SANCTIFICATION

There are so many words that Christians use, that frankly sometimes we really don't know what they mean, we just use them. So lets discover together what these words mean so that we can utilize this knowledge in our progressive walk in the Spirit.

Sanctification comes from the verb sanctify. Sanctify originates from the Greek word hagiazo, which means to be "separate" or to be "set apart." In the Bible, sanctification generally relates to a sovereign act of God whereby He "sets apart" a person, place, or thing in order that His purposes may be accomplished. In the book of Exodus, God sanctifies a place of worship. "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory," says Exodus 29:43. Even a day can be sanctified as seen in Genesis 2:3 where the seventh day is "set apart" as a holy day of rest. "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." Which by the way, is the only day GOD has really set apart for Holy use .Even though GOD did create 7days only the last day the 7th day, the creation done on that day was to make it HOLY, GOD'S presence was placed in this 7th day,it is the only thing that was done on this day, it was  created  for the sole purpose, to be HOLY and for REST, unlike the other days which GOD created all that was created on Earth and Heaven were done on these 6  days and these 6 days were created for work, and for us  to do our work in. Not that I am legalistic, but if I were to set aside a day for GOD it would be the day GOD created for such a purpose.I'm just saying...............you can go to church any day you wish, but there is a special connection that can be made when you rest on the 7th and dedicate it for enjoyment of your LORD.

Similarly, when a person is sanctified he or she is being set apart by God for a specific divine purpose. The very moment we are saved in Christ we are also immediately sanctified and begin the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. As God's children we are "set apart" from that moment to carry out His divine purposes unto eternity. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Are you set apart for God?
Sanctification - Different Than Salvation
It is important to differentiate between justification and sanctification.
 Justification is another word for salvation. Jesus gave his life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. His blood washes away our sins and frees us from an eternity of suffering and condemnation. Believers are saved because of what Christ has already done. We can do nothing to earn salvation, it is the gift given to every child of God regardless of race, age, maturity, or merit. Sanctification occurs as a result of salvation/justification. At the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit enters our life. We are no longer held hostage by death, but are free to live the life God desires for us. We are thus sanctified simply because of our standing because we are  saved by grace.

Sanctification - A Continuing Process

Sanctification does not stop with salvation, but rather it is a progressive process that continues in a Christian's life. Unlike the things and places that are sanctified by God in the Bible, people have the capacity to sin. Even though we have been "set apart" as God's children, we continue to behave in ways that are contrary to our new Identity in CHRIST. As Christians, we realize shortly after we have been saved that there is a new inner battle being waged within us that was not there before- which is the perception we keep that we still have our old sin-lead nature and the fact that now we have a  new Spirit-lead nature-The battle is in our perception and belief in what GOD has already accomplished in us through Christ, the battle is in our thinking, the battle ground is in our MINDS, which is why we constantly need to renew our minds to our new identity in Christ.Paul in Galatians best describes this inner struggle in Galatians 5:17: "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." Like Paul, our heart's desire is to please and obey God, but our flesh is weak making sin difficult to resist. Yet, it is in our continual struggle with sin and obedience to God that sanctification does its work.It is our struggle to remember who we NOW are. When life comes at us full force we tend to revert to our old patterns that we have had to cling to all of our lives, it is these old patterns that we now need to address which is why we need to constantly renew our thinking into our new identity.

But what is the work of sanctification? What does it practically mean to be "set apart"? Sanctification can be described as an inward spiritual process whereby God brings about holiness and change in the life of a Christian by means of the Holy Spirit. The effects of living in a fallen world have harmed everybody differently. We all face different issues, struggle with sin, and past hurts of varying degrees,old patterns of thinking which hindering our ability to live the life God desires for us. Once we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit enters our life to start a transformation process (progressive sanctification). S/He convicts us on areas that need to be changed, helping us to grow in holiness. We begin to view the world, people, and personal difficulties from a more biblical perspective. Haven't you noticed that you no longer desire what you use to? You no longer even like it (whatever it was that held your attention and desires) Our choices begin to be motivated by love and truth and not selfishness. For instance, we may have misplaced our confidence and security on beauty, wealth, and materialism, but God will ordain difficult circumstances to liberate us from these growth-hindering snares, life at this point is no mere accident. We are where we need to be what ever the circumstances you may find yourself in, you can be sure that it is no accident. We may perceive them to be, but GOD for the believer is working All things for HIS glory .This transformation process may be painful, in fact I guarantee that most times it will be, it is no picnic to be a Child of GOD it is a hard life if we choose to struggle in our identity , when you know that you are IN Christ then ALL things are working for us and not against us,   it is always motivated by God's love for us. Further, God promises in His Word to not give us more than we are able to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).
This is the working process of sanctification in the life of every believer. Though the process is personal for each individual, the end goal is to prevent sin and produce spiritual growth. Note that sanctification has nothing to do with living in sinless perfection. We will never be sinless in this life. In fact, the Bible warns against such false teachings in 1 John 1:8: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Sanctification is not about trying to be sinless in order to earn the favor of God. Rather, sanctification is for our own benefit. God commands us to pursue sanctification so that through it, we may be blessed.


Sanctification -  Did you know that sanctification is a  Christian Responsibility?

Sanctification is one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian walk. Our natural tendency is to embrace sin, yet God in His divine wisdom has chosen to give us the responsibility of working out our own sanctification. "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work," says 2 Timothy 2:21.
So we ask, how do we pursue sanctification? How are we personally responsible? Lovingly, God has sent His Holy Spirit and His written Word, the Bible, to guide us. Though every person's sanctification is unique and personal, there are common disciplines in the pursuit of sanctification that are unchanging.
Sanctification - Here are some practical steps in this process of sanctification.

Prayer is of utmost importance. When we are suffering or facing temptation, our minds and body are weak. Satan knows this and tries to take advantage of us. When we pray, we are in spiritual union with God. Not only will prayer comfort us in our hardship, but it will also give us the strength to overcome sin. Through prayer, we are also more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The written Word - the Bible. The Bible is not merely a history book, but its words have the power to sanctify us. When Satan tempted Jesus in Matthew 4, Jesus used the Word of God to overcome temptation. "But He answered and said, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4).
God's written Word also has the power to transform our mind, convict, and bring to light the darkness that is within our hearts. It is the instrument which God uses to develop in us knowledge, faith, and personal holiness; all of which are essential elements of sanctification. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). Whether by studying or listening to teaching, the sanctifying work of God's Word is enormous to a believer who recognizes its truth and power.

Worship. Believers are also sanctified in worship. True  worship is what God desires from His people. When our worship is genuine, it transforms our hearts and brings us into close union with God. John 4:23 says, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."
Additionally, before Jesus ascended into heaven he tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for a gift God will send (Acts 1). This is the gift of the Holy Spirit.(I choose to use the feminine words for HOLY SPIRIT for I believe it is the Mother aspect of the ONE true GOD.)
 The Holy Spirit is our ultimate helper,nurture and sanctifier. When we yield to Her leading, S/He has the power to help us resist sin and make positive change. "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
When we sin and ignore the Holy Spirit's leading, we break fellowship with HER, thereby cutting off the life-changing power. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 commands us: "Do not quench the Spirit."

Sanctification - Key to Spiritual Growth

Sanctification is both a matter of position and progression. We are  'already' sanctified because Jesus Christ "has already "saved us and yet sanctification continues to work within each of us, to transform us into the likeness of Christ. Sanctification is the responsibility of every believer in Christ. When we choose to pursue sanctification in our life, positive growth occurs. The pursuit of it involves the surrender of the body and the will to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It takes time and is a 'WORK IN PROGRESS' that cannot be hurried. Like a newborn baby that gradually matures unto adulthood, so is the work of sanctification in the life of EVERY new believer. The work of sanctification will ultimately be completed in every believer's life when Jesus Christ returns. This is the hope of every Christian.
Paul puts it best in his epistle to the Thessalonians: "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Oh HOLY ONE OF BLESSING, YOUR presence fills all of creation and is within me, thank you for our salvation, and setting us apart for YOUR holy use. We ask for your HOLY SPIRIT, so that we will have the power we need to continue the process of sanctification, LORD we are YOUR work in progress,  unto the coming our LORD JESUS/YESHUA THE CHRIST. amen.

GOD SAVES

Unless  God intervenes in my life and allows me to be apprehended by the anointing (Christ), I will never come to the Lord. Without  God's intervention in my life it is impossible to be saved (made whole).

  GOD please intervene in my life!! please apprehend me by the anointing of Christ, please save and heal me !
Roman Chapter eight, we clearly see that it is  God who starts the process and does what is needed to bring salvation to completion. It is all  God, from start to finish! Man’s most difficult labor is ceasing from his labor and receiving unmerited favor. The Scriptures boldly declare that one is saved by "grace through faith." Jesus Christ,is the "author and finisher" of our faith. Even faith is a gift which we cannot receive apart from God giving it. We are quite incapable of coming to  God apart from this faith. Once this faith is received, it is Jesus Christ,who finishes the work in us, not ourselves, lest we boast! It is not our faith that saves us, it is the faith of Jesus Christ,which we receive as an unmerited gift that saves us, not our faith in Him.
We   see that the substitution of the little word "of" for the word "in" can change the very foundation of Christianity itself! Let us first compare the KJV with the NKJV. Then we will see if we can determine which rendering is the correct one.

"…A man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Gal. 2:16, NKJV) "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Gal. 3:22, NKJV) "That I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith…" (Phil. 3:9)
The original 1611 King James reads:


"…A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the law shall no flesh be justified." (Gal. 2:16, KJV) "But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Gal. 3:22, KJV) "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" (Phil. 3:9, KJV)

If a person "decided" to put their faith in Christ  and as a result receive righteousness, then the first step was taken by man and not   God. A person who has made a "decision" for God can have a right to boast in their decision. They can pat themselves on the back, so to speak, that they were smart enough to give their life to God. Evangelists often count how many "decisions" for Christ they were able to secure during their services so they can say they were successful. But we know better.It is of  GOD, always has been, always will be.
There are two pillar laws of the New Covenant  which is, 1) the Faith of and 2)the  Love of ,Jesus Christ. The Law of the Life in Christ Jesus excludes any system devised by humankind, including much of christendom, from providing the quality of life which the Creator of the universe purposed for mankind. The way to this Life and the Life itself resides in a person, Jesus (Yahshua, Yah saves, Yahdelivers). It is through the person of Jesus that mankind will ultimately be restored to fellowship with our Maker, our Father, and Creator of all things. Jesus Christ is the end to all of man’s attempts to glorify himself. Our Father’s desire has always been for mankind to have an intimate relationship with Him and to reconcile human beings with each other. Systems of religion, including even those that may use His name, will never be able to accomplish this. Ultimately, every religion, including the denominations of Christianity, will be destroyed and be replaced with the True Faith and Love of the Anointed One. Abundant Life is found only in the person of the Son of the Living God, Jesus the Christ. AMEN

Either we have said this or some one has asked us this question sometime in our life: "Are you saved and when did that happen?" For many years I never could really put my finger to it, but I have always felt something was wrong with this doctrine. The Scriptures always place the 'saved' event in the past before the world was made, and accomplished as a done deal at Christ death and resurrection, it was something that occurred at that time for all of us. What I found out through my constant questioning was that When Christ said it was finished just before He died , what what He referring too? Everything was accomplished then, at that moment, and in our past. It is a done deal, we just have to be told of this already done accomplishment and start living in our new Spirit Identity as a fact. Here is a mini study on this topic.

When Were You Saved?

When were Christians today saved, and what works did they have to do to be saved?

Once I was at a lunch counter and reading a biblical commentary when a couple saw me and asked me if I were saved. I told them I was. They said that they were saved at a Billy Graham campaign some 12 years before and I congratulated them, but at the same time I told them I was saved in Christ long before that. They asked when I was saved? I then told them that the apostle Paul tells when I was saved and that it required not the slightest work on my part (whether that work was good or bad). They wanted to know where Paul said that. I told them to read II Timothy 1:9, Here is what the apostle stated as a foundational position of faith regarding our salvation.

"Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

I told them it was wrong to tell people what they have to do to get saved when salvation is "not according to our works." I informed them further that it was not proper to tell people how to GET saved, when they ought to be told how they GOT saved – that’s right, how they GOT saved in Christ Jesus before the world (or ages of man) ever came into existence. This is why "grace" is the only ingredient in the salvation secured for us by Christ. Our own works, no matter how good they might be, have nothing to do in the matter. And though it is true that a person has to express a faith and belief in Christ and his plan of salvation, even that faith, belief and will-power to accept the Gospel is a gift from God (Philippians 2:13). The fact is, all people who are now saved were saved in Christ, before Adam and Eve were ever placed on earth. This is exactly what Paul taught, and it is the real Gospel of Christ.

By the way, the couple did not like me showing them II Timothy 1:9. They left saying that I had better repent and do proper works (like working up a belief and working up a faith in Christ) or else I was on my way to an ever-burning hell from which I would never escape. They were as deceived as they could be on how salvation is obtained in Christ. I prefer Paul’s teaching in the above verse and elsewhere.

The process of Salvation

Many Christians do not really know what Salvation really is, or means and because of that , have accepted many doctrines and traditions that are not biblical.
The salvation Christ won for us is applied to us in stages, rather than all at once. The first stage is effectual calling, when God, through the preaching of the gospel, inwardly and successfully summons the elect to faith. Effectual calling is given together with regeneration, the act of the Holy Spirit whereby He changes our sinful hearts into hearts that love and cherish Christ. Regeneration thus enables and causes the elect to respond to the Father's call, and they do so in faith and repentance. God then, at the moment the elect believe, justifies them. Justification is a legal act of God in which He forgives our sins, gives to us the righteousness of Christ, and declares us righteous in His sight.
It is important to understand that in justification we are declared righteous, but not made righteous. He declares us righteous on the basis of what Christ did, not on the basis of any good thing that is in us. The aspect of our salvation in which we are continually made more and more righteous is called sanctification. Whereas justification is an instantaneous act of God in which we are declared righteous (rather than made righteous), sanctification is a process--a process in which we are actually made righteous.
At death God completes our sanctification, and so removes all of our sins from our hearts and makes us perfectly holy. But even though our sanctification is complete at death, our salvation is not yet complete because we are still without our glorified resurrection bodies. These are given in the final stage of the application of our salvation, which is glorification. Then our salvation will be fully applied to us, and we will live forever in the new heavens and new earth as glorified saints, enjoying all of the benefits of salvation that Christ won for us.
Glorification is the resurrection of our bodies to eternal glory Here is a very significant, yet often ignored, truth of the Bible: Our bodies will one day be raised! Christianity does not teach the immortality of the soul--the belief that our bodies are like prisons, and thus death is a great blessing to liberate us from these prisons so that we can continue living forever as disembodied spirits. Rather, Christianity teaches the resurrection of the body. As the apostle's creed says, "We believe in the resurrection of the body." Our bodies are not prisons, but are part of who we are. Of course our souls will live forever. But they will live forever in our bodies, not apart from them.
And on another vein of thought, concerning those who do not accept the life offered to us by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, what happens to them? Well those not found written in the Lamb's Book of Life,which is the book where our names are written in when we confess and believe in Jesus Christ and what He did for us, if their names are not there they are cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death (Rev. 20:12-15). These unsaved people get just what they have actually chosen. They lived life on earth as though there was nothing else to look forward to, and the wages of their sin is death. To say that they have willingly chosen everlasting burning is ludicrous, but it is clear that most people choose to live for this life alone. In the same way that they chose to live, they are essentially given no afterlife. However, some of us are saved from death in the Lake of Fire. We are saved from what we very clearly deserve.
All of us are given this life we have now as a gift of God, this is all we get ,you can live it as you choose to live it, you really can do as you please, living life large as they say, eat, drink and be merry and then you die. This is truly God's gift to us, we never existed before our life,and now we do, all by the Grace of God. But if you want more out of this life, to know the purpose of this life and to know our Maker and have eternal life, then you must meet the requirements of the Life Giver and that is living our life as God says to live it, He made us and it is His rules we must go by in order to have more out of this life and to have life Eternal in union with God.Many have lived with the assumptions that we are eternal beings, but that is not so.There is not even one verse in the entire Bible that teaches the supposed "immortality of the soul" doctrine so prevalent in most Christian theology. Instead, it is made very clear that only God has eternal life, and He bestows immortality only to those whom He chooses—not to everyone. And so it goes.