John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2 Thessalonians 2: 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
How is salvation attained? through sanctification of the Spirit & belief of the truth.
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Sanctification through the Spirit and the Word is an absolutely necessary process in any believer's life; that is not to say, however, that the Spirit's sanctification will absolutely occur in a believer's life. You see, believing in Christ is not a one time event, but a continual abiding belief in Jesus. (Read John 15)
In 1 John, John makes it clear that he is speaking to believers, yet John explains that he has also written to these "present" believers in order for them to continue believing.
1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
--> that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and
--> that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
When we believe in the Son of God, we will be sanctified by the Spirit & the Word. Salvation comes through sanctification of the Spirit & belief of the Truth. Since the Spirit presents Truth to a believer, we can see how the two cannot be separated, for they are one. We can also see how crucial it is that we continue believing in the Son of God. John 14:6
Can a "present tense" believer cease believing (cease being faithful)?
Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
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Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away (to apostatize/apostasy) to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2 Peter 2:21
2 Peter 2:22
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
The purpose of this blog is not to cause strife or debate. These words are not to "out-do" or "out-write" others on topics pertaining to the Lord. These are not words to bring worry or doubt into a person's mind. Sadly, so many are struck with fear or anger when presented with this Truth from the Word of God. I pray these Truths from the Word bring freedom and empowerment to others. There is liberty in the Truth, for where the Spirit is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
There are too many people who did not fight the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ - because they didn't think they were called to do just that. Many began strongly in the Lord, but when difficulties arose, they fell away. The Lord has given me, time and again these last several years, a specific calling: Tell them to repent and stay IN me (Christ), no matter what temptations & trials they encounter.
He, the Lord Jesus Christ, will keep those IN Him. Those who have departed from the faith are no longer kept, however. My heart weeps for those people. I weep when I think of the number of sermons that have falsely led believers to believe they were secure no matter what future decisions they would make. Or that their current ungodly & unrepentant practices were still "under the blood." My God, what a fearful lie to tell (Ezekiel 22). We are eternally secure IF we are IN Christ and remain IN Christ, but we are doing no one any favors withholding the fact that this is a fight of faith until the end. Salvation is fully achieved at the end. We are to abide IN Christ until the end. Separated from Him, there can be no sanctification by the Holy Spirit and the Word (GRACE).
The Lord is faithful to carry out His sanctification of us, but His faithfulness has never been the question. Will we be faithful to His will in our lives when His Spirit attempts to cleanse us and bring us to repentance? When the Holy Spirit of Grace puts His finger on a wrong practice in our lives, will we heed the Spirit's call? Or will we do despite (insult) to the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29)? Mark 3:29 & Luke 12:10
Will we bow our heads in submission and follow the Spirit's lead, or will we, like Esau, sell our birthright? (Hebrews 12:16)
Only those who are exercised (trained) by the Lord's chastisement will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Chastisement, alone, is not an indication of righteousness or sanctification. (Hebrews 12:5 & Hebrews 12:11) These two verses indicate two aspects:
1) A believer who is being chastised could, unfortunately, be made "weary" and "faint" in their "minds." (Hebrews 12:5)
2) A believer who allows the Spirit of God to instruct, teach, correct, chastise him or her will yield the "fruit of righteousness" and will be a "partaker of His holiness." (Hebrews 12:11, Hebrews 12:10, Hebrews 12:14)
2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2 Peter 2:21
2 Peter 2:22
Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
The purpose of this blog is not to cause strife or debate. These words are not to "out-do" or "out-write" others on topics pertaining to the Lord. These are not words to bring worry or doubt into a person's mind. Sadly, so many are struck with fear or anger when presented with this Truth from the Word of God. I pray these Truths from the Word bring freedom and empowerment to others. There is liberty in the Truth, for where the Spirit is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
There are too many people who did not fight the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ - because they didn't think they were called to do just that. Many began strongly in the Lord, but when difficulties arose, they fell away. The Lord has given me, time and again these last several years, a specific calling: Tell them to repent and stay IN me (Christ), no matter what temptations & trials they encounter.
He, the Lord Jesus Christ, will keep those IN Him. Those who have departed from the faith are no longer kept, however. My heart weeps for those people. I weep when I think of the number of sermons that have falsely led believers to believe they were secure no matter what future decisions they would make. Or that their current ungodly & unrepentant practices were still "under the blood." My God, what a fearful lie to tell (Ezekiel 22). We are eternally secure IF we are IN Christ and remain IN Christ, but we are doing no one any favors withholding the fact that this is a fight of faith until the end. Salvation is fully achieved at the end. We are to abide IN Christ until the end. Separated from Him, there can be no sanctification by the Holy Spirit and the Word (GRACE).
The Lord is faithful to carry out His sanctification of us, but His faithfulness has never been the question. Will we be faithful to His will in our lives when His Spirit attempts to cleanse us and bring us to repentance? When the Holy Spirit of Grace puts His finger on a wrong practice in our lives, will we heed the Spirit's call? Or will we do despite (insult) to the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29)? Mark 3:29 & Luke 12:10
Will we bow our heads in submission and follow the Spirit's lead, or will we, like Esau, sell our birthright? (Hebrews 12:16)
Only those who are exercised (trained) by the Lord's chastisement will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Chastisement, alone, is not an indication of righteousness or sanctification. (Hebrews 12:5 & Hebrews 12:11) These two verses indicate two aspects:
1) A believer who is being chastised could, unfortunately, be made "weary" and "faint" in their "minds." (Hebrews 12:5)
2) A believer who allows the Spirit of God to instruct, teach, correct, chastise him or her will yield the "fruit of righteousness" and will be a "partaker of His holiness." (Hebrews 12:11, Hebrews 12:10, Hebrews 12:14)
When, unfortunately, a believer ceases to be taught and sanctified by the Lord, then that person is no longer a follower of Christ (no longer a believer) - no matter how much the person contends otherwise. The sanctification must be continual. A person can walk strongly with the Lord for a period of time, but can fall away through the hardness of sin, disobedience, doubt, fear, etc.
Acts 26:18
1 Thessalonians 4:3
1 Thessalonians 5:23
We can't afford to overlook the tricks of Satan either. For far too long, he has convinced people that he is like the Wile E. Coyote. Don't fall for that lie.
Satan is truly diabolical. Never take lightly Jesus' description of him:
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There are thoughts that he interjects into our minds that can lead a person to believe and act on Satan's lies -- without the Holy Spirit helping us overcome. Satan is evil, but the evil that he attempts to plant into our minds is quite believable because he is a master manipulator of our flesh - When I say flesh, I don't simply mean our physical desires, but every ounce of who we are as a human being. He can tap into that and destroy us unless we yield to the sanctification of the Spirit and the Word. We can't yield if we don't abide in Christ.
Beloved, the first step we take in believing and following Christ is worthy of great rejoicing the moment it occurs. The Word of God calls us to continue in Christ, not because it is "given" that we will but that it is required if we are to be the overcomers Jesus speaks of in Revelation. Not for a while. But until the end. The Holy Spirit will sanctify us if we remain and obey. Revelation 21:7
Revelation 3:21
Revelation 3:12
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 2:26
Revelation 2:17
Revelation 2:11
Revelation 2:7
When tremendous trials arise in a believer's life, it is perhaps more apparent during those times that we need to cling closely to the Lord and listen for His Voice. Now those trials can be very difficult, but they are somewhat more apparent as to what we should do. That said, abiding in the Lord and being sanctified by Him is so necessary during these times.
There is a danger, though, of allowing "smaller" temptations slither into our lives almost unnoticed. I believe those may very well be the most dangerous sins because a heart that is gradually hardened by "harmless" sins is being conditioned to brush off the Holy Spirit's still, small voice in those circumstances. Those seemingly harmless moments of not heeding the Spirit (the very Spirit that sanctifies us to salvation) can lead and have led many a believer to fall away due to a gradual hardening of the heart.
Wasn't it Jude who spoke of certain men who crept into the church unaware (unnoticed)? If they crept in so subtly, couldn't that mean there was not anything overt in the sins/lies they were bringing to the church? Yet, Jude also states that these subtle men twisted the grace of God into a license to sin...
And just a few verses later Jude begins speaking of the sins in Sodom and Gomorrah ...
We have all that we need when we are in Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will sanctify those who abide in Christ. Will there be times of tremendous trials? That is certain.
But we are more than conquerors IN CHRIST JESUS. Even if Satan whispers thoughts of "who cares?" into your mind, stay in prayer to the Lord. Read the Holy Bible even when feelings of boredom and apathy seem to pour over you. Remember that the "small" temptations that you succumb to gradually harden your heart, leading you over time out of the Vine of Christ and away from the very Spirit that sanctifies you for salvation.
sanctify - Greek hagiazo - to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate
sanctification - Greek hagiasmos - purification
We can't afford to overlook the tricks of Satan either. For far too long, he has convinced people that he is like the Wile E. Coyote. Don't fall for that lie.
There are thoughts that he interjects into our minds that can lead a person to believe and act on Satan's lies -- without the Holy Spirit helping us overcome. Satan is evil, but the evil that he attempts to plant into our minds is quite believable because he is a master manipulator of our flesh - When I say flesh, I don't simply mean our physical desires, but every ounce of who we are as a human being. He can tap into that and destroy us unless we yield to the sanctification of the Spirit and the Word. We can't yield if we don't abide in Christ.
Beloved, the first step we take in believing and following Christ is worthy of great rejoicing the moment it occurs. The Word of God calls us to continue in Christ, not because it is "given" that we will but that it is required if we are to be the overcomers Jesus speaks of in Revelation. Not for a while. But until the end. The Holy Spirit will sanctify us if we remain and obey. Revelation 21:7
Revelation 3:21
Revelation 3:12
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 2:26
Revelation 2:17
Revelation 2:11
Revelation 2:7
When tremendous trials arise in a believer's life, it is perhaps more apparent during those times that we need to cling closely to the Lord and listen for His Voice. Now those trials can be very difficult, but they are somewhat more apparent as to what we should do. That said, abiding in the Lord and being sanctified by Him is so necessary during these times.
There is a danger, though, of allowing "smaller" temptations slither into our lives almost unnoticed. I believe those may very well be the most dangerous sins because a heart that is gradually hardened by "harmless" sins is being conditioned to brush off the Holy Spirit's still, small voice in those circumstances. Those seemingly harmless moments of not heeding the Spirit (the very Spirit that sanctifies us to salvation) can lead and have led many a believer to fall away due to a gradual hardening of the heart.
Wasn't it Jude who spoke of certain men who crept into the church unaware (unnoticed)? If they crept in so subtly, couldn't that mean there was not anything overt in the sins/lies they were bringing to the church? Yet, Jude also states that these subtle men twisted the grace of God into a license to sin...
And just a few verses later Jude begins speaking of the sins in Sodom and Gomorrah ...
We have all that we need when we are in Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will sanctify those who abide in Christ. Will there be times of tremendous trials? That is certain.
But we are more than conquerors IN CHRIST JESUS. Even if Satan whispers thoughts of "who cares?" into your mind, stay in prayer to the Lord. Read the Holy Bible even when feelings of boredom and apathy seem to pour over you. Remember that the "small" temptations that you succumb to gradually harden your heart, leading you over time out of the Vine of Christ and away from the very Spirit that sanctifies you for salvation.
sanctify - Greek hagiazo - to make holy, i.e. purify or consecrate
sanctification - Greek hagiasmos - purification
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