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I watched a great movie last night which I will probably write about later, but there was a quote in that movie that stuck with me.

The quote was from Oscar Wilde, and this is what he said. “What is a cynic? The man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

I have been trying to think of a tasteful way to talk about the danger of studying theology without pointing fingers outright. As soon as I heard this line in the movie I whispered “That’s it!”

We have looked through some posts on the topic of sanctification (I know it can be somewhat boring at times), but I’m not trying to have the most popular blog on the web (If so I would write about vampires or Justin Bieber) I think it is important for every believer and every seeker to have a knowledge of theology. I want to break it down into a format that is simple to read each day and understand. The hope is that we can learn more about God, ourselves, and our Christian walk through this practice.

Here is the fear. My whole life I have seen and I have been a part of people using theology to beat each other up and see who comes out on top. The only reason people would read or study was so they could win the next argument in their small group or over coffee. That’s pointless. The study of God should draw you closer to God, nothing else.

You can know the price of everything, as Wilde says. You can memorize the entire New Testament(in the original Greek). You can know your Systematic Theology book forward and backward. But it’s possible to still understand the value of none it. If you can explain grace without experiencing it and offering it, you’re nothing but a cynic. If you can explain salvation without knowing it for yourself, you’re nothing but a cynic. If you can dissect worship without ever losing yourself in it, you’re nothing but a cynic, and the truth of the matter is….no one likes a cynic.

Sanctification is completed when the Lord returns for our bodies.

Today we get into the second part of the final stage of sanctification. Yesterday we talked about the fact that Sanctification is completed at death for our souls. Today we will look at the completion of sanctification for our bodies. Don’t write me off as weird right away.  As I thought through this post I realized the need for a series in the future on glorification which is receiving a resurrection body when Christ returns.  However, today we will tackle this tough issue.

First, we must understand that sanctification involves the whole person.

1 Thess. 5:23(KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole person includes spirit, soul and body.

Therefore, we understand that sanctification is not entirely completed until Christ’s return when we will receive resurrection bodies. We wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ when our sanctification will be complete.

What does scripture say?

Phil 3:21(NIV) “Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

1 Cor. 15:23(NIV) “But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”

1 Cor. 15:49(NIV) “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven”

And so we see that sanctification which begins at regeneration and increases throughout life will be completed at death for our souls and at the return of our Lord for our bodies.  Paul talks about fighting the good fight, running the race, and finishing the course. All of these images involve hard work and struggle, but they also convey a rewarding end. Paul calls this the crown of righteousness, and this is what he strives for. So go, fight, run, and finish and know that in the glorious presence of our Lord your reward will be complete.

Alright, we had a few days to let our brains relax. Now, let’s get back to sanctification. We have talked about; What Is Sanctification, The First Stage of Sanctification, and The Second Stage of Sanctification. Let’s move on to the next stage.

Sanctification is Completed at Death

Alright, now I know that’s not the most optimistic heading for anything (at least for anything good), but stick with me here. We know that even after becoming Christians there is still sin that remains in our hearts. Let’s look to scripture.

1 John 1:8(ESV) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Rom. 6:12-13(ESV) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as thor rse who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness

Our sanctification will never be completed in this life, but we press on daily and strive for holiness. However, when we die and go to be with the Lord in one sense our sanctification will be completed. Our souls will finally be released from the sin that remains in our hearts and are made perfect. Again, let’s look at scripture.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of coming into the presence of God to worship. Heb 12:22-23(ESV) “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect“  In God’s presence our souls are made perfect and sanctification is complete.

This makes sense when we consider Rev. 21:27(ESV) which says nothing unclean will ever enter the presence of God. We will continue to look at this throughout the week. There are people who believe there can be perfect holiness on the earth, and that is one of the things we will look at this week as well.

None of this should cause you to lose heart or feel like you can never please God on this earth. Instead, it should be a constant reminder of God’s grace and love for us. And it should remind us how much we need His grace and mercy in our lives.

I had the opportunity to visit my old church yesterday pastored by my good friend Scott Williams. It’s always great to see old friends and reconnect with people with whom you have served the local church. I love this church for so many reasons, but one of the things that sets this place apart from others is their diversity. The intentionality and care that is given to this value at this church makes it a place where I am always comfortable bringing friends and family, because I know no matter who they are they will feel warm and welcome there.

People have different ideas about diversity. The majority of people think it just means that you have different races and ethnicities represented in a church or company. However, I don’t think it has anything to do with race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic background. For me, diversity is about a reflection of your community.

If you pastor a church in the heart of a heavily Hispanic community and you have done nothing to embrace that entire group of people in your congregation, diversity obviously doesn’t matter to you.  If you know there is a large Hindu population surrounding your church or company and not one person from that background is represented in those you influence, you must be missing something.

If you deny the importance of your institution reflecting your community you set yourself up to miss out on the best and brightest right where you are. Beyond that, these are also going to be your people with the greatest influence and highest buy-in because it’s their community. If you want to attract these stars it begins with your ability to reflect their world in yours.

To embrace diversity, you must first embrace your community. Then work to make your organization a reflection of that community. Remember, most communities in America are not filled with one type of person from one type of background who grow up in the same homes with the same experiences.  And if you are from that kind of place chances are you’re not reading this blog.

That’s just my take. What does diversity mean to you?

I’m going to talk more about sanctification next week, but today I feel like recapping and focusing on the point. I was once enslaved to sin, traveling down a dark road that led only to more darkness.  The Psalms speak of being stuck in a pit, stuck knee deep in so much mud and mire that you can’t get out. That’s where I was. Pride, legalism, and judgment owned me. It dominated me. I thought I knew everything there was to know about God, but God changed my heart of stone for a heart of flesh. I saw people for who they really were, the beloved of God. My arrogance no longer had dominion over me.

Now I’m daily growing into the image of Christ. I’m learning to love all people with grace and mercy as my Lord does. In my life is reflected the beauty of sanctification. Regardless of who I’ve been and what I’ve done God loves me and extends grace. He doesn’t just reach out His hand to help me out of my pit, He stepped out of eternity over 2000 yrs ago and became a man so that He could pay the price for my sin. He who knew no sin became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God. He got in the pit with me and helped me out. Now He helps me daily by His power to become more and more like Him. How beautiful. How amazing.

Sanctification Increases Throughout Life

Yesterday we looked at the fact that that there is a definite beginning to sanctification, but the New Testament also speaks of a process that continues throughout the entire Christian life. Paul conveyed to his readers that that they are set free from sin at regeneration, and they are “dead to sin and alive to God” (Romans 6:11).

Paul understood that sin still  remained in the lives of the people who he was writing to. So he tells them though sin is in your life don’t let it reign in your life, and don’t yield to sin. They had the responsibility to grow in their sanctification just like they used to grow in their sin. Imagine a person who is overtaken by a particular sin. They won’t be satisfied by the rush they get from that sin after a while, they will continue to search for new opportunities and more avenues to indulge their desires. Romans 6:19NIV says, “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever‑increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” Paul tells the Romans that just as they once pursued more and more  sin, in the same way they should now pursue more and more  righteousness for sanctification.

The Christian life is not one of stagnation but one of continuous growth. Paul told believers in Corinth, “And we…, are being transformed into his likeness with ever‑increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” We are continuously becoming more and more like Him. Paul says in Philippians that he presses on toward the goal to achieve God’s purpose for his life. He admits that he is not perfect, but daily he is striving, pressing forward to be more like Christ.

Grudem points out several passages of scripture where New Testament believers are instructed on growing in their likeness to Christ. I encourage you to read these passages (or at least scroll over them and read them right here) and interpret what these scriptures say about pursuing the image of God and a life of holiness.  Col. 3:10, Heb. 12:1, Heb 12:14, James 1:22, 1 Peter 1:15. (Okay, now you have made some conclusions as to how sanctification may increase in your life.  Here’s what it means to me)

As a minister I struggle with the tension of pleasing people but calling them to this level of commitment(who wants to here me ramble on and on about holiness). As a husband I’m terrified that I am not and will not exhort my family to greater sanctification. Most of all as a believer I’m asking myself this question right now, “Jayson are you striving each day to grow in likeness with Christ or are you simply hoping to cash in some “get into heaven free” pass.

Sanctification begins when we receive new life through God, but the next stage of sanctification is that it increases throughout the life of the believer. I pray that you and I would press on as we together become more and more like Him.

Sanctification Begins at Regeneration

We would agree that there is a moral change that occurs in our lives at the time of regeneration(sometimes called “being born again”, A secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life to us.)

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit

1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

The “washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” results in a new life where we “cannot go on sinning” by reason of habit or because that is the way we have lived for years. If the Spirit of God remains in us He strengthens us to continue without living a life of sin. I’m not saying that regeneration is sanctification or vice- versa, but we can see this as the first stage of sanctification.

What we see here is a clean break from being mastered by sin. Following this first stage of sanctification the Christ follower no longer loves to sin or is dominated by sin. (I got to attend The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX this weekend and Matt Chandler made a statement that stuck with me, he said, “If sinning doesn’t make you feel bad than you’re not saved!”) Well this is where that line of thought comes in. “Reckon yourselves dead to sin for it no longer has dominion over you” (Romans 6:11,14)  In verse 12 Paul says not to let sin reign (again showing the clean break from sin’s dominion in our lives).  By the power of the Holy Spirit, the resurrection power of Christ working in us, we Christ followers can be dead to the ruling power of sin.

This doesn’t mean that Christians are completely free from sin, because our sanctification will never be completed on earth (remember it is a progressive work). However, it does mean that we should never say that we have been defeated by sin.

Those of you who are actually still reading this (Thanks and you’re my favorites) are probably wondering what does this have to do with me. This is where this first stage of sanctification becomes real to us. I have counseled many people who want to give up.  “I am always going to struggle with my anger and it will never change.” “I am just addicted to pornography and there’s nothing that can change that.” “Lust is just a part of my life and it always will be.” “I always lie and it just keeps happening, it can’t be controlled.”  This attitude  is not reckoning yourself dead to sin. You are allowing sin to reign over you and you are denying the truth of scripture which says that sin no longer has dominion over you.

What is so exciting in understanding this part of growing in Christian maturity is the power which dwells in the heart of the Christ follower who has truly been transformed. In just the first stage of sanctification the bondage of sin on our lives is shattered and we are free to live in Christ. That is the true beauty here, and that is where hope enters the picture for so many who feel all is hopeless. It doesn’t mean Christians are perfect, but on this path to holiness the first step is taken when we are no longer slaves to sin.

We are all on a path aren’t we? We’re all headed somewhere, and as ministers we are given the challenge of leading our sheep down a path while also providing them with what they need to reach their destination.  There are a lot of different viewpoints on what exactly people need to survive their journey of faith. Different churches certainly have different methods, but we can all agree on one thing. It is not sufficient to lead people to begin the journey and then leave them to fend for themselves the rest of the way.

In bringing people to Christ there is a responsibility to create environments so that they can determine their next step on the path in order to continue in the right direction. I’m not just talking about helping people figure out if they’re ready to serve in the local church or join a community group. These are all legitimate avenues to our ultimate goal, but what we truly seek for our people is sanctification. God will do His part; the gospel call, regeneration, justification, and conversion. These events occur at the beginning of our Christian lives. However, Grudem defines sanctification as a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.

I love the word progressive here. There is a daily growing into the image of Christ, and being separated as holy unto the Lord that must occur for every believer. Over the next few days I want to look closer at sanctification, and how we can encourage believers to seek holiness over happiness.

Last night I had a blast with some of our leaders for the youth team. We got away from the church and just spent some time having fellowship. One thing I noticed was that none of the conversations really revolved around LifeChurch.TV. Usually that’s all people talk about when we get together, but this was different. I got to hear about people’s families. I learned new things about many people, and I really got to experience their personalities.

Robert Orben said, “If you can laugh together, you can work together.” I think this is truly a crucial element of good leadership. Providing opportunities for people to step away from work and have a good time brings out their true colors. Find ways for your team to have fun. I believe a team should look forward to coming together, because they know this is a group of people with whom they have a good time. Ministry should be fun. Work should be fun. Leadership is fun. Life should be fun. As a leader make sure you are finding ways for your team to have a good time together, because if they can laugh together, they can work together.

Our staff recently discussed a book by Henri J.M. Nouwen. Father Nouwen taught at Yale, Notre Dame, and Harvard. So, you could say that he had a few accomplishments in his lifetime. However, he eventually moved to Daybreak, one of the L’Arche communities for mentally handicapped people, where he worked and lived with those who had developmental disabilities. His words struck me, and I think he so simply and eloquently sums up one of the most important leadership principles for anyone in both the spiritual and secular arenas.

“But I am also  getting in touch with the mystery that leadership, for a large part, means to be led.  I discover that I am learning many new things, not just about the pains and struggles of wounded people, but also about their unique gifts and graces. They teach me about joy and peace, love and care and prayer-what I could never have learned in any academy.”

Leadership, for a large part means to be led. What an outstanding viewpoint. Nouwen was open to learn from the community in which he lived. Even though he had taught at Ivy League institutions he viewed each day as an opportunity for learning. The moment you think you know everything is the moment you hit your leadership ceiling. There is no way to move forward when you feel you have reached the end of the road. Always be teachable, always know there is something more to learn, and you will find that your potential will always advance.