Graduate 166: Five Reflections on the Church, Part 9

Sanctification: being set apart
Composed: 02 August 2009

Last week, two missionaries, Tim and Jervaun, visited our church and spoke to us about sanctification. They began by describing Tim's conversion and how, after praying to accept Jesus as his lord and savior, the next question that Tim asked was, "What do I do now?" This is such an important question for us to ask and take seriously, even if we have been in the faith for many, many years. 'So I prayed to receive Jesus. Well, what do I do now? What difference is that prayer and decision making in my life today?' Tim understood the importance of asking this question: "Because if I just go back to doing what I was doing before today, then this 'Jesus thing' is empty."

Unfortunately, the vital connection between that saving prayer and the rest of life here on earth is lost on many Christians. The gospel that many people hear often focuses on the salvation of their souls from hell in the afterlife and doesn't give adequate attention to the life that God desires for them here and now. As a consequence, when we start to speak of service, ministry, transformation, discipleship, and kingdom work, these are often perceived as add-ons, extra burdens, and even hindrances to living well in the present. When so many Christians are running themselves ragged just trying to get by, the call to do the work of God sounds like a terrible inconvenience.

But this is exactly what we were created for. Paul writes, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) If, then, we perceive these very good works as burdensome, we need to ask some serious questions about why that is the case. One of the main reasons that Christians are not enthusiastic about doing good works is that they perceive those works as just one more thing to add to the enormous pile that needs to be dealt with in their already crazy, busy, stressed, frantic, and frenzied lives. But there's something wrong with this picture. Jesus didn't call us to a crazy, busy, stressed, frantic, or frenzied life. He said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) Some will try to dismiss Jesus' words as unrealistic or explain them away somehow. But what if we tried to take them seriously instead. If our lives are so full that we cannot embrace and delight in the work that God has for us, could that be because we are not really trusting or following Him? (See Matthew 6:25-34.)

This is exactly why sanctification is so important and why it is so unfortunate that people neglect it. To be sanctified is to be set apart by God for some specific divine purpose. Now that does not mean that God just hands us a long list of Christian things to do. Rather, sanctification involves being changed and transformed from the inside out, into an instrument that God is able to use. Sanctification is the process by which every aspect of who we are (not just our external actions) is renewed, so that doing God's work becomes natural for us and so that our lives are increasingly pervaded and dominated by the characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (to recall just one familiar passage on this theme--Galatians 5:22-23). Paul writes, "Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from [what is ignoble and unclean, from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [that is, set apart], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21, from the Amplified Bible)

There's so much that needs to be said about sanctification and I'm so glad that Tim and Jervaun chose to speak on the topic. I hope that we all will take seriously that journey and process. 'So I prayed to receive Jesus. What do I do now?' Answer: Keep on going with what you've started! Allow the Holy Spirit to change and transform you. Keep that goal steadily before your mind. (Philippians 4:14-15) Enter into the disciplines and practices that will help you to know Jesus more deeply and trust in Him more fully. (If you need help in this area, seek the advice of a pastor or other church leader.) And give serious attention to the work that God has for you. As you go through the process of sanctification, you'll come to realize that the greatest fulfillment, joy, encouragement, and satisfaction really does come from doing the things that God created you to do.

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God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.