the sinful passions until they are put to death and rise no more. We do this with and by faith to enter into God's rest and spiritual maturity (Heb 3-4; 1 Cor 10). Jesus tells us that He is the Vine and we are the branches; apart from Him we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). Sanctification then is God working in us and through us to produce fruit as we stay close and connected to the life of Jesus and willingly choose to obey Him (Phil 2:13; Gal 2:20). His life is infused to us so that we become more like Him and live for Him so that our faith works through love (Gal 5:6). The ultimate goal of the Christian life here on this earth is not sinlessness, piety, or sanctification but a deeper knowledge, love, and relationship with God which flows out in service to Him and has fellowship with His people, which are His body (Jn 17:3; Phil 3; Ro 12:4-5; 1 Cor 12). Loving God and loving people is more important than inward or outward piety (1 Cor 13). The motive for our growth is to please God and glorify His name through our love and light, though we believe we are already fully loved by Him. We continue to pursue Him because we love Him, and we continue to persevere in the faith so that we may finish well and enter into the eternal kingdom of God to be with Jesus face to face and receive the fullness of our rewards.
Immanence & Transcendence in Church Culture
Romans 7 is Not What You Think
Part 1: Foundational Concepts of Sanctification
Part 2: Wesleyan Sanctification
Part 3: Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians
Part 4: 1 John: The State of The Church & Commentary
Part 5: Pentecostal Sanctification