What Is Sanctification?
Sanctification Is The Gift of Freedom, The Fruit of Assurance, The Promise of Glorification Given To Us Through the Gospel of Christ.
Adoption is a past event, just as birth is a past event. We do not choose to be adopted any more than we choose to be born or choose to be born again. This is what confounded Nicodemus.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:28–30.
Note: Sanctification is not mentioned. The doctrine of predestination applies to our calling before the foundation of the world, our justification and regeneration by what Christ did for us 2,000 years ago, and for our glorification forever and ever which is to come.
None of these has anything of our doing but is imputed to us by the Almighty Christ who has not lost one given to Him by the Father. It is in this sense we are slaves to Christ and no longer slaves to sin. As slaves to Christ, we are entrusted with personal responsibility and are given free will in Christ for our sanctification and given the promise of glorification to come forever and ever.
Our sanctification freedom is provided “in Christ.”
Given this awesome freedom and responsibility, we rejoice to know Our Lord chastises those whom He loves with an irresistible grace.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Hebrews 12:6
- For Our God is a consuming fire. I see the blessing around me when everything I once deemed important is taken from me.
2. I have four adopted children who have adopted me despite my infidelities, my total failure as a husband to their mother, and my spiritual neglect of them as their fathers. They are more precious than gold and silver, property, and bitcoin.
3. My oldest natural son, Aaron, has adopted my children as his brothers and sisters. This son taught me forgiveness and I consider Aaron the greatest man I have ever had the privilege to know.
4. I see how Our Lord’s irresistible grace manifests itself in this life in real time through others.
5. I see how Our Lord chastises those whom He loves. That it is for a time and our refinement.
6. I know that all things work for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes for this is a promise from Our Lord. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
7. By God’s grace, He makes me wait on him rather than pursue my ways. Something I could not do on my own. Despite this, my sinful nature still wants to insert its will. Yet His grace is irresistible and unconditional and perseveres unto the end for His people whom He established before time.
8. I need much more correction, for my sin runs deep and is the connection between life now and eternal life in glory
9. My prayer is that I finish this life well as a witness to all who knew me. Especially my children and my two wives who are daughters of our Lord and I am called to present without spot or wrinkle without even the hint of any such thing but that they are holy and without blemish just as Jesus Christ presents me to His Father. That as a man, I alone am responsible for the failed marriages. And my job is to love both of them as Christ loves His church.
10. I pray that if Our Lord grants my recovery, my life demonstrates the fruits of the spirit which are love, spirit, joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For against such things, there is no law.
11. This prayer is consistent in that in the present no chastening seems to be joyful, but is painful. Yet afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12. This is sanctification. The only place His elect have a free will. The free will to be slaves to sin or slaves to Christ. Justification is objective for all who the Father draws, sanctification is subjective and a personal work of the Holy Spirit and the gift of belief in the truth. “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” 2 Thessalonian 2:13
13. A place where there is no law. A place we live by faith. We are the sole authors of sin in defiance of the law-giver. Yet for those Our Father gave to His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit faithfully brings to the Cross. And only at this object of our faith is there no law.
14. Our salvation is not from Scripture alone, Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone, and to the glory of God alone. These are fine statements and true and necessary consequences of The Gospel. But it is the Gospel alone that is the Good News which is the object of our faith.
15. Our salvation and God’s glory come not from our faith but from what Jesus Christ accomplished 2,000 years ago.
16. Salvation and glory to God do not come from a vain personal faith alone of our choosing but from the object of our faith alone which is a historical event that belongs to Jesus Christ alone.
17. Just as we do not choose to be born, we do not choose to be born again.
18. To be born again is an irresistible gift from God.
19. Do not be fooled by the notion that faith is a gift that depends on our choice to receive it. The Father gave you to Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. You are nailed into the palm of His hands. Jesus Christ did not lose one that the Father gave Him and this work is being completed in real-time in this life through the Holy Spirit in His appointed perfect timing in this fallen world for His glory and our salvation
20. Amen.
UGLY OLD GOAT
