Posts Tagged ‘Sanctification’
Union with Christ Breaks the Power of Sin
Romans 5:12–21 describes an amazing reality for believers. We were once sinners in Adam, under the reign of sin and death. Now, however, we have received the grace of God and free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ. We have been declared righteous by God, and grace reigns over us, leading to eternal life through…
Read MoreThe Significance of the Olive Tree in the Bible:
Lessons for Spiritual Growth The Bible is replete with symbols and metaphors that convey profound spiritual truths, a few of which are various kinds of trees.1 One of these is the olive tree. The olive tree stands as a significant symbol in the Old Testament (mentioned over fifty times) and is first seen when the…
Read MoreWhat Is Sanctification?
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 The Bible tells us that sanctification is God’s will for our lives and soul (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Sanctification is the process of becoming more…
Read MoreThe Fundamentals of Sanctification and Cultural Fundamentalism
Previously, I posted a piece called, “The Fundamentals of Sanctification.” The basic proposition of that article is that the Bible gives us a fundamental understanding of sanctification: sanctification means putting off the old man and putting on the new man, it means separating from the world and clinging to God, it means rejecting the old…
Read MoreThe Fundamentals of Sanctification
Why is it that conservative, Bible-believing churches will have similar stands on cultural expressions and social behaviour? No two churches are exactly alike, but if churches hold a high view of the Bible, emphasize obeying the Scriptures, seek to preach what the Bible says, and so on, they will tend to hold to similar “standards,”…
Read MoreImmaturity in American Evangelical Churches
Has it struck you in recent years that there seems to be a growing trend of spiritual immaturity in churches today? I know that is a rather broad-brush stroke, but I just want to pose this idea for consideration from a few angles. Immature Beliefs Consider the various views about God: God is the “big…
Read MoreWhat Is Sanctification?
While working on a sermon covering Philippians 2:12-13, I found question 38 of the Baptist Catechism quite helpful. BAPTIST CATECHISM AND SANCTIFICATION [On catechism’s, see PostScript below.] I used question 38 of the Baptist catechism in my message: “Q. 38: What is sanctification? A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are…
Read MoreThe Process of Sanctification
Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ in our conduct and character. The objective of this pursuit of moral integrity is to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:15, 16). There is a great deal of debate over how sanctification occurs, however. To determine the Biblical truth, we need to answer…
Read MoreThree Views of Sanctification
My first regular preaching ministry was in a little southern Minnesota country chapel. The ministry was about seventy years old when as a junior in Bible college I began preaching there. The only other gospel preaching church within at least fifteen miles was a small Wesleyan Church. With no experience in the ministry, I was…
Read MoreSanctified by the Truth of God
In John 17, we hear how Jesus prayed to the Father on the night of his betrayal and arrest. As we listen, we learn that he didn’t pray very much for himself. Instead, he prayed for the glory and purposes of God to be accomplished through his suffering. In addition to this, he prayed intently…
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