In part 4 of our series in 1 Peter we continue to explore the glorious salvation that we have been given as Peter describes it in the first 2 verses of his letter. In this message we study what it means to be sanctified through the Holy Spirit. We discover 3 aspects of sanctification: Positional, Progressive and Perfect. It may sound like theological jargon but understanding these concepts makes a massive difference to the way we live each day and the priorities that drive what we do together as a church.
Audio Player
Sanctified Through the Spirit
1 Peter 1:1b-9
12/02/2012
Start of the new school term means the start of many of our activities. So what’s happening?
· Previously Fri - Y started
· Last Sunday - celebration of the Talibon trip & our ongoing partnership
· Last Sunday - Sarah Palmer’s baptism in front of family and friends
· Monday - Men’s Shed 1st week. Building Relationships (Keith sharing life story)
· Wednesday - Toddler Jam 1st week.
· Thursday - 1st week back for the craft group. This term they’re making welcome packs for new residents of Kingsley Lodge.
· Saturday morning - 1st men’s ministry event for the year, a bbq at the Mullane’s house.
All of these events have something in common - they are things that we do in order to share the message of our salvation or to prepare for opportunities to share the message of our salvation.
Why?
· Because salvation through Jesus Christ is something worth sharing.
· Because Life in Jesus is life worth living.
· Because Hope in Jesus is hope worth having.
I was at an event on Friday where it was observed that while people in Australia
Many people feel isolated. Many people feel depressed. Many people are stressed out. Many people feel like there should be more to life, and they’re right!
The Church must shine like a beacon in the midst of the gloom as our lives show that there is more. There is unshakeable and inexhaustible love, joy, peace, hope, security, acceptance, purpose all found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
How well are we demonstrating the glory of our salvation?
How well are you demonstrating the glory of your salvation to those around you?
Don’t take that question as a guilt trip, take it as an invitation.
Consider afresh with me today how wonderful our salvation is so that this week it may overflow from you to others.
Prayer
Truths from Last Week:
· Truth about Me: I do not belong here, I am a citizen of Heaven! Nothing here has a hold on me (no problem, person, circumstance, desire…)
· Truth about God: God works out everything for His good purposes.
· Truth about me: Every part of my journey in this life has an eternal purpose. I am part of God’s big story.
Just think about these glorious truths of our salvation shape our lives. How are you going to react this week when your boss or a family member is being unreasonable? Are you going to strike back, sulk about it, complain to an ally, lie in wait for revenge? No!! You’ll remember that even in that moment God has an eternal purpose and you play a part in it. You’re going to show patience, love, forgiveness, submission, peace… all by the power of God for His glory, bearing witness to His grace that may even reach the heart of that person and be part of bringing them to faith or causing them to grow in faith.
The truths we explore today will help this type of scenario become your normal experience of life as we discover salvation principles that lead to transformed living.
Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance. [1]
Last week we talked about what it means to be chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. What does it mean that we are also chosen through the sanctifying work of the Spirit?
To be sanctified simply means to be set apart. It means to be separated from some things and to be joined to others. In our case, it means to be separated from sin and joined to God and His people.
In order to properly explain what this looks like I need to describe to you the three facets of sanctification.
- Positional Sanctification.
This is simply where you stand. You are a citizen of Heaven. You were made part of God’s Kingdom when you believed in Christ, accepting His lordship over your life. At that moment you received the Holy Spirit who marks you out as a citizen of Heaven.
Eph 1:13-14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
- Perfect Sanctification.
Ephesians 1:14 made reference to the fact that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a sure guarantee that we will inherit God’s Kingdom when He comes for those who belong to Him.
This is perfect sanctification. At that time God will transform us so that we will no longer struggle with sin and the effects of sin. He will create a new heavens and earth (Rev 21) which will be completely good - no longer suffering under the curse God spoke in Genesis chapter 3. All evil and suffering will be separated from it in what the Bible describes as the lake of fire - a place described using various images in the Bible which all convey it’s misery. We usually simply call it “Hell”.
God will also separate those of His kingdom from those who have rejected Him. Those who reject Christ will suffer eternal separation from God in Hell, while those who have received eternal life in Him will experience the full blessing of His goodness for all eternity.
That’s perfect sanctification. I hope it’s clear to you that you want to be on the right side of that separation. You want to make sure that the people around you are on the right side of that separation.
In his second letter contained in Scripture the Apostle Peter reminds us that God “is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
(2 Peter 3:9)
I hope you have brought God great pleasure in accepting His offer of salvation in Jesus and that you are now engaged in the work of holding out that offer to people around you, so that they may repent (turn around, change direction, change destiny) and may enjoy eternal life with you.
It is very easy to fall into the habit of just wanting to be around people like us. People who think the same and live the same. Christians sometimes live as though God has already separated them from those who don’t follow Christ in the perfect sense that we’re talking about here. He hasn’t. In fact, the opposite is true.
- Progressive Sanctification
Listen to what Jesus prayed for His disciples in
John 17:15-18
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
These words of Jesus are a great summary of progressive sanctification. It’s what God does to make us more like Jesus - to live more and more as citizens of Heaven - so that we can share His heart for the lost and so we can represent Him to the lost.
Most of us here today are citizens of
That’s what it’s like as citizens of Heaven too. We don’t always live as citizens of Heaven ought to live. But as the Holy Spirit works in us, teaching us through God’s Word and helping us to live it out in daily life, we show our citizenship by our conduct.
Remember how Philippians 2 describes it?
It talks about us as shining like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life (Php 2:15-16).
Last week Colin shared with us the wonderful words of the Apostle Paul who said to the Corinthian believers “For the love of Christ compels us…”. His whole ministry - with all of the suffering that came with it - came out of that motivation.
The more you are changed to be like Jesus the more you will live like Jesus. You will not give in to fear or selfishness that has you pulling back from those who most need to see and hear the truth. You will not give in to the sinful desires in you that would have you join with people in their sin. On the contrary, you will invest yourself in relationship with others in ways that give them a taste of the goodness of God. That’s progressive sanctification.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
We need to be in proximity to people; and our lives need to shine brightly with the truth of Jesus.
Application - what are church services for?
Why do we get together each Sunday and at various other times?
There are lots of reasons and lots of good reasons. Two of the most common priorities people have in coming to church are to
1. Worship God, and
2. enjoy fellowship with each other.
Those are both great reasons to come to church. But let’s apply what we’ve just studied.
When perfect sanctification occurs our worship of God and fellowship with each other is going to go to a whole new level and it will never end. It’s going to be amazing!
However there is something that we are supposed to do together that will not be happening in Heaven. We are supposed to be being changed to be like Jesus and sent out into the world to be His ambassadors. We are supposed to be giving people who join us every opportunity to hear and respond to the message of salvation. Perfect sanctification is for the future, positional and progressive sanctification are for now!
When perfect sanctification occurs our opportunity to save the lost will be gone.
Friends do not neglect the sanctification through the Spirit that God has chosen to work in you.
Let God through His Spirit convict you of the truth of Jesus’ death on the cross for your sins and His resurrection for your eternal life. By believing in Jesus you will become a citizen of Heaven.
If you are already a citizen of Heaven allow God’s Spirit to help you to live like one! Don’t conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2).
Remember that God is holding off perfect sanctification so don’t you try to manufacture it. Don’t withdraw into a Christian ghetto where you feel more at home.
Be changed to have God’s heart for the lost, and have a firm hold of God’s truth for their salvation.
Truth about me: God has placed His Spirit within me to help me live as a citizen of Heaven instead of a citizen of this world. He helps me to bring the Kingdom of Heaven
[1]All Scriptures from The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids
