Sanctification - Frank Brancato 11/24/19

It's wonderful to be here with all of you today to worship, God

in spirit and in truth, and we hope and pray.

That what we have to consider in this.

Our lesson today would be both edifying and encouraging to you.

Our text to be found, as you can see on the screen in 1st

Thessalonians chapter 4, to introduce the idea or the

subject of sanctification first Thessalonians chapter 4 and we

1 Thessalonians 4 · chapter mention

want to Begin there in verse 3, where the Apostle Paul wrote for

this is the will of God, your sanctification that ye should

abstain from sexual immorality. That each of you should know how

to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in

passion or lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.

That no one should take advantage of and defraud his

brother in this matter because the Lord is the Avenger of all

such Oh, such as we also forewarned you and testified for

God did not call us to uncleanness but in Holiness or

sanctification. In fact, The New American

Standard actually renders it as the English word,

sanctification. Now let me just say this,

sanctification is a Bible subject, that is extremely

important, but it's been convoluted by the basic theories

of the day. Let me just say this, the reason

for the lesson I was actually asked to preach on the subject

of sanctification because in the religious world today, it seems

like this is the buzzword. In other words, it's all about

being Sanctified or it's all about sanctification, and, you

know what, they're right, it is all about sanctification, but

the question is this, what is it, what does it mean?

And how do you get it? You know, I was sitting down and

I was trying to put together this the notes and some various

resources for study of this subject.

And I did what we often do because we live in the Google

age. I Googled views on

sanctification, and it's very interesting by the way, we're

not going to go through all the aspects of these views.

In fact, I will tell you this, if you read these views, their

long laborious, hard to understand and confusing and all

of that. So, what we want to do is we

want to take A very profound subject called sanctification.

And in this lesson offer a very simple explanation so that we

can apply it and we can understand it.

But here they are. And all fairness.

Here are the five prominent views on the subject of

sanctification today? There's the Wesleyan view,

there's the reformed view, there's the Pentecostal view,

there's the Keswick View and there is one called the

Augustine Ian. Respect dispensational view as

well. I'm not going to go into all of

those views. What I want to talk about those,

I want to talk about what the Bible says, but first of all,

there is a view. We will talk about a scriptural

view, but Or the scriptural fact.

There's a View today that says, this, that sanctification comes

initially by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit and

it's done in a miraculous form. It's done in a mysterious

conversion process. And then some allege that if you

receive such from the Holy Spirit, miraculously that you

become converted or saved and in time in the process of time,

Time sometime in your life, you are a candidate to receive the

baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now follow me on this, you

received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and when you get that and

when you're the recipient of that, it becomes an

impossibility for you to sin. I'm going to tell you that

doesn't make any sense at all. There's only one that ever

walked on the face of this Earth.

That was perfect. There's only one who had no sin.

The Bible says, if we say we have no sin, we are a liar and

the truth is not in us. We understand that that everyone

sins. Now let's just address the

concept of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I don't have time to go into that.

So I'm not. I'm just going to make the

statement baptism of the Holy Spirit happened.

Only two times in all the world since Acts chapter 2 on to the

Acts 2 · chapter mention

present time right now. And it was done in Acts 2 on the

day of Pentecost and it was done in Acts 10 when those Gentile

converts in the household of Cornelius were converted and the

purpose of that was to show Jewish Christians, that God was

accepting the Gentile to enough said on that.

But let's talk about that. What if somebody actually did

receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, could they sin

absolutely? Peter received the baptism of

the Holy Spirit and on A Pentecost preached, the First

Gospel, sermon with the opportunity to respond to it.

He talked about the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

That Jesus said, and the church was established on that day, did

he sin? Yeah, in Galatians Chapter 2.

Galatians 2 · chapter mention

You remember? What Peter does?

Peter being caught up with the thoughts of the Jews and so

forth, refused to eat with the Gentiles.

And that was a sin and others were carried away, even Barnabas

and they I followed in Peters example, did he sin?

Well, Paul said I was stood him to the face for.

He was to be blamed, so it doesn't make sense.

Even if you could receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit,

you're still gonna sin John the Apostle.

Likewise had obtained this baptism but he wrote that he and

all the saints were capable of sinning.

And first John chapter 1 verses 6 through 10.

1 John 1:6–10

So no one in this life, I don't care who you are.

I don't care when you live well, live their life without

Temptation, will live their life without sin.

We all sin. We never reach a point of

sinless perfection. In fact, in 1st Corinthians,

chapter 10 and verse 12, Paul said, therefore let him who

thinks he Stands, take heed, lest he fall.

I want to slip something in I thought about this, I got up

real early my little Sunday morning regiment, get up real

early. Get the coffee going and study

my lesson. It's quiet in the house and

something kind of hit me this morning.

I was thinking about this passage that says let he who

thinks that he can't fall. Let him take heed, lest he fall.

And, you know, I think about this idea.

I think about sometimes we have the attitude and we can have the

attitude, like, it could never happen to me, or we can have the

attitude. I will never fall.

I will never fall, there's no way.

I would fall. Not me, I'm so strong.

Do you know when you have that attitude it kind of dawned on me

this morning, isn't it entirely possible when you have the

attitude of arrogance that those things only happen to other

people? But not you could it not be that

you just fell. In a different way.

You just fell. That's an arrogant spirit and

arrogant heart can't do that. Take heed lest he fall don't

ever act like you could never happen to you.

What do we want to do though? Today, we want to notice

sanctification and why we want to notice how we can serve God

better by understanding sanctification and serve him

more in our life. So let's talk about that word

sanctification. First of all, what does it mean?

Our English word derives from two Latin words and it's very

simple. It is the Latin word Sanctus

which means holy and faccio which means to make.

So sanctification literally means by the Latin phrases.

There it is, the process of making one holy or being made to

be holy. That will talk about holy in a

minute. What's mr.

Webster. Say look him up to when Webster

say about that He said that sanctification was the act of

consecrating or of setting apart for a sacred purpose.

It is the act of making holy. So that's the Latin words.

That is the Webster's Dictionary.

Let's go to the Greek. Been the Greek literally comes

from that Greek word and Vine defines it as a separation.

To god, notice, it doesn't say separation from God.

It says separation. God.

It's a concept of making one to be holy.

In fact, you know that Greek word there is used 10 times in

the Greek, New Testament. And it's translated,

sanctification and it's translated Holiness.

Let's go back to our introductory passage.

I'll just notice two words verse 3 and verse 7, that is this

exact Greek word. In fact, this Greek word is used

often times interchangeably into English words either,

sanctification or Holiness so that's what we're talking about.

They're used interchangeably because they have identical

meanings, but you know, the Bible itself gives the meaning

of sanctification. Let's go back to the Old

Testament. Let's go all the way back to the

time of the creation in Genesis chapter 2.

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

And In this passage notice in verse 3 of Genesis chapter 2,

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

then God blessed the seventh day.

And Sanctified it. God Sanctified the day.

Why? Because in it, he rested from

all of his Works which God had created and made.

So in Genesis chapter 2, the only one that rested on the

Genesis 2 · chapter mention

seventh day was God. So what did God do?

God? Hal of that day, he Sanctified

that day. He made holy that day.

He set it apart on that day, because he was finished with his

labors. Let's go to this passage now.

Exodus 29 7 days, you shall make atonement for the Altar and

sanctify. It and the altar shall be most

holy, whatever touches the altar must be wholly.

So, in other words to sanctify is to make holy that is a Bible.

Definition straight out of the scripture, straight out of the

word of God. Let's go to one more Passage.

In Leviticus 27 and 16 if a man dedicates to the Lord, part of a

field of his possession. Then your valuation shall be

according to the seed for it, a homer of barley seed shall be

valued at 50 shekels of silver. So what are we saying?

In all of this, what we're saying is these things, these

animals and these people were Sanctified to God's holy Press

and use. Did you catch that set aside for

God's purpose and use? In fact, that's a really good

definition. It means to set apart to God, to

be used by him and used for him, but notice though.

Once the item or individual separated though it was not to

be used for other purposes like common purposes.

In fact when pagans would offer a hog on the altar at the

temple, the altar became polluted when a person obeys the

gospel and is Sanctified, he must live, a separate or

Sanctified or holy life and you know what?

If you go back and you turn your back you have Looted that

spiritual relationship and you lose a connection or

relationship with God until you repent and come back.

When you obey the gospel though, your life is to be.

Holy your life is in service to God all the days of your life.

A life that is consecrated and dedicated to God's service and

not turn your back on the things that you have learned and the

things that, you know, to be right.

Because when we do we lose fellowship with God.

Now I want to say this though. I don't know any other thing in

life. Where you get Second Chances

after second chances after second chances, all of your

life. Where things are not held

against you when you make them, right.

I don't know any other aspect of it than what God does when we

repent and come back to the truth.

I'm going to tell you you do that enough to your boss.

You get fired. You mess up enough and you're

going to get fired. You mess up another school here

again, F that's just the way it is or kicked out or in trouble.

There's always ramifications like that, but when you cut, it

comes to God and it comes to forgiveness when we repent now,

repentance means you're changing repentance means this, I'm no

longer going to live that way. I'm wrong.

I Repent, I confess that sin to God.

I ask for forgiveness and you know what?

God forgives us more on that though.

Though, in just a few minutes, great Blessings, by the way,

great blessings. What I'm saying is when we sin

and lose fellowship with God, he is there like the father that

never left the father's house looking for the prodigal to come

back and he's looking every single day.

Why to forgive him when he returns?

I don't know. Anything else in all the world

of any relationship in all the world.

That is like that. So there's two sides to

sanctification. Please get this.

As used in the New Testament, two sides.

One. It's used in reference to the

process by which one is first set apart.

All who become Christians are set apart when they are saved.

This sanctifying process is called the following.

It's called being added to the church.

In Acts chapter 2 when the First Gospel, sermon was being

Acts 2 · chapter mention

preached. We just mentioned that a moment

ago, right? Acts 2:38, then Peter said unto

Acts 2:38

them, repent, and be baptized every one of you.

In the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you

shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ghost and Acts chapter 2 and verse 47.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

It says, praising God, and having favor with all the

people, and the Lord added to the church daily, those that

were being saved. So, that's one way.

That is phrased of a person that is Sanctified, he's added to the

church. What else he's translated from

the kingdom of darkness, which is out in the world.

And he's transferred or translated into the kingdom of

God's. Dear Son, Colossians chapter 1

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

and verse 13. What else?

What else it's called entering? Jesus Christ in Galatians 3:27

Galatians 3:27

for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on

or have clothed them self with Christ.

So sanctification you're out of the church.

What's the church? It's the kingdom.

What's the kingdom? It's the church.

When do you get in when you're baptized for the remission of

sins? All right.

The gospel though of Jesus Christ, God's word is the

sanctifying power. In fact in Acts chapter 20 and

Acts 20 · chapter mention

verse 32. It says, so, now Brethren, I

commend you to God and get this to the word of his grace.

Now what we're talking about moving forward is extremely

important, so please stay with me.

I commend to you to God and to the word of his grace.

What about it which is able to build you up and give you an

inheritance among all those who are Sanctified so what has the

power to be Sanctified? What has the power to lead

someone to be Sanctified? It is the word of his grace.

What else? In John chapter 17 and verse 17.

John 17 · chapter mention

Jesus said this sanctify them by your truth.

Your word is truth. Now, I want to notice something

about the Corinthians and their sanctification.

Those in Corinth, by the way, in 1st Corinthians chapter 6.

In 1st Corinthians, chapter 6. Paul said this.

And such were some of you, but you were washed.

But, you were Sanctified, but you were justified in the name

of the Lord Jesus. And by the spirit of our god,

notice what they got. Now, we're talking about

Christians, these are members of the Lord's Church.

They were in the Kingdom. They were added to the body of

Christ. They were all that that we just

talked about. They're also Sanctified by the

blood of Christ. Three things about their

sanctification, they were washed, they were Sanctified and

they were Justified. I'd all three.

Now we know about the washing part.

Saul of Tarsus who later became the Apostle Paul in Acts 22:16.

Acts 22:16

He's in Damascus, he's on the street, which is called

straight. He's there, he's praying for

three days and denies comes in and said, and what are you

waiting for arise and be baptized and wash away?

Your sins? Calling on the name of the Lord,

when somebody obeys the gospel, therefore becoming Sanctified,

the first thing they're washed or cleansed.

From their sins, by the blood of Christ.

Now, I'm going to notice the next two words, but I got to

talk about Justified first. Because Justified really goes

hand in hand with washed. And by the way, this is the one

we all want, I'll take it a step further.

This is the one that the entire religious world would like to

have with no further obligation. The word Justified, when you're

washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, you are now Justified

and the word, Justified literally means it causes to be

held as though we were never guilty of sin in God's sight.

It means it doesn't mean parole. It doesn't mean probation.

It means not guilty. It's the same word.

Jesus used to describe the tax collector who wouldn't even look

up toward the heavens but smote his breast as an outward sign of

inward, anguish and said God be merciful in the original God.

Be merciful to me The Sinner. Jesus says he went away.

Justified, meaning, his sins were forgiven And that's exactly

what happens when you obey the gospel.

We love that part where washed in the blood of Jesus Christ for

the remission of our sins and because of that we're justify.

Do we love that one? My sins and all my past is gone,

love that one but there's another one.

We're Sanctified to at the same time.

The word Sanctified literally means sets us apart in Christ to

serve and glorify God. You were saved.

Not only to save your soul. Not only to have your sins

forgiven. Not only that, you might be

justified in the eyes of God and not guilty, but you were saved

by the blood of Jesus that you might serve and glorify God all

the days of your life. That's what the word Sanctified

means. So notice what we've seen, we've

seen this salvation is in Jesus Christ, and none of them and

Jesus even said that he said no man comes unto the father except

by or through me salvation is in Christ.

What else? Sanctification is also in

Christ, First Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 2.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

We find that baptism puts one into Jesus Christ.

So what have we learned? Ian, sanctification and

justification, all are the results of being baptized.

And baptism is the culminating act for doing just that and

places us into the spiritual State.

Now, we get that part right. But what I want to talk about is

I want to talk about the process that people talk about.

That's number two, that's the second part of it, two parts of

it, right? How you enter in that's a

baptism but what people are talking about in their everyday

life today and it's kind of a buzzword today.

They're talking about the next thing we're going to speak of.

In other words, what happens after I'm Sanctified or saved

what happens? Then?

Well, notice this is a reference to our spiritual development

after we obey the gospel. Remember this to Salvation

comes, or sanctification comes at baptism.

This is what Paul said to the Thessalonian Brethren, these

were members of the body of Christ.

These were those that have been Sanctified all that Paul says

now may the God of Peace himself, Sanctify.

You completely that's what people are talking about.

What in the world doesn't mean how you do it?

That's what people are concerned about.

They were already Sanctified at baptism, they were set apart at

baptism. They were forgiven at baptism.

But what about this? Paul is writing to Christians

and he says, may the God of Peace himself sanctify.

You completely then he says and may your whole Spirit soul and

body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord.

Jesus Christ. All right.

Already Sanctified. But what's it mean to be

Sanctified completely? His inspired statement spoke of

their need to be, made sound in every way with every Grace.

That is present. I want to notice with you James

chapter, 1 and verse 4. James, 1 and 4.

But let patience have. It's perfect work.

That you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.

Now, first of all, this is where people get messed up.

Because sometimes the word perfect is translated complete

second, Timothy 3:16 and 17 that the word of God may be perfect.

The word that the Christian man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

And in that passage the word perfect means complete.

So, this is what people do. If this means complete here,

then this has to be something else and sometimes people in the

world with this new view that we're talking about, Believes

that a person can actually reach a point of sinless, perfection.

All you have to do is look into various translations of the word

of God, and it'll tell you what the answer is and what this is

talking about. It is so simple, James says, let

patience have. It's perfect work that you may

be perfect and complete lacking and lacking nothing.

The word, perfect. Literally means mature.

That's what he's saying and the word complete means completely

developed. What he saying is, I want you to

be complete or mature and I want you to grow to spiritual

completeness. That makes sense.

Without sin, doesn't make any sense.

That makes sense to me completely developed.

Now very quickly, how does one know if he's complete in Christ?

How does one know that, you know, the Bible appeal store

intellect and it's not a checkoff system.

It's not don't get me wrong, but the Bible is very clear and it

deals with our intellect. And if you want to know a

pattern for living a life that is acceptable to God, it's found

in the word of God, you can find out exactly what we need to do.

Notice this past is very familiar.

I won't spend very much time on it, but in second Peter chapter

2 Peter 1 · chapter mention

1, beginning in verse 5. But also for this reason, giving

all diligence add to your faith. In other words, add the time

from the time that you're Sanctified at baptism and you

become a child of God, you have a responsibility.

Now to be set apart for the service of God for the rest of

your life. And this is what he says to do.

You gotta add moral Excellence. That's virtue.

You gotta add knowledge. That word means, proper

knowledge, and proper Insight. That is properly understood and

applied. That's a whole sermon in itself

but we'll move on and moral excellence and knowledge.

What else, how about this one that you have to have?

Everybody needs that one self-control literally means

holding yourself in see how they're building on one on the

other then perseverance and that's having the

stick-to-itiveness power to resist the evil to evil things.

As in the world and stand the test of time until the Lord

comes back and contend for the faith perseverance, make it to

the end which leads to Godliness a proctor goal.

Awareness of God in every aspect of your life, that will be

demonstrated in how you treat people in brotherly.

Kindness All. As we're trying to get to this

one and that's agape love. As we're trying to get there.

That's how you become complete in Christ.

And, by the way, this is not a one-time checklist and it goes

up and down. It goes the other way too.

It goes backwards, the things apply going backwards, they do,

it's not a one-time thing, it's a lifetime thing.

So to make your sanctification more complete, we have to apply

these things in our daily Walk of Life.

That's how you get. Sanctification being complete in

your life. Second Corinthians chapter 7,

2 Corinthians 7 · chapter mention

another Passage. Paul said this, therefore having

these promises beloved let us cleanse ourselves from all

filthiness of the Flesh and spirit perfecting Holiness.

In the fear of God, perfecting Holiness is sanctification, it's

bringing our Spiritual Development to completion, and

simply put it means this to reach spiritual adulthood You

know, we talked about the words fully grown, that's all that

means. You don't reach a higher level

of perfection and sinless behavior.

But you become spiritually mature.

Sanctification is a state of Holiness which means we are

separated from sin. We are separated from the guilt

of our past sins and set apart to God's holy purposes when we

obey the gospel. We know that, but as we increase

our store of knowledge and live better to serve God, more fully

we grow in Holiness, sanctification and draw nearer

to our spiritual Perfection, completeness, or maturity.

And it doesn't mean that you can't sin, and it doesn't mean

that you can't learn. I gotta tell you.

I don't even need to tell you this, you know, this.

Because it's for everybody. But every single day that I

study the Bible, I learn something.

You know, we were talking about this in a private Bible study,

just the other day, how the Bible is, the only book that is

timeless that has withstood the test of time and it's the only

book the inspired word of God that you can learn from every

day of your life and you can do it all of your life and I don't

care if you live to be 110, you can learn every day.

That's because it's the inspired written word of God.

See you never ever, ever in completeness or maturity or

complete in Christ. You never reach a level where I

can't grow anymore. I've maxed it out.

I can't learn anymore. I've maxed that out and

certainly you never reach the point that I cannot sin.

It just means spiritual maturity.

All right, notice though, there's a lot of discussions

regarding what means we are Sanctified with One claim is

that sanctification is accomplished by some sudden,

mysterious Supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit

upon the human heart and it's actually called the second work

of Grace Theory. This is a very prominent and

very popular view in other words and that's what by the way

people talking about. That's what they're talking

about. If you hear people in the

religious World talking about this, this is what they're

talking about. They're talking about the second

work of Grace Theory. We're sanctification happens by

the Holy Spirit. Now passengers, which are used

to support this Theory really offer.

No support. Let me show you one passage.

That's used to support the theory and then we'll take a

look at what it is. In Romans chapter 15 and verse

Romans 15 · chapter mention

16, the Apostle Paul said that I might be a minister of Christ of

Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Ministering the gospel of God

that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable.

First of all, very briefly. What Paul is saying is and we

know that Paul Paul, even though he preach to the Jews, even

though he preached to all manner of people, he was the Apostle or

the minister of the Gentiles. He took the gospel to the

Gentiles. That was one of the things that

he was a chosen vessel of Jesus Christ to be notice, he's a

minister of Jesus Christ, preaching the gospel to the

Gentiles so that they want, the Gentiles might be an acceptable

offering before God. That's what we know so far.

That the Gentiles are going to be an acceptable offering to

God. Then it says Sanctified by the

Holy Spirit. Do you know this verse, says,

absolutely nothing about how the Holy Spirit accomplishes this

action. It only states.

That Gentiles were the offering that was acceptable to God.

They were set apart and Sanctified though by the Holy

Spirit. The folks, please get this.

That is a statement of fact that is not a how-to or how it was.

It was a didn't say the means of how the Holy Spirit did it.

It just said the Holy Spirit was the fact.

So what is it? Then that statement, of fact

does not tell us how it's done. These people obeyed the gospel.

We know that Jesus spoke about people being Sanctified by God's

word. We've already used this passage

here it is. Again, sanctify them that Should

be a.m. by your truth. Your word is truth sanctify them

by your truth. Your word is truth.

So the Holy Spirit does something through a means.

When with regards to sanctification, it's by the

word. They were Sanctified by the Holy

Spirit. Through the word.

That's the power. That's the power.

We have more of though, me show you how the Holy Spirit Works

through means to through the word.

Give you two more examples, okay?

What about the Ephesian Elders? What about x 20?

In Acts, 20 verse 28, take heed to yourselves and to all the

Acts 20:28

flock among the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers

now in that passage it clearly states the Holy Spirit made them

overseers or pointed them as Elders.

It doesn't say how it says what it says a statement of fact the

Holy Spirit has made you overseers to Shepherd the Church

of God which he purchased with his His own blood.

Now, the Holy Spirit did not supernaturally or directly from

Heaven. A point Elders, what happened?

The Holy Spirit inspired the word of God and the men that fit

the qualifications of the holy spirit that was given in Timothy

and Titus. That's how the Holy Spirit

appointed them to be overseers and elders.

But the Evangelist did the ordination and the congregation

pick the men. Holy spirit gets the credit.

Sure that's the word of God. Holy Spirit, made him overseers.

But man did his part to and the only way that they obeyed with

the Holy Spirit said is they fit the requirements.

And qualifications, in the word of God, let me talk about

another one. What about baptism?

First Corinthians chapter 12, for by one Spirit, that's the

1 Corinthians 12 · chapter mention

Holy Spirit. We were all baptized in one

body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves are free and have

been made to drink into one Spirit, that's another passage

the Holy Spirit. By one, Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

We were all baptized into one body, so it doesn't mean that

the Holy Spirit did the immersing.

It means this. Somebody obeyed the gospel.

It led them to be baptized for the remission of sins.

When they heard the word of God, the Holy Spirit.

Did the leading through the word of God.

The Obedience came from obedience to the gospel, comes

from the Holy Spirit and a person takes them and assist

them and their obedience to it and baptizes them, or immerse

has them for the remission of sins.

Not mysterious folks. Not mysterious.

Obedience, the spirit's role in the process of revealing the

gospel. Second Thessalonians chapter 2

2 Thessalonians 2 · chapter mention

and verse 13. But we are bound.

To give thanks to God, always for you brethren.

Beloved by the Lord because God from the beginning.

Chose you for salvation through sanctification, by the spirit

and belief. In the truth, Jesus said

sanctify them by thy truth, Thy word is truth.

So when it says truth, it's the same thing as saying the word.

So let's notice it again, we're bound to give God, thanks to

God, always for you Brethren beloved of the Lord because God

from the beginning shows you too.

Basin which by the way, is any obedient Christian?

And it was through the sanctification, by the spirit,

Holy Spirit and belief in the truth.

So what I'm saying is this the second work of Grace Theory, got

to do it, we have to say it. It's doesn't exist.

It's wrong. Not because I said it because

the word of God says it. There's no support for the

direct operation theory in this or any other verse

sanctification is accomplished by the Holy Spirit.

Absolutely. He uses the inspired word of God

to bring the spiritual condition to pass.

The sanctification process includes the initial setting

apart first when we obey the gospel.

But secondly, it's the growth that we experience when we study

learn and serve God and increase in our spiritual strength.

Both of these aspects of sanctification are essential to

our Eternal salvation. Sanctification prepares us for

useful service in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

To it, is our last passage for this lesson.

I love this. Let's not forget this, okay.

Second, Timothy 2:21. therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from

the latter, he will be a vessel for honor and guess what?

He'll be. Sanctified.

And useful for the master. Prepared for every good work

here, stop to consider that you are saved to serve.

And not be served. What we do though, sometimes

it's kind of about me. I've been saying this a lot

because I heard it from a good friend and brother in Christ in

Idaho, and I've been using it, been telling him using it, but

I'm using it a lot, you know, when people say, why me We all

do that sometimes say why me you've heard me say this may

even recently the state. Again my answer to that is as I

got it from him. Why not you Why not what makes

you so different? There's, there's a need to be

done. There's a service to be done.

Why me? Why not you?

What up? I got a hard thing I'm going

through. Why me?

Why not you we are called and Sanctified to serve and be

useful for the master. We are saved to serve, not to be

served and some of the greatest things in the world, by the way

that are done for the church are done behind the scenes with

people with quiet acts of service, getting the work done.

And you know what? Nobody in this world.

May see you do it, but I know God's listening guys, watching,

God knows it all. He sees every bit of it.

And you know what? When you do that, you are doing

what you were born in Christ to do.

Be useful for the master. Be useful in dedicated.

Sanctification also, permits us to enter Heaven, folks.

Please get that and see God. It's a well-established

principle to that. We become like the object of our

adoration. Last Sunday, I talked about the

idea of worship. I talked about the idea of our

mindset. And that worship is not about us

at all. Worship is about God.

I like that phrase though. That I just read this week, you

become like the one who is the object of your adoration. so,

when you give God worship and adoration, From a spiritual

perspective, you become more like him.

And you know what that's called Godly.

That becomes Godly. And you have a practical

awareness of God in every aspect of your life and it will change

your life by righteous living. It'll change your deed.

You'll be a better servant than you've ever been before.

But don't ever look at the service that we have in Christ

as a burden. Look at it as an opportunity.

It's not a burden, it's a privilege.

What about those? That were beaten for the cause

of Christ and they praise God. And thank him that they were

worthy to be called one that could be beaten for the cause of

Jesus Christ. So when you think about that,

our little service is really no big deal, right?

I mean, we can do it. What I mean, is service is

always a big deal. Don't misunderstand me.

What I mean, is some of the other peripheral issues that get

in our way, the challenges the trials, all that.

They're not, they're not important.

Paul call them like afflictions and he had some pretty tough

stuff. The only for a brief moment,

only for a little while we can be better in the future than

we've ever been in days gone by. So in conclusion, sanctification

absolutely big subject, big subject very, very, very easy to

understand and very simple, we're Sanctified by the blood of

Jesus Christ. When were baptized for the

remission of our sins when we are we are washed in the blood

of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are justified in

our sins are gone, all the sins We've committed in the pasture

gone but we're also Sanctified and set apart for the Masters,

use for the rest of our life. That's number one, that happens

when you're baptized for the remission of sins.

And finally, number two, when you grow in Christ and you grow

to completeness, which is spiritual maturity, That's

sanctification to the power, is the holy spirit but it's through

the word of God. And when that supplied, guess

what you are Sanctified and you got to have both to go to

heaven. I'm through.

Thank you so much for your kind listening.

I hope this was clear and I hope it was easy to understand,

edifying and encouraging to all of us.

We never know the hearts and minds of those that are present.

Maybe you're hearing the sound of my voice.

I don't know and you have not been Sanctified because you've

not been washed in the blood of Jesus because you've not been

baptized for the remission of your sins.

The steps to become a Christian, a very simple Paul said, so then

faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God that

has the power. We talked about that already

several times. Jesus said, you have a choice?

Mark 16:16. He that believeth and is

Mark 16:16

baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be.

Damned he further said in Luke 13 and 3, I tell you nay but

except ye repent, you will all likewise perish.

He further said, in Matthew 10:32, if you'll confess me

Matthew 10:32

before men, I will confess you before my Father which is in

heaven and Acts chapter 8 tells us the confession is I believe

Acts 8 · chapter mention

that Jesus Christ is the son of God.

Upon taking those steps though. You're a fit candidate to go

down into the Waters of baptism. That's the point of Salvation

and contact the blood of Jesus and be washed and be justified

and be Sanctified. First Peter 3:21, the like

1 Peter 3:21

figure whereunto even baptism doth also.

Now, save us. If you've never done that, we'd

love to assist you in that today.

Maybe you have maybe you've drifted away.

Maybe there are things in your life that aren't what they

should be from a public nature. If we can assist you in that.

pair of those things confess, those things will pray with you

and for you and God will forgive We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional

information or you would like to receive a free Bible

correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True

Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.

Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.

We would love for you to be our honored guest.