Chapter Five

Separation to Truth

Sanctification

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: 1 Thess 4:3 NKJV (italics mine).

We all need sanctification. Salvation (the cleansing from past sins) and adoption into the family of God, is an event that occurs when our relationship with the Lord is established. Sanctification is the process of dying out to self and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring our heart and will into submission to the will of God.

We see this principle illustrated in the laws concerning the priesthood who served in the Tabernacle. When the priest was ordained he was bathed and dressed by others prior to beginning his ministry. Thereafter he was required to wash his hands and feet each time prior to entering the Tabernacle. The ceremonial bathing of the ordination was symbolic of the cleansing by Jesus blood at redemption. The washing of the hands and feet symbolized the continuing process of purging ourselves of; character flaws, the influence of our environment, and our occasional sins and failures. In this process we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, wrestle with our human nature to apply God’s word to our lives day to day.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! Rom 7:21-25; NIV

(italics mine).

The Process

Sanctification is the agonizingly slow and painful process of crucifying the sinful nature that dwells in us all:

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Gal 5:24; NIV

(italics mine).

Jesus said to Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus:

I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' Acts 26:17-18; NIV (italics mine).

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thess 4:3-8; NIV (italics mine).

For most of us the process spans many years and involves a spiritual struggle with the selfish desires of the flesh that is often discouraging, never easy and sometimes may even seem desperate. It is portrayed by Paul as crucifying our fleshly desires because it often resembles the slow agonizing death on the cross. The selfish will of our flesh does not give up easily. Our willfulness, old habits and natural desires do not die quickly or quietly. We must hide the word of God in our hearts, pray and fast asking God to give us love and faith sufficient for obedience.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Rom 6:1-7 NIV (italics mine).

Far too few, who call themselves Christians, really study God’s word on a daily basis and apply it to their daily lives. How can we claim to love God when we will not read his love letter to us, obey his commands or tell our friends and neighbors about him?

The God Sized Hole

God created man. We’re not some accident of nature. We did not simply materialize from nothing. Since nothing is ever created without a purpose, God must have had a purpose in mind for us. Scripture tells us that God created us for love. He loves us and he wants us to love him and love each other.

It has been said that God created mankind with a God sized hole in our hearts. This is a reference to the empty feeling of longing for something more that everyone feels at some time in their life. Our problem is that we keep trying to fill the hole with things like; money, power, pleasure, thrills, the occult, etc. These things will not work. They may seem to fill the empty space for a while but they do not work for long. That is why some who seem to “have it all” really don’t. God intended for us to fill that hole with his Holy Spirit. That is why so many who seem to have everything are so desperately unhappy and tragically unfulfilled.

If we truly want to live our lives fully we must come to terms with what is required to give us peace and a sense of fulfillment. We cannot find what is required until we are willing to accept truth. God doesn’t condemn us for our mistakes and failures but like any good father he does require that we face up to them and take necessary steps so that we don’t continue in them.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:18-21; NIV

(italics mine).

Scripture tells us that Jesus said:

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:16-18; NIV.

Until we are willing to accept the gift that God has given, that is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we cannot start the walk on the path that will lead us to peace and fulfillment. Those who have already accepted Jesus as Savior need to seriously study God’s word on a regular basis and apply it to their lives so they can continue on the path to sanctification in order to fully enjoy the fruits of peace and fulfillment.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23; NIV (italics mine).

As we build a close relationship with our heavenly father we reap the benefit of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Our adoption into God’s family and the building of close relationships within the family is the key to living fully in this or any age. Building a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t guarantee that we will never experience pain, loss, fear or disappointment. It only guarantees that we will not have to face them alone. A relationship with God is what we were created for.

Perseverance Necessary for Success

Finally, we need to discuss the issue of assuring that we do not lose the prize before us. Some teach that there is no way to lose salvation. While I certainly agree that salvation is not lost easily since God will pursue his own relentlessly, scripture does teach that it is possible to lose it.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cor 9:24-27; NIV (italics mine).

Again, I must emphasize that this is not referring to a believer committing some inadvertant sin or even some more aggregious offense at some point. God does not so easily give up on us.

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. 1 John 5:16-17; NIV (italics mine).

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:26-31; NIV (italics mine).

Because we need to be certain of attaining the prize before us we must persevere in our quest. I do not mean to imply here that we, in any way, earn or even retain our redemption in our own strength. On the contrary, it is all the work of the Lord. Nevertheless, we can resist the will of the Lord or we can yield to it because God has given us free will. If we persist in resisting the will of God we can become hardened and ultimately God will allow us to go our own way.

This is true of the unbeliever but also of the believer who persists in living a life of sin. We need to yield to the Lord and pray incessantly that he, by his Holy Spirit, give us the love, faith, strength, and a spirit of obedience to submit to his will and remain faithful through all tests and trials to our last breath.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matt 5:13; NIV (italics mine).

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while,

"He who is coming will come and will not delay.

38 But my righteous one will live by faith.

And if he shrinks back,

I will not be pleased with him." Heb. 10:36-38; NIV (italics mine).

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Heb 6:4-6; NIV (italics mine).

Notice this is referring to falling away. It is my belief that this is not referring to someone who truly believes in Jesus but commits some sin, then feels guilt. It is my belief that this refers to the one who, in lack faith, has fallen to the point they no longer feel guilty about sinning. If feelings of guilt are there and if the Holy Spirit is still tugging at the heart strings THERE IS STILL HOPE no matter how desperate the situation seems. GOD IS ALWAYS ABLE ---- but we must ask.

Some teach that if your life and doctrine are not perfectly in line with their views you are a lost cause. They need to read the following passage.

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss ; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Cor 3:12-15; NIV

(italics mine).

Now I don’t want to approach the Lord with a life built of wood or straw and I trust you don’t either so we need to study, pray and persevere.

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience , and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Col 1:10-12 NIV

(italics mine).

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2 NIV (italics mine).

If Jesus could endure the cross for the sake of our salvation surely, with God’s help, we can endure the life he sets before us.

Consider the message of the Lord to the church at Philadelphia:

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. Rev 3:10-12; NKJV (italics mine).

And Paul’s comments in his letter to the thessalonians:

They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thess 1:9-10; NIV

(italics mine).

We can see then that we need to yield to the Lord Jesus Christ and accept his gift of redemption by confessing our sin and acknowledging that he died on the cross for our sin, rose from the grave on the third day, and he is now seated on Heaven’s throne to intercede on our behalf. We must do this in faith believing that he cares for us.

We need to live in faith, genuine faith, that manifests itself in the fruits of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and self-control. These fruits of the Spirit will generate good works that demonstrate our love for him and for others. To accomplish this we need to, study (not just read) scripture and pray constantly that God will open our minds and hearts to understand and apply those scriptures in our lives and so they can help us to obey his commands. We must live lives that reflect the character of Jesus.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,

"Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from deceitful speech.

11 He must turn from evil and do good;

he must seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

1 Peter 3:8-12; NIV (italics mine).

Finally, we need to seek the Lord’s help to persevere in our faith and obedience to the end, we cannot do it on our own. In this pursuit we will build a loving relationship with the Lord, with our families and with our brothers and sisters in God’s family. We will also, in the process, find the joy, peace and fulfillment that our souls long for because we will live our lives fully the way God intended. May your faith in the Lord lead you to --

The Beginning

Of Real Life