Justified and Sanctified
God’s plan is our justification and sanctification for his glory. Justification means that through the righteousness of Christ we have been saved from the consequences of sin and delivered from the power of darkness. Since we’ve been justified we’re a new creation in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. Justification is the result of our righteousness in Christ. Not because of what we’ve done but because of what Jesus Christ did: For he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
Sanctification is the answer to the question, “do you want to spend the rest of your life learning to become just like Jesus.” Sanctification means “to set apart according to the purpose intended by the designer.” This is the essence of Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s workmanship (His masterpiece, His Magnum Opus, His Great Work) created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has foreordained that we should walk therein.
The world says that we are deserving of Judgement. For the wages of sin is death. However where sin abounded grace abounded all the more. For in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.
John Lynch says in his book “The Cure,” that when you come to Christ there is a choice between two paths. One path says “Please God.” The other path says, “Trust God.” The path that says Please God leads to a room full of passionate immaculate people. Everyone appears to be doing just fine. When you enter the room, they hand you a mask. You’re welcome to join the impressive people in this impressive group. On most days, you receive an “atta Boy” from your Father. However on other days, when you take off your mask, you hear a voice of condemnation. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Finally when no one is looking, in desperation and guilt, you slip out the back. The path leads back to the fork in the road. The other path that says “Trust God” leads to a room of grace. In this room you’re welcomed by a group of messy, but honest guys. They’re open about having sinned…of coming clean before others and before the Lord. In this room God says, “I love you and I like you even though you mess up. I’m here in your midst and I enjoy your presence… I’m big enough to handle all you stuff…nothing you do or have done can come between me and my love for you. You’re my beloved son and I’m madly in love with you. You will learn to love me when you experience my unconditional love for you.”
The room of good intentions characterizes the world’s organizations. The world says that you’re judged by your performance. Life is a meritocracy and you’ve come up short. Therefore condemnation and judgement is your just dessert. Focusing on sin magnifies the condemnation. For in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.
However, by grace are ye saved through faith….it is the gift of God. Not because we deserve grace but because God is gracious. Not because we deserve love but because the nature of God is love. Salvation by grace flies in the face of human logic for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amazing grace is God’s unmerited favor given by the one who didn’t need to give it to the ones who didn’t deserve to receive it.
How do we set ourselves apart according to God’s purpose? Hebrews says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” The fellowship of believers is the answer to the declaration: Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief. The word “exhorting” is the Greek word Paraklete. It means to “come along side to help.” We’re here to bear one another’s burdens according to Galatians 5. This is the Liberty that we have in Christ. This is the freedom from bondage: Only use not Liberty as an occasion to sin, but in love serve one another.
We who are married have been called to support each other and to exhort or build up one another in love. Why am I here? I’m here because you’re here, you make me want to be a better man.
Oswald Chambers says in his devotional that Jesus Christ will teach us only when we’re alone with him. Alone time with the master is when we abide with him and spend precious time in his presence. In the assembly of the believers and in the multitude of people, we may have questions and confusion. But when we’re alone with him, he will answer our questions one on one. Prayer is aligning God’s heart with our heart. Faith must have an object of faith. The object of faith is Jesus Christ…he is the way the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father except by him. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
Most men think that they don’t have enough time to spend time alone with God. However as Martin Luther said, “I have so much to do today that I need to spend the first three hours in prayer.”
According to Ephesians 2:1, even you has he quickened (made alive) who were dead in trespasses and sins. The word “sin” means to miss the mark. To miss the mark you have to define the mark. The word of God defines the mark. The emphasis of the word sin is not on “missing” but on the mark itself. Therefore we press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah saw the depth of his sin and iniquity when he saw the glorious light of God’s presence. He said, “woe is me…I’m a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips.” He was devastated that he was unworthy in the presence of a holy God. Then an angel took a burning coal and touched it to his lips. God will purge our lips and cleanse us by his grace to speak the word boldly on his behalf.
When we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is confession unto salvation and confession unto fellowship with him. He created us so that we could confess that our righteousness is in Christ.
Unworthy was I of the grace that he gave, Unworthy to hold to his hand.
But he made me worthy and now by his grace, His mercy has made me his own…
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael