Jesus came to redeem us from the consequences of the fall – Part 18

What has Christ done for sin? Contd.

• In addition to the word “sanctify” (cf. 1 Thes 5:23), the Scriptural standard of sanctification is expressed in such terms as “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… soul… mind” (Mat 22:37), “unblameable in holiness” (1 Thes 3:13), “perfecting holiness” (2 Cor 7:1), “Love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5), “sincere and without offence” (Phil 1:10), “made free from sin” (Rom 6:18), “dead to sin” (Rom 6:2), “slaves of righteousness for holiness” (Rom 6:19), “keep his commands” (1 John 3:22), and “overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4). Such terms describe the operation of the Holy Spirit through salvation in Christ by which He delivers us from sin’s bondage and power (Rom 6:1-11), separates us from the sinful practices of this present world, renews our nature according to the image of Christ, produces in us the fruit of the Spirit, and enables us to live holy and victorious lives of dedication to God (John 17:15-19,23; Rom 6:5, 13, 16, 19; 12:1; Gal 5:16-22-23; see 2 Cor 5:17).

• These terms do not imply an absolute perfection, but an ethical righteousness of unblemished character demonstrated in purity, obedience and blamelessness (Phil 2:14-15; Col 1:22; 1 Thes 2:10; cf. Luke 1:6). Christians, by the grace of God given to them, have died with Christ and are set free from sin’s power and dominion (Rom 6:18). Therefore, they need not and ought not sin, but can find adequate victory in their Saviour, Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able not to sin (1 John 2:1; 3:6), even though we never come to the place where we are free from temptation and possibility of sin.

• Sanctification was God’s will for the Israelites in the OT. They were to live holy or sanctified lives, separated from the lifestyles of the nations around them (see Ex 19:6; Lev 11:44; 19:2; 2 Chr 29:5). Likewise, sanctification is a requirement for believers in Christ. Scripture teaches that “without [holiness] no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). God, Who justifies the repentant sinner, desires to sanctify the believer’s spirit, soul and body (1 Thes 5:23).

• God’s children achieve sanctification by faith (Acts 26:18), by union with Christ in His death and resurrection (John 15:4-10; Rom 6:1-11; 1 Cor 1:30), by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7-9), by the Word (John 17:17), and by the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts (Jer 31:31-34; Rom 8:13; 1 Cor 6:11; Phil 2:12-13; 2 Thes 2:13).

• Sanctification is both a work of God and a work of His people (Phil 2:12-13). In order to accomplish God’s will in sanctification, believers must participate in the Spirit’s sanctifying work by ceasing to do evil (Rom 6:1-2), purifying themselves “from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (2 Cor 7:1; cf. Rom 6:12; Gal 5:16-25), and keeping themselves from being polluted by the world (Jas 1:27; cf. Rom 6:13, 19; 8:13; 12:1-2; 13:14; Eph 4:31; 5:18; Col 3:5, 10; Heb 6:1; Jas 4:8).

• True sanctification requires that believers maintain intimate communion with Christ (see John 15:4), engage in fellowship with believers (Eph 4:15-16), devote themselves to prayer (Mat 6:5-13; Col 4:2) obey God’s Word (John 17:17), be sensitive to God’s presence and care (Mat 6:25-34), love righteousness and hate wickedness (Heb 1:9), put sin to death (Rom 6), submit to God’s discipline (Heb 12:5-11), continue to obey, and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14; Eph 5:18).
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