He will do it

Have you ever thought to yourself “if I am a Christian, why do I still struggle with sin?” Even this last week I had similar thoughts after I unfairly disciplined my four year old, having reacted to her out of my frustration and anger, instead of out of my love for her.

This thought of “why do I keep on sinning?” is a common question amongst many Christians including the Apostle Paul. Romans 7:15 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.If all of our sins have been forgiven, and we have been made holy through the death of Jesus, why do we still struggle with sin? What is going on, how do I become more like Jesus in my everyday life? This brings us to God’s plan to make us Holy in this life, . . . . Sanctification. Sanctification: what is it, and how does it work?

Theologian Wayne Grudem defines sanctification as “a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin, and more like Christ in our actual lives.” Put simply, sanctification is the process that God uses to grow us (His Children) in holiness. If we know Jesus, then we have already been declared Holy by God through the process of Justification. Sanctification on the other hand works to make us more and more into what God has already declared us to be.

A few important things to note:

1. Sanctification is a process. Unlike when we were saved, sanctification or growth inholiness is not a once off one and done process like Justification, but is instead a lifelong process that transforms us more and more into the image and reflection of Jesus. Our growth in holiness as a Christian only comes to completion when we see Jesus, either through death, or through Jesus’ triumphant return. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.The process of sanctification is not always linear in nature. You may have incredible breakthroughs where God changes you rapidly reshaping your heart to say no to sin and yes to holiness. Other times sanctification may seem slow, you might feel as though God is changing you little by little, bit by bit. As we look back though in our lives, we should be able to see the beauty of God moulding us to reflect who he is, we should begin to see the sins that have lost their hold on us, falling to the wayside of our lives.  

2. Sanctification is in partnership with God. Unlike our salvation which is accomplished by God completely, Sanctification is brought about through God and us working together. Colossians 3:5 tells us to put sin to death, Hebrews 13:14 tells us to strive for peace and holiness, and in Phillipians chapter 2 we are called to obey (along with many other scriptures). All of the instructions above are active things that we as Christians must do or work towards. The thought of doing, or working at something in our Christian walk might make some people uncomfortable, but this is exactly what Jesus has commanded. Even though we are commanded to strive for holiness, or pursue obedience etc., we are empowered to pursue these things by Jesus through the Spirit who is helping us along the way.1 Thessalonians 5:22-23 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.As we can see in 1 Thessalonians, it is God who is Sanctifying us, saying that “he will surely do it.” What a comforting and amazing thought that God is helping us grow in godliness. We see more evidence of this in Philippians 2:12-13 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.It is God who works in us, this again is such an encouragement to me personally, that in our weakness, God is the one working within me, even when I am struggling to listen and obey, He is still at work.

3. Sanctification is both irresistible, but also able to be resisted. As sanctification is a process that we partner with God in, we have a choice to make. We can either choose to obey Jesus and help further our growth in righteousness, or we can sometimes decide to stubbornly hold on to our sin, trying to choose death over the life and freedom that Jesus gives us. Please do not try and resist God, submit yourself to Jesus, surrender to His Lordship, and allow Him to transform you. The alternative is that you can resist God, and because he loves you and is committed to your good, He will still change you, but it will most likely be a much slower and more painful process for you as a result. It will be more painful not necessarily because God is trying to hurt you, (although He may bring suffering as a form of discipline), but because the longer we pursue sin, or make a place for it in our hearts, the more damage, destruction, and pain it will bear. Sin always brings about death and carnage.

Sanctification is an amazing and beautiful outworking of our relationship with Jesus. Be encouraged that God loves us enough not just to forgive our sins, but to roll up his sleeves and dig into the messy, broken, sinfulness that is our hearts in order to change us into the image of the Firstborn of all Creation. Jesus loves us, and is committed to our growth in godliness. Glory be to God!