Sanctification

3.Sanctification.

In the third part of this mini series I am doing we will be looking at the sanctification of a believer.

The believer, after being justified at the moment of salvation instantly begins another process in his life. This is the process of  sanctification. Sanctification is a life-long process in which day by day, a believer grows more into the image of his Saviour Jesus Christ. His heart is tender towards the Word of God and he is a new man. Sanctification is complete when a believer enters heaven and sees Jesus. 1 John 3:2, - "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."

Although we become more and more like Jesus Christ, it is no easy task. We have God's Spirit dwelling in us and He is a constant help against the battle with sin. (1 Corinthians 3:16) But just as the Holy Spirit dwells in us, our sinful flesh fights against the Spirit.  In the book of Galatians, Paul lays out how the spirit and the flesh relate to one and other. Galatians 5:17 says, "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." Although the believer still sins, he is no longer under the power of sin.

Our flesh is like a snake with its head chopped off. When you chop off the snakes head, you have effectively killed the snake. But, even though the snake is dead, its natural, responses are not. A snake with its head chopped off can and will still bite you if you get close enough to its head! This is just like our sin. Although sin no longer reigns in us and we are dead to sin, we still can and do sin. The flesh has been conquered but it still bites! This is why as Christians we must be diligent to study the scriptures so we may distinguish between that which is good and evil.

Since we still fight against the daily temptations of sin, God has provided for us the ability to have victory over sin. Although sin will never be eradicated from us on this earth, we can still fight against it. The renewing of our minds with the word of God is the chief way for us to fight sin. Romans 12:2 says, - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." The only way for us as believers to know what God's will is, is to go to His word and study how He desires us to live.

The process of sanctification is a battle! A battle against our sinful flesh and our desire to please ourselves. This process is life-long and life changing! Day by day, moment by moment we are becoming more and more like our Saviour Jesus Christ. He is the one who purchased us, by His death on the cross of Calvary. He is the one to whom we will go to see when we leave this earth. And we will become like Him when we see Him face to face. What a glorious day that will be!
      
Blessings,
       Lucas C.