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Opened with 1 Peter 1:1-2:3
Reviewed previous lecture
2 Cor. 5:14-15 (ESV) For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; [15] and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
-could be said to be theme verses for this series of talks
-dangerous ways to seek to be Holy are any way that tries to do it on ones own
-by ones own strength
-so what are the means of our sanctification?
-what are the things God uses to sanctify us
-simple answer is, “Everything”
-Jesus sanctifies you
-and all things are under his authority
-his will is our sanctification
-so everything in this world is used to sanctify us
-but there are specific means that are especially used by God to sanctify us
-today deal with the individual aspects of sanctification
-”Be Holy, For I am holy” is challenge to each and every believer
-individuals must be holy is corporate body is to be holy
-but individuals cannot be holy outside of body
Concept that will tie together everything.
The healthiest way to think about sanctification as individuals is by constantly reminding yourself that we are being made holy as children of God.
-adoption is in a real sense the flip side of justification
-the judge declares you righteous through faith alone, in Christ alone
-Not Guilty!
-and the father takes those pardoned criminals and takes them into his home and adopts them as his own – ADOPTION
Ephes. 1:5-8 (ESV) he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
John 1:12-13 (ESV) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
-as children of God
-we are totally dependent on God
-just as a baby is completely dependent on its parents
-child has nothing to offer
-child lovingly, trustingly, dependently rest on the good of your Father in heaven
Biblical proof showing the truth that will sanctify.
-proof of this in Scripture
2 Cor. 6:11-7:1 (ESV) We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. [12] You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. [13] In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. [14] Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? [15] What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? [16] What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
"I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people. [17]
Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you, [18]
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty."
[7:1] Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
-the question is who do you want
-what do you want
-the passing things this world offers
-or God himself
-when one leaves the things of this world
-they are received, welcomed by God
-as a child
1 Peter 1:13-19 (ESV) Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." [17] And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, [18] knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
1 Peter 1:23 (ESV) since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
1 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV) So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. [2] Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation— [3] if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
-notice the children language
-and its connection to holiness
Ephes. 5:1 (ESV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
-can I say that I am a beloved child of God
-especially in light of the sin I keep falling into
-but here “beloved children”
-more grieved when children think they don't have to
-or shouldn't come to ask forgiveness
-than when they come asking for forgiveness
Philip. 2:12-16 (ESV) 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. [14] Do all things without grumbling or questioning, [15] that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, [16] holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
-that we might shine as the children of God we are
The practical outworking of this process.
-ASIDE – those who have no father (single parent or divorced)
-have undue attaction to the things of the world
-like lost of centre of gravity
-Shishco tells them to regard him as their parents in the Lord
-even to point of meeting those who want to date them
-/ASIDE
-practical outworking
a) Sactification takes place in a home not a court room
-don't live in a court room for our sanctification
-so wrong to take approach of Lord I have sinned and your are going to punish me
-one way or another
-verdict has been given in the courtroom in Christ
-now you are in a home if you believe
-if a stranger throws a brick through your window
-you call the police to deal with it
-but if your son throws a brick through your window
-you don't call the police
-you call your son into the house and deal with it as a parent
-because he is your son
-it might hurt more than what the police will do to the stranger
-but it will be as a child to bring him to be formed into a better person
Psalm 103:13-14 (ESV)
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. [14]
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
-God treats us not as strangers
-but as his children
-and he knows our weakness
-and what we really need
-in a home as a Father
-not in the courtroom as a judge
-God never judges his children
-Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
b) Involves discipline not judgement
Hebrews 12:5-11 (ESV) And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him. [6]
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
[7] It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? [8] If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. [9] Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? [10] For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. [11] For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
-sanctification includes discipline
-discipline is to make disciples
-law in that setting becomes the house rules for those in Christ
Sanctification will bring the experience of our Father's displeasure but not his wrath
Romans 7:15-25 (ESV) I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [16] Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. [17] So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
-fatherly displeasure
-but will not abandon love to them
-or wrath of judgment
Sanctification is with your elder Brother as your model
-you are not alone in this
-Jesus is your elder brother
-it is to his image that you are being conformed to
Romans 8:29 (ESV) 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.
Hebrews 2:10-11 (ESV) For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. [11] For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
-Jesus not ashamed to call you his brother
Hebrews 2:12-13 (ESV) saying,
"I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."
-he does it in the church
-in the midst of worship of the people of God
-praising God with God's people
[13] And again,
"I will put my trust in him."
And again,
"Behold, I and the children God has given me."
-all is in context of worship
-and assembly on the Lord's day
-Jesus and the children with him
Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV) Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. [16] For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. [17] Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [18] For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
-like an older brother
-he helps those who are struggling
-takes them aside and tells them he knows what they are struggling with
-and helps you and I in it
-with him as our elder brother we are not alone
-sanctification begins in our homes in repentence, asking for forgiveness for specific sins, and giving it.
-parents, have you ever asked your children to forgive you for something
-if not, how do you ever expect them to realize they are sinners who need forgiveness
-it is the constant asking of forgiveness and the giving of forgiveness is the nursery of sanctification
-this is where sanctification practically starts in our homes
-patterned in what we do before God
-forgiveness is a promise to not bring this up with others, against the person forgiven, or to God
-by the grace of God
-God is not there to condemn you if you are a believer
-if you don't realize that
-you probably don't know Christ
-and better check to see if you are in the faith
Dangers in these individual aspects of sanctification. For even the right things can be made dangerous.
-danger of substituting individualism in our sanctification for individual responsibility in our sanctification
-mean meet people who say only need Jesus, bible and journal
-don't think they need church
-just Jesus and me
-that is found no place in the word of God
-sanctification is not an individual enterprise
-we can be very holy when we are all alone
-until phone rings, or children start screaming at us
-that is when holiness becomes hard
-inherent in sanctification is the church
-do you love Jesus above all else?
-Paul – If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus let him be accursed
1 John 3:1-3 (ESV) See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we will be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
-do you see yourselves as children of God
-royal manners for royal children (supposedly from queen to he children)
1 comments:
Yes, it's easy to think we are holy, sanctified and spiritual, until we have children. Then we have these little people pushing at us according to their wants, demands and timetable. Husbands and wives tend to cut each other some slack when we're struggling, but children keep right after us. On the other hand, having had some children it's clear why this is a requirement for an Elder. Having children helps us to grow spiritually. It helps us to deal gently with those whom we might have looked down on before we had kids. And training and disciplining children also helps with some of the personalities we are likely to encounter in the church!
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