The Secret
The Gospel states that through faith in Christ, you are completely forgiven of all your sins. Then, having been forgiven, you are called to sanctification by faith in Christ as well. Sanctification is the lifelong process of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. All Christians agree on this point: Christians are called to pursue godly, holy living. However, confusion sets in as soon as the question is asked, “How do Christians become holy? Where does the power for godly living come from?”
Legitimate questions are being raised about Christian growth and sanctification: What exactly IS our part in sanctification? Does the sufficiency of grace mean we do nothing at all? What is the place of the law? Are we supposed to keep it or not? What is the role of faith in sanctification? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification? What is the place of the “spiritual disciples” in the Christian life? In short, how do God’s grace and our pursuit of Christian growth fit together?
When it comes to sanctification, people tend to fall into one of two extremes: Legalism, placing human righteousness and human effort at the center of sanctification and supplant the work of the Holy Spirit; or License, that is, they say, “Since grace and forgiveness are free, it does not matter how we live. There is no need to keep the Law.”
However, the Gospel gives a way far above either legalism or cheap grace. The Gospel says, “Grace is the power for holiness.” Walter Marshall in his book, “The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification,” emphasized several ideas to bring out this truth:
If you have come to faith in Christ, you participate in two blessings: your sins have been forgiven, and you have received a new heart and a new nature through the filling if the Holy Spirit. You have become a “new creation.”
As a Christian, you do not grow in holiness by “improving your flesh” through disciplined self-effort. You grow in holiness as you live out of your new nature. You grow in obedience as you live in union with Christ, and as Christ lives in you.
You have a responsibility to actively pursue sanctification. How? You must continually live by faith in Christ who loved you and gave himself for you.
In order to live the life of faith in Christ, you must know, believe and act like the old man was crucified with Christ and was raised with Him in resurrection power to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:8-14).
The key error of the Christian life is that people think that even though they have been justified by a righteousness produced totally by Christ, they must be sanctified by a holiness produced totally by themselves. Is it any wonder that many Christians feel defeated and discouraged in their Christian lives because they have tried and failed to change so many times!
1 Thessalonians 4:3
sanctification; hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos)
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consecration, purification
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the effect of consecration
sanctification of heart and life
Sanctification: not only the activity of the Holy Spirit to set man apart unto salvation but also enabling him to be holy even as God is holy. It is not only the transfer of a sinner into the ranks of the redeemed but the change in character of the redeemed sinner to be holy even as God is holy. – Key Word Study Bible, NASB, AMG Publishers
I believe God’s answer to the questions we posed earlier is found in Romans 5:12-8:39.
The theme of this passage is “life” – the abundant life promised by the Lord Jesus Christ in John 10:10. This passage is the only lengthy, organized, and detailed passage in the Bible that tells how we may experience the abundant life promised by our Lord. Therefore, it deserves our undivided attention.
In Romans 5, Paul presents life as issuing from grace and righteousness. In Romans 6, he changes the order to grace, righteousness, holiness and life.
In 8:1-10, Paul replaces the concept of grace with the Holy Spirit. The order then is Holy Spirit, righteousness, and life.
In 8:11-30, another change takes place. The order is Holy Spirit and life. The word “righteousness” is not found in 8:11-30. The life provided by the Holy Spirit is so vast it has features beyond those that come through righteousness.
A brief outline of the passage:
Condemnation and Justification – Romans 5:12-21
Crucified and Resurrected with Christ – Romans 6
Christians and the Law – Romans 7
Freedom and Fulfillment – Romans 8
“Here’s Life: An Exposition of Romans 5:12-8:39” by David Kuykendall
“Our Oneness with Christ: A Study in Living by Grace through Faith” by David Kuykendall
“The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ” by Walter Marshall
“The Saving Life of Christ” by Major W. Ian Thomas
“The Bible Exposition Commentary: Romans” by Warren W. Wiersbe
