Sanctification

  • Christ in Our Hearts

    Ephesians 3:16-17a

    Christ does not wait for us to be perfect before He takes up residence within us, and for that we can rejoice. Yet it is possible to grieve His Spirit by our sin (Eph. 4:30), and so we must ...Read More

  • Building Together

    Ephesians 2:22

    God is building us into His holy temple, but that does not mean we lack a role in the construction process. Unlike regeneration, sanctification is a cooperative work between the Holy Spirit and us (Phil. 2:12–13). Because of ...Read More

  • Life Before Christ

    Colossians 3:7-8

    One commentator has said that “we should never confuse being moral with being Christian, but we cannot claim to be Christian if we ignore morality.” An outwardly upright life is not a sure sign that somebody knows Christ, but a ...Read More

  • Putting Sin to Death

    Colossians 3:5-6

    Understanding that we are already holy in Christ should not be confused with the perfectionism that we often see in other theological traditions. We will not be free from the struggle with sin before we are glorified, but knowing that ...Read More

  • The Goal of Reconciliation

    Colossians 1:21-22

    Being declared righteous in Christ, we are accepted into the kingdom of God by faith alone without any consideration of our works. Still, those who are declared righteous begin to act righteous, and we grow in love for our Savior ...Read More

  • Sanctification Demanded

    Leviticus 10:1–11

    John Calvin, in his commentary on today’s passage, notes how many people might view the Lord’s treatment of Nadab and Abihu as overly harsh. Yet, he writes, “If we reflect how holy a thing God’s worship is ...Read More

  • The Duration of Our Charge

    1 Timothy 6:13-14

    Christianity is a lifelong surrender to Christ. There is no such thing as “retirement” in the kingdom of God, and, therefore, if we are truly in Christ, we will never abandon our callings as members of the one body nor ...Read More

  • Experiencing Transformation

    The more you know God, the greater is your capacity to love Him. How well do you know Him? Your obedience or lack thereof reflects the answer to this question.Read More

  • Getting to the Root of the Problem

    Examine your heart before God. Ask God to soften your heart and make your spirit pliable in His hands.Read More

  • Merging Activism and Quietism

    Are you an activist, rejecting God’s assistance—or a quietist, insisting that He is totally responsible for your spiritual progress or lack of it?Read More

  • Cooperating with God

    Are you cooperating with God in the process of sanctification or are you depending on Him to do it all?Read More

  • Conforming to the Image of Christ

    Reflect on the final statement of this reading: “We are becoming holy. If we are not becoming holy, then Christ is not in us and our profession of faith is empty.”Read More

  • Pushing Through Plateaus

    What steps can you take to institute a personal program of spiritual growth?Read More

  • Becoming a New Creation

    Thank God for the new heart of flesh He has implanted in your spiritual being. Read More

  • The Christian’s Toil

    1 Timothy 4:10

    Scripture never depicts our pursuit of salvation as something that is without a reward. While we should never serve God simply for a reward, it is not wrong to expect many blessings as a result of our service. If you ...Read More