THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION – Part 2

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE For FRIDAY, 19TH MAY, 2023.

TOPIC: THE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION – Part 2

MEMORIZE: “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

SCRIPTURE READING: “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

EXPOSITION: 

There is a third sense in which the word sanctification is used in Scripture—a “complete” or “ultimate” sanctification. This is the same as glorification. Paul prays in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV). Paul speaks of Christ as “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) and links the glorious appearing of Christ to our personal glorification: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). This glorified state will be our ultimate separation from sin, a total sanctification in every regard. “We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

To summarize, “sanctification” is a translation of the Greek word hagiasmos, meaning “holiness” or “a separation.” In the past, God granted us justification, a once-for-all, positional holiness in Christ. Now, God guides us to maturity, a practical, progressive holiness. In the future, God will give us glorification, a permanent, ultimate holiness. These three phases of sanctification separate the believer from the penalty of sin (justification), the power of sin (maturity), and the presence of sin (glorification).

PRAYER POINT: Lord, let your resurrection power and the power of your word draw me closer to you unto daily sanctification in unbroken relationship with you in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Job 16-18.