Sermon: Order of Salvation: Sanctification

Tonight it's just going to be a quick verse. And I'll explain. in a minute what we're doing but Tonight it's just first John 2:6 just kind of as a launching point. to remind us of what we've been called to so let me pray before we just read that short verse together. We're gonna think about this Doctrine to get.

my father we are thankful that have given your son the sinners. And we could sing. words that truly we have no right to sing. or from your Amazing Grace Jesus Is Ours he's mine.

Do you pray that even the evening that would be true of all of us that sit in this place? For those of us that is true of this morning would you teach us? Even give us some help as we seek to fight the good fight to faith in this life. As we cling to our Savior even as he clings to us. You pray all this and strong name of Christ. amen 1st John 2:6 whoever says he abides in him. or to walk in the same way in which he will

respond to six

think about sanctification together tonight.

Oh, John. For the service? I've probably should have prepped a little more what I was saying this morning because I said I think in the second service I said something like we're going to look at it differently tonight in John said I'm so excited because it's I find sanctification incredibly hard. So I'm happy to look at it differently. No, not differently like that. I think we would all want to do sanctification maybe a little differently. But what

I want to do tonight is think about the doctrine together and not so much walk through the doctrine together as give some encouragements towards it. So not so much sermon tonight. Definitely not an exogenical sermon. but before we think about it together, I want to to note where sanctification folds in the Ordo saludis or in the order of salvation. Because one cannot walk as Christ walked without being in Christ. And one cannot be in Christ

apart from being cold in Christ regenerated in Christ. Given the gift of faith in Christ be led and repentance in Christ in essence be in Union with Christ. You can't walk as Christ's walk to part from being in Christ. Jesus said he abides in me and I in him Bears much fruit apart from me. You can do nothing. We are to walk as he walked, but it's impossible to walk as Jesus walked apart from Jesus. an impossibility these are example.

You often hear people say that he sets an example before us where to follow that example. That's very true. But he can't just be a mere example to you. It doesn't work that way. You don't have the ability to follow his example. one must abide in him dwell in him and he in them the Christian lives their life by the power of Christ and in the sphere of Christ in him in him, we live and move and have our being in his only in that way.

That you and I can do with the Apostle Paul says whether we eat or drink or whatever we do to the glory of God. That's the only way you can even seek. To live that kind of way. Is that you're in Christ?

sanctification starts here as a work of God's spirit and dwelling us. and leading us to work of God's spirit and dwelling us and leading us Westminster. Shore catechism says it this way sanctification is the work of God's free Grace. Whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness. That is it's a work of God's spirit in us. It's

a work of his grace Where You and I by virtue of that Grace are seeking to work out our Salvation as Paul will say with fear and trembling where we recognize that. We're trying to put to death the sins that remain in US and we're trying to give life. To the righteousness that we see in ourselves. Seeking to grow in Grace. But to death sin. And in that way you see that it's a battle. This is a battle.

We are to be holy as he is Holy.

Sanctification. The reason I want to do it this way tonight to think is something that any you are see regular attendee that comes to an evening service. You have heard a lot of things on sanctification. I special think of pastor Kevin sermons back on Romans 6 where he led you wonderfully through sanctification the doctrine of sanctification and that we have been set free from the power of sin and the Dominion of sin and walking through that and all that that means for the

Christian Life and so I would point you back to that sermon series that he did just earlier this year, but I thought what would be helpful maybe tonight is just to talk about it in this kind of way. I want to give you 12 encouragements this evening. twelve encouragement Regarding sanctification and then one overarching encouragement couldn't say it was going to give you 13 that doesn't sound right. So I'm giving you 12 and then I'm giving you one overarching

one at the end this evening as we seek to walk in the same way in which he will. first know the difference between union and communion with Christ. There can be no communion without Union. That's what I tried to set us up with here at the very beginning. You can't have communion with Christ apart from Union with Christ, but those two things are different. There can be Union with very little communion. JC Rio said it this way. He said Union is

the common privilege of all who feel their sins and truly repent and come to Christ by faith and are accepted forgiven and justified in him, but then he says this and rightfully too many Believers. It may be feared never get Beyond this stage. Partly from ignorance partly from laziness partly from fear of man partly from Secret Love Of The World partly from some unmortified besetting sin. They are content with little faith and

little hope and a little piece and a little measure of Holiness and they live on all their lives in this condition doubting weak halting and bearing fruit only 30 fold to the very end of their day. It's a difference between union and communion. Your United to Christ praise God your United to Christ. And you're just seek to grow in your communion with Christ. To enjoy all the benefits and freedoms that you can in this life.

And to do that takes true pursue. communion second light of that and they're going to build on each of the strive forward in communion. strive forward in communion the language is replete throughout the scripture strive labor fight contend work out. its effort it's working out. It's driving all biblical words. Do not rest upon your laurels. I fear that this is the great Melody. I I watch it now with my peers middle-aged

people and I watch it in older Saints this to me is the great malady. There's this tendency to look back and count all that was done for Christ all that. You survived all that you grew through and that is good. It's not a wrong thing to do. It's a right thing to do to look back. It's actually quite encouraging at times, but it is not encouraging if we look back in aren't straining forward. Have to be straining forward to the very end

of your days.

just like that middle-aged man that every time you talk to him he Regals you about how he was a star High School quarterback and he does so is he his belly is hanging out and he's got a tight-fitting t-shirt and you feel like that next piece of pizza could have a heart attack and die. You don't just look back. Matters what you are today?

Striving today Paul says in Philippians 3, but one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God and Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way a Christian is focused on their sanctification in a striving. forward third that regard realize that duty is not a four-letter word. Duty is not a four-letter word.

Have a duty. your obligation you've been purchased with a price you are not your own. as the Apostle says he says for me to live is Christ. We are to present our bodies as a Living Sacrifice. Jesus said in John 14 Whoever has my Commandments and keeps them he is who loves me. John says in first John for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandments and his Commandments are not burdensome. We put off we put on WE mortify the

Deeds of the flesh. We vivify the Deeds of righteousness.

There's obligation in Christ Duty. Is not a four-letter word for the Christian.

It's a way of life. And we don't do it perfectly not in this life, but we desire to do so we even named to do so. fourth remember you are a pilgrim.

so essential for sanctification you're aimed at heaven. Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven said Jesus. Store your Treasures there were more. and rust don't eat it away and cannot destroy. So make Christians get tied down with worldly concerns and worldly difficulties and worldly entanglements. This isn't your home. This isn't it. So you're preparing yourself more and more for your home to come your Eternal home, so don't get distracted.

Seems like everything in our world feels very important and everything in our world seems to be pressing and almost none of it is.

Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven. Just to Pilgrim passing through. leads to the next fifth quickly follows on this one impress upon yourself that today matters It's true. You're a pilgrim passing through but that doesn't mean that today doesn't matter it matters. Just because this world is passing away doesn't mean that your life your next day. Your next hour doesn't matter it eternally matters. We're being engaged with Christ and all that we do and

ready at any moment for his return or his taking of us home. Remember Jesus tells that parable of the ten virgins that are waiting for the bridegroom to come and there are five that he says are wise and there are five that are foolish in the five that are wise. They prepare for his coming by getting their lamps ready with oil but he says the five that we're foolish they were lazy. And they weren't prepared for the coming.

They put off what needed to be done. at any moment Jesus can take you home.

at any moment At any moment, he can return upon the cloud. But you do today matters.

remember Edwards You know in his resolutions that he started writing when he was. What 15 or 16 years old 18 years old 18 years old?

One of the resolutions that most stands out my mind goes something like this. I would not. Be caught doing. Any hour or what I would be ashamed to do the Lord returned upon the clouds and that hour.

Matters what you do today?

New Bible reading program you want to start to? Re-engage, the Bible with doesn't need to wait for the new year. Start today. They matter. You fell in the Sin last night, or erect with guilt. Okay? All right. confess repent and look to Christ today. this hour Don't wait for tomorrow.

The saddest conversations I had in pastoral Ministry was in the first couple of years that I was a pastor. I was setting down with an older pastor. and I think he was doing it as a warning to me and he was telling me about how he had not loved his wife. Well. They had been married for 40 some years. I remember looking at him and saying. Well lover well now. Remember him saying to me in reply. Jason it's too late. No. It's never too late.

It's never too late to labor for the glory of Christ. It's never too late. It's seek to be conformed more to his like. No matter what sins you committed no matter what errors you have fallen into no matter what habits Mark your life. It's never too late. today matters don't be like the man who resolves that he will go to such and such a place someday, but he never takes a step towards that place strive by his grace today.

today six ten to his means tend to his mean to be clear You will make no progress in Christ apart from the diligent use of his means none. Christian life isn't Magic. It doesn't just kind of happen that there is progress in Christ because the stars align and The Sun Shines on you that's not how it works. That's not how God has ordained it Christ is ordained means for our growth for our nurture for encouragement in him.

If we are not reading the Bible if we are not praying if we are not coming to the Lord's table if we are not reflecting Upon Our baptism if we are not attending corporate worship if we're not enjoying the Fellowship of the Saints we shouldn't be surprised that we make little to no progress in our sanctification. This is what he uses. Is what he's ordained?

most of not all backsliding in the Christian Life is due to a lack. Of attending to the means. God has given to us to communicate his grace to us.

But again, it's not magical. It means are not a rabbits lucky foot as if by opening the Bible and reading a few verses or saying a quick dull prayer or checking the box of walking in these doors. Each Sunday magically makes you grow in Christ. It's what I spoke about this morning. It is diligent reflective soul searching hard engage mind attentive humble use of the means that Christ uses for our growth. This is import the difference between the

most learned Christians and the most holy Christian. The most holy Christians have applied these truths to themselves. It'd been affected by.

That leads to the next. seventh know that your sanctification is ultimately. the work of Christ

That's why we attend his mean.

It's a spirit of Christ. working us causes the grow so though we strive that we use as means we Are Holy dependent upon Christ. There is no satisfaction apart from Divine working. And so as we seek to use his means we do as it has been said throughout the centuries we use the means as vigorously as if you were to be saved by your own efforts. And yet trust entirely to the grace of God as if you made use of no means whatsoever.

That's what it looks like. You pour yourself completely into these means as if using them is what will ultimately save your soul. And then you rest. trust in entirely the grace of God as if you use no means whatsoever. That's why it often goes together in the Christian Life right that we strive and we rest. That we fight and we're at peace. And you could go on and on there's this constant. Tension of the Christian life because both of these things are true.

eighth he watchful. He watchful. sanctification recognizes that we are in a battle Jesus instructed his disciples as he took them out to the Garden of Gethsemane. He he said that they were to watch and to pray you are a night Watchman upon the walls of the city and there are enemies that are seeking to probe the city walls of your life. There is the world out. There. There is Satan out there. There are the sins of the Flesh and they are all just

looking for different weaknesses in the walls to penetrate. So you have to Be watchful.

Paul says in Ephesians 5 see then that you walk carefully not as fools, but as wise he will say in First Corinthians 10. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he full be on guard against sin against Temptation against false teaching against worldly distractions Watch and Pray Jesus.

Well for one particular encouragement along these lines. Too often. We feel like we have significantly matured in some. Specific area of the Christian life and that's when we are the most prone to full. always since Shivers up and down my spine when a Christian says I would never or I won't. or when they do the reverse and they say I will because their guard has gone down. You're not Beyond any sin. I'm not Beyond any sin.

No matter what successes. I've seen in my Christian Life. You realize that we never eradicate any sin completely from our life. Sometimes you stomp it down and its head goes below the surface, but it is just lurking there looking for an opportunity waiting for a moment when you are in weakness and it can just raise it to Constantly are to be on guard. I've never arrived at any part in my life. Till I get to Glory. Be watchful

ninth having said that don't be discouraged by what you see Within. Be discouraged by what you see Within.

so often as we grow in Christ the wickedness and the evils of our own hearts become more known.

There are many Christians that become demoralized by this.

I think that they are worse in Christ today than they were two years ago or six months ago or yesterday when more often than not they just have a greater knowledge of their own sinful.

It's a great grace of God that he reveals our wickedness and our evil and the sinfulness of our hearts by degrees. We would absolutely all be completely undone. if we saw how Wicked our hearts truly are we would have all been undone at the very outset of the Christian Life if we saw ourselves even now the Glimpse we have now of our hearts as we've grown in Christ if we had seen that Glimpse at the start of our relationship

with Christ, we would have been undone.

To mark of his grace that he reveals it by degree.

Seen more of your sinfulness. It's actually a true sign of your growth in Christ.

the meek who inherit the earth Paul could say I am chief among sinners.

Archibald Alexander Illustrated this way he Said it's like a person shut up in a dark room and they're surrounded by horrible objects in that room and a single ray of light shines into that room and he sees some of the more prominent objects in the room. And as the light gradually increases he sees more and more of the horrific objects that he is surrounded by. It was all there before, but he didn't perceive it. And his increased knowledge of what is there is

simply evidence of increasing light. So don't be discouraged.

It's actually encouraging that. See more and more of your sin. 10th be intentional rather than General in your pursuit of sanctification.

Be intentional rather than General your pursuit of sanctification. It's a subtle trap of our adversary that he concerns us generally with sin. And we are generally encouraged to righteousness. You will not make true progress in Christ by generally pursuing righteousness. and generally killing sin you and I must aim specifically. No one gets anywhere by heading generally to somewhere. You have a destination. That's how you get there.

We aim specifically. I want to kill this particular sin in my life. Greed Pride lust line. And even being more particular than that, I want to start with killing. Anger in my life by not raising my voice at my children. And then even more particularly I want to replace that anger with love and with patience. And so I'm going to start each day saying something to my children that I love about them. That's particular. a particular

specific in your Pursuits of Christ

Count even the slightest growth in Grace as Divine kindness. Can't even the slightest growth in Grace is divine kindness. Zechariah the prophet is awoken by an Angel and he has shown a vision and in the vision he Sees the beginnings of the temple being rebuilt and we are told in Ezra that the young men and the young women of Israel that they rejoice as the temple was beginning to be rebuilt. But the old men and the old women they wept

and they agreed. And we're told that they wept and they grieved because they could remember Solomon's Temple and all the grander of Solomon's Temple. And now that they are back in the land. They think that all of that former glory is going to be realized immediately and they're beginning to see the building of this new Temple the second temple and it it is a shadow compared to the glory of Solomon's Temple. It's really fascinating.

What the Lord says to them? He says do not despise the day of small things for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. We so often despair when God is rejoice.

small movements towards Christ likeness a reason to rejoice

so often we think that if we are really mature in Christ. If we're really growing in Christ my struggle with this sin would not simply diminish. It would disappear that my desire to be more. Holy would not require so much effort. No more often than not God works again by degrees every little step forward that you and I take in Christ likeness every sin that we just take a little bit of the edge off that it just has a little less of a grip

upon us that we entertain it just a little less the righteousness that you and I grow in just a little bit here and there all of that is cause for rejoicing in heaven

should be rejoicing for you and I so often miss what he is doing and the joy of Thanksgiving because we're looking for something more direct dramatic and absolute in our life.

You're progressively. You may not see it. You are progressively Christian growing in Christ.

Remember David pouse and when my favorite illustrations I've ever heard about sanctification. late David Palace and where he said Christian sanctification is like a man that goes up stairs with a yo-yo. Those up and down the yo-yo. You're gradually moving upstairs. And you can feel that you can feel the dips. Can't believe I fell into that sin. And believe I've been walking like that. ah glimmer of hope I see that I'm loving that person

more. I stopped my mouth from Gossip In This Moment. You're progressively going upstairs. It's almost unnoticeable. at time more often than not those around you observe it. If trouble observing it in ourselves.

recognize that you are not in a competition with others. Recognize that you are not in a competition with others.

This is your sanctification.

I've always been struck by the end of the Gospel of John where Peter is on the beach with the Lord Jesus and Lord. Jesus is doing this threefold restoration of the Apostle Peter and he will ask him three times Peter. Do you love me and Peter will respond with his cries of you know, Lord that I love you and After that threefold restoration Jesus then just says to him simply follow me. and immediately Peter looks over his shoulder.

Follow me looks over his shoulder and he sees John.

He says what about him?

Jesus is response to the Apostle Peter. He says what is that to you? Follow me.

Stop worrying about others. Peter That enough to worry about yourself. You follow me.

Don't compare yourself to others. Reach different. We're walking after the same Christ, but we each have our own walk. how to dear friend who one day He came to me and he said Jason if I named a chapter of the Bible in each chapter of the Bible. Do you think you could tell me something that's in it? I said well. I could. Probably do that with some maybe even most of the chapters in the Bible. I surely can't do it with all the chapters of

the Bible. and he said oh I was just checking to see if it was normal because I can. I'm not him. If that's normal, I'm subnormal. I'm not him. I don't have his gifts. I don't have his ability. I don't have his talents. I'm responsible for me with the Lord has given to me. We each have our own law. I'm called to be faithful with the talents of the Lord has given me he isn't going to ask you on that last day whether you were faithful with the ten talents that he

gave Joe Smith or Jane Doe he's going to ask if you have been faithful with what he has given to you your gifts your talents your life your circumstances your possessions your time your energy. And on that last day, what we want to hear is well done my good and faithful servant. That's what we want to hear. and most or most of us and from what I can tell the mass vast majority of us if we are faithful he will say you have been Faithful

over a little now I will place you over much.

Enter the joy of your master.

So many we celebrate or even look up to today are not what they appear to be. Like looking at them through a side mirror on a car, there should be that warning object appears bigger than it actually is. Jesus said many who are first will be last in the last verse the runner who is constantly looking around at all the others in the race looking behind and even looking at those up ahead in comparing them to all themselves to all the rest around them. They've already lost

the race. You're running your race. You want to finish well?

or Murray exchange used to pray over and over and over when you Look through his biographies. He would pray over and over and over lord make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.

finally My overall encouragement Rest in his grace. You pursue sanctification. Reston is Grace. Or adversary so good trying to take our eyes off the Eternal hope that we have been given. None of us are what we desire to be. None of us are what we shall be. and yet Christ still accepts us because he's made us his own. I'm Jesus's As we sing tonight in Jesus Is Mine.

Even as we're striving to walk as he walked there's rest. Rest under the shadow of his wings.

John Bunyan was reflecting upon this truth while considering the words of Christ from Christ said this he said in him that cometh to me. I will know Wise cast out. Your wrestling was sanctification. It's because you've come to him. Which means that he will know Wise cast you out. Bunyan said this truth cuts the throat of all objections. It was dropped by the Lord Jesus for that very end. And to help the faith that is mixed with unbelief. All

of us sitting here this evening can say with that father of the child Lord Jesus. I believe help me in my unbelief. We all have a mixed faith.

Which rest in that? bunion and This brilliant pastoral way wrote this

He said but I am a great sinner says Thou. I will no wise cast out as Christ. but I am an old sinner say yes thou I will know Wise cast out as Christ. But I am a hard-hearted Sinners say yes, though. I will know Wise cast out says Christ. But I am a backsliding sinner say yes, though. I will know Wise cast out says Christ. But I've served Satan all my days says though. I won't know Wise cast doubts as Christ. but I've sinned against light says Thou

I will know Wise cast out says Christ. That I've sinned against Mercy says though. Well, no wise cast out says Christ. but I have no good thing to bring with me say as though I will know Wise cast out as Christ. If we have come to him.

Cannot be cast out.

This is something that's worth striving after because you can't fail to reach it. There will be a day. Love how John says it we know that we are not what we shall be.

But when he appears we shall see him as he is. So we shall be like him.

That's promise to you. All you're doing here. Is seeking to be come more by his grace by the spirits at work within you you're just seeking to become more like the one you love. and the one that you will be like someday. Perfect. all sanctification is fight the good fight walk as he walked as much as you're able by the power of His spirit.

pray

My father we are thankful. Thankful that there is a whole order of our salvation.

Thankful that those that you have called you have Justified and those that you have Justified you've Sanctified and those you've Sanctified will be glorified.

Thankful. That is the golden chain that cannot be broken. So we pray that we would be those who strive. All your power at work within us. And it also know the rest that comes under the shadow of the wings of your son and our savior. We would so love Christ. We would seek to walk as he will in this world.

We look more and more like the one we love. Pray this in the strong name of Christ Jesus our lord and savior. amen