Introduction:
Last session we discussed justification, the act whereby God declares us just and righteous. This comes to us by the grace of God, through faith alone. We Bring nothing to the table.
Sanctification:
Romans 8:28-30
In that list of four things in Romans 8:30 we see four acts of God in the salvation process; predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. However, those who have in the past been justified, but have not yet been glorified, live in the process of another aspect of salvation: sanctification.
Whereas those four acts in Romans 8:30 are unilateral or sovereign acts of God, sanctification involves work and effort on our part. Wayne Grudem defines sanctification this way,
"Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives."Romans 6:12-14
Let not sin reign. Sin is no longer our task-master, because God, in saving us, has freed us from our bondage to sin.
James 2:17-18
We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. We are saved by faith apart from works, but the faith that saves is not without works. (See also Ephesians 2:8-10)
Philippians 2:12-13
God is the one working in us--and this does not excuse us from action, it motivates our action!
Does this matter:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-3
This is the will of God for all who believe.
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