NewLife's Got Talent: Sanctified

Did we really blitz through Romans chapters 6-8 on Sunday in about 25 minutes? We sure did! There was much to cover and much we discussed because there’s a lot of important material in those chapters! So, instead of trying to repeat everything again here in this devotional, I’m going to give us five takeaways on sanctification for us to ponder. By the way, sanctification is the process that God takes us through to become more holy and Christ-like. It’s being separated from the world and being devoted unto God. So, here are some further thoughts on sanctification. 

1. Since sanctification is growing in holiness (not just rule following), it’s sometimes called “saintification” because God is growing us in our sainthood. When we meet Christ as Savior (Rom. 5:18-21 & Rom. 6:23), we enter into relationship with the Father through Him and are seated in the heavenly places with the Father in Christ (Eph. 2:6). That’s called positional sanctification. We’re already there in the Presence of God. However, we’re still in this earthly body which means we’re growing in our practical sanctification, whereas we’re still growing and will be until we’re with Christ in glory!
   
2. That’s why sanctification is so hard at times. It hits us in our hearts, where we struggle, it hits our core spots, and shows us where we need Jesus. That’s what Paul is saying in Rom. 7:7-23. He couldn’t  live this Christian life on his own. It had to be Jesus in him. The same is true for us.
   
3. We are no longer condemned because we are in Christ Jesus, as Paul teaches in Rom. 8:1. Yet we walk and live under condemnation too much and too often. Let us not only remember but LIVE in the freedom Christ has given us in power of His Spirit, Rom. 8:2.
   
4. So then, we are not debtors or obligated to live by the flesh (our sinful, human nature) but to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit, we can put to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13) and we know we are children of God, as shown because He leads us (Rom. 8:14). 
   
5. Finally, nothing will separate us from God’s love for us in Christ (Rom. 8:28-38). That’s the ultimate in sanctification, or devotion to Him, because He’s utterly and completely devoted to us in Christ. That my friends, might just change our lives, if we will believe Him and take Him at His Word in this. 
   

Do you really want Jesus to change your life? Or stay stuck where you are? Only you can answer that question, but if you press into His work for you, you will be transformed into His image. 

That’s your choice.
Let’s be devoted to Him. 
As always, I’m on this journey with you.

Pastor Andy 

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