Sanctification.
For this teaching on
sanctification, I want to dip into Hebrews Chapter 12 beginning in verse 14.
This passage toward the end of Hebrews 12 is filled with great exhortations concerning different elements of the Gospel, but specifically the process of sanctification.
Hebrews 12:14-17 speaks on repentance, holy living, and safeguarding the inheritance found in Christ by serving God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear (Proverbs 1:7).
'14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:' (Hebrews 12:14)
Believer's should actively pursue peace with all men.
This is huge. 'All men' means everyone. Everywhere we walk we should bring peace. These shoes are part of the armor of God.
'15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace' (Ephesians 6:15)
Hebrews 12:14 also mentions holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
This is pretty straightforward, it means what it says.
Holy living could be seen as a prerequisite to go to heaven, and also to see the things of God (both assessments are very much Biblical).
'9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
One thing is certain, we can count on holy living being paramount to the believer's faith. This holiness is the result of a repentant heart, and progressive sanctification in the Lord Jesus Christ. The product of 'enduring till the end' (Matthew 24:13).
'13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.' (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Onto the next verse.
'15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15)
The Scripture says the believer should look diligently so as not to fail of (fall short of) the grace of God. Why?
Because this gives way for a root of bitterness to spring up and cause trouble. By this root of bitterness, many others may be defiled.
When I see 'fail of the grace of God' I remember Paul's thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).
The Apostle Paul was given a painful thorn in his flesh. He asked the Lord to take it from him 3 times, and the Lord said him 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9)
What would have happened if Paul had become embittered by this thorn in the flesh?
He certainly wouldn't have been able to complete what God had called him to do (which is why he allowed the thorn to strengthen him spiritually instead, rather than make him bitter - 2 Corinthians 12:10).
When a believer is overtaken by a root of bitterness (often caused by a hardship), that bitterness can defile others who're being ministered to. This is why believers must not let fail the grace of God. When faced with difficult times, a believer can become bitter, or better.
There is another account of bitterness in the Scripture which is found in Acts of the Apostles 8:9-23.
Simon the sorcerer was a man who believed the Gospel message that Philip was preaching (about the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ).
Simon was even baptized and continued to follow Philip, amazed by the miracles and signs being done. However, when Peter and John are sent to lay hands (and baptize new converts in the Holy Spirit), Simon's true intentions are revealed.
He offers the Apostles money in an attempt to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter then perceives that Simon is in the gall of (poisoned by) bitterness and bond of iniquity (Acts of the Apostles 8:23).
Simon really only wanted the gift of the Holy Spirit for his own selfish gain.
When rebuked by the Apostle, instead of repenting, Simon only asks that Peter pray for him so that none of what Peter said would come upon him.
'18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.' (Acts of the Apostles 8:18-24)
I take this passage to mean that another kind of bitterness can result in (or from) simony.
The buying or selling of ecclesiastical privileges
Next verse.
'16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.' (Hebrews 12:16-17)
These 2 verses have to do with repentance. The Lord Jesus Christ proclaims the gospel of God with a call to repentance (Mark 1:14-15).
Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action when it comes to the Gospel.
This means cleaning up our lives in response to the good news that Christ has fulfilled God's righteous requirement in regard to the law (~613 commandments). We are now free to live according to the Spirit, rather than our former way (Romans 8:2-6).
Now Esau is given as an example here (Hebrews 12:16-17) because Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a single meal (since he was very hungry at the time, he eagerly gave it away).
In doing this, Esau despised his birthright (his inheritance).
34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.' (Genesis 25:34)
Later on, Esau realized what he had done and couldn't take his birthright back since Isaac had already given his blessing to Jacob (Genesis 25:29-34, Genesis 27:1-45). Therefore, Esau found no place for repentance.
In the same way, the Scripture compares believers who live in a state of perpetual unrepentance, as despising the inheritance they received in Christ (by satisfying the hungers and lusts of the flesh).
This
concludes the message from
Hebrews 12:14-17..
Now before I'm accused of preaching a 'works based' Gospel, I want to submit James 2:14-26 which emphasizes the importance of good works.
Good works serve to perfect the believer's faith.
'22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?' (James 2:22).
The Bible also states that even the demons 'believe' in one God (and tremble).
'19 Thou believest that
there is one God; thou doest well:
the devils also believe, and tremble.' (James 2:19)
If faith simply means to believe in 'a Christ' then what kind of state is such a faith in?
'For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.' Matthew 24:24
'24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also
was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.' (James 2:24-26)
I will end with this.
The Bible says that faith, without works supplementing it, is dead faith (i.e an ineffectual/ineffective faith). That's all for this message..
May God bless you and keep you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edit: More food for thought.
The imputation of Christ's righteousness is an interesting subject.
Of course through faith in Christ, He has become unto us the righteousness of God (Romans 3:22).
However if this righteousness is automatically imputed (Romans 3:22, Ephesians 2:8-10) why does Revelations speak of varying
degrees of moral virtue?
'11 He that is
unjust, let him be
unjust still: and he which is
filthy, let him be
filthy still: and he that is
righteous, let him be
righteous still: and he that is
holy, let him be
holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.' (Revelations 22:11-12).
And again, in the book of Jude we see a superlative of faith.
'20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on
your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,' (Jude 1:20).
'
most holy'.
What is a '
most holy'
faith?
Are the verses regarding imputed righteousness contradicting these other verses?
Certainly not, something is being omitted when it comes to
justification and it's the believer's duty to seek out what that something is.
'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' (2 Timothy 2:15)
'14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16
As also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But
grow in grace, and
in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.' (2 Peter 3:14-18)