Sanctification

I am attending Foundations class at Powerhouse Church. These notes (as well as the Loyalty post) are what I have learned in this teaching. I hope that you can learn from them as well. I've been told that we need to share everything that we learn because many believers don't get this kind of meat.
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Sanctification is
• for believers only
• GROWTH

If salvation is rebirth, then sanctification is growth. Only healthy things grow.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 ~ God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 ~ God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

1. God’s will is for me to be sanctified- as long as I am a believer.
2. If I reject the Truth, then my argument is with God.
3. The Holy Spirit is our greatest helper for sanctification.

Sanctification is the process of believers becoming holy, like Jesus. Sanctification is for God’s glory and our good.

Romans 6:22 ~ But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do these things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

• Every person submits to something: either God or sin. A Christian is not someone who cannot sin but who is not longer a slave to sin, or bound to sin. He belongs to God.

• Sanctification can be painful. Example: When a silversmith is refining silver, he must put it through FIRE to remove all impurities. Fire burns them off. Then, he must polish the piece of silver until he sees his reflection in it. That is when he knows it is ready. {When the Master can see His reflection in me, I’m ready!}

Continual repentance: Psalm 73:1-5, 12-14, 17-19
• Falling in love with God
• Turning away from sin
• Yield to God – don’t fight against the Word
• A heart change is what separates Christians from the rest of the world.

Sanctification is motivated by LOVE and ADOPTION

Romans 8:15-17 ~ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead you have received God’s spirit when he adopted you as his own children. No we call, “Abba, Father”. For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must share his suffering.
• Adoption ~ you will receive what my son will receive {rule and reign with Christ}
• We are all appointed as kings and priests and ambassadors
• We only begin sanctification AFTER salvation

1 John 2:15-17 ~ For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions, these are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

• Worldliness ~

1. Craving for physical pleasure
2. Crave everything we see
3. Pride in achievements and possessions

• God values ~

1. Self control
2. Generosity
3. Humble service

The Pride of Life ~ education, sports, fame, money, property

• All of this is a false attempt to duplicate Jesus Christ
• It will all pass away ~ burn UP!
• **Don’t be so attached **
Proverbs 15:14 ~ A wise person is hungry for knowledge while the fool feeds on trash.

We pull together false teachers to justify and rationalize our sin. {Ex. Leaving a church because you don’t like it}

Sanctification is an act of God’s mercy.
God’s opposition of my selfishness sanctifies me. {MERCY}
When I am given my own way, it is a form of judgement. God is the author of life – just trust Him. Stop trying to “twist his arm” into giving me what I want.

Church discipline sanctifies us. {The individual and the church}

Correction sanctifies us. No one will see the Lord without sanctification.

Becoming like Jesus through grace = HUMILITY

Philippians 2:1-11
• Joy in serving
• Don’t be selfish
• Don’t try to impress others
• Be humble
• He gave up His divine privileges and became a slave
• He died a criminal’s death
• He was EXALTED
Suffering sanctifies us! Think about this: Jesus was homeless, a bachelor, had 3 years of ministry, and died. Look at what He accomplished!!! Lose your authority and identity in humility, just as Jesus did.