Daily Archives: May 29, 2009

Sanctification

Sunday Evening Sermons

 

 

What Am I Doing In Church?

 

Doctrinal Statement

 

John 16:8-11

Preached Sunday Evening May 31 2009

 

Introduction:

 

          Tonight as we continue our study of our constitution, we come upon the subject of sanctification. This term refers both to act of God setting believers apart from the world upon salvation, and the process of believers becoming less like the world and more like Christ.

 

          There are some false teachings out there on this subject. For example; some teach that one is made perfect, without sin, upon salvation, and when he sins, he looses his salvation. On the other hand, some cite grace as license to be as worldly as you desire after salvation since works do not save you.

 

         

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF FAITH OF THE

EVANGELICAL BAPTIST CHURCH

 

SECTION IV – SANCTIFICATION

WE BELIEVE that sanctification has a two-fold meaning; (a) that of setting apart of things, days, or persons specifically for God and that the believer at the time of his regeneration is set apart, by God the Father; and (b) the progressive work of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer, obedient to the Word of God, experiences the power of the indwelling Christ for holiness of life and victory over the old nature which work will be completed when the believer stands in Christ’s presence.

a)       I Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 10:10,14

b)       Colossians 1:26-28; John 17:17; I Thessalonians 5:23; II Corinthians 3:18

 

 

 

I.                   Sanctification means to be set apart by God

 

A.     A change of one’s position at the point of salvation.

 

è    A change of family

 

1.     Before salvation

 

John 8:44

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

 

2.     After salvation

 

Romans 8:15

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

 

B.     Based upon Christ’s sacrifice

 

Hebrews 10:10,14

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 

C.     A holy calling to service

 

1 Corinthians 1:26-30

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

 

II.                Sanctification means to be set apart for God

 

A.     Sanctified through the Word of God

 

1.     Personal study

 

John 17:17

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

Ephesians 5:25-26

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

 

2 Corinthians 3:15-18

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

 

2.     Preaching an teaching

 

Colossians 1:26-28

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

 

Ephesians 4:11-12

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 

è    ­Perfected= “completely furnished”

 

B.     Through God’s predestination

 

1.     To be conformed into Christ’s image

 

Romans 8:29-30

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

 

2.     To be sanctified

 

1 Peter 1:2

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

C.     Through the Holy Spirit

 

1.     Leading you to blamelessness

 

1 Thessalonians 5:23

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

2.     Leading to belief of the truth

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

It All Comes Down to your Love Life

Sunday Morning Sermons

Mathew 22:15-40

Preached Sunday Morning, May 31

 

Introduction:

 

          What is the greatest and most important commandment?  Jesus was asked this question by the Pharisees who wished for nothing more than to find something to accuse Jesus of.  Our Savior responded with wisdom and authority.  The most important commandment is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, and all of your mind.  By obeying this commandment and loving your neighbor, you have accomplished the spirit upon which all of the other commandments rest. 

 

          Today many people are seeking some kind of spirituality.  They wish to know and love God, but it is hard for some to figure out exactly how to love God.  One cannot see or touch God, how can one love Him?  The answer to that very practical question comes from our text.  One loves God with his heart, his soul, and his mind.

 

I.                   Truth is denied through political distraction.

 

Matthew 22:15-22

15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth,  neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

 

A.     The enemies of truth tried to trap Jesus with political controversy.

B.     Jesus rose above the conflict.

C.     Jesus focused on who He served, not on who He supported.

D.    Although Christians should vote intelligently, it is the message of the Gospel and the service of the King that will change the world.

 

Ephesians 2:1-3

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

 

II.                Truth is denied through finite reasoning.

 

Matthew 22:23-32

 

23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.  27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

 

A.     The questions were asked from a position of unbelief, not from a desire to know.

B.     The questions were asked to bewilder and embarrass.

C.     When these questions are answered, the questioner must accept the truth or aggressively reject it.

 

III.             Truth is discovered in love for God.

 

Matthew 22:36-40

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

A.     Many claim to believe and love God.

B.     These same people who tried to make a mockery of the Messiah, claimed to love God.

C.     They focused upon external rituals to salve their consciences

D.    Now they thought they would stump Jesus with a theological question about the greatest commandment.

E.     It is all about love for God and love for your fellow man.

F.      If you pursue these, then everything else falls into place.

 

IV.              Love God with your heart = inner man

 

A.     Guard your heart = keep and protect it.

 

Proverbs 4:23

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

 

B.     Seek God with your whole heart.

 

Deuteronomy 4:29

29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

 

C.     Serve God with your whole heart.

 

Deuteronomy 10:12

12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

 

Psalm 119:10

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

 

D.    Praise God with your whole heart.

 

Psalm 9:1

1  I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

 

Psalm 111:1

Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. 

E.     Repent with your whole heart.

Jeremiah 24:7

7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

 

V.                 Love God with all your soul = Breath, the very essence of physical life.

A.     More than any fleshly drive that resides in our carnal bodies.

1 John 2:16-17

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 

B.     More than life itself.

Luke 14:26

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

VI.              Love God with all of your mind.

A.     Get to know, and understand God’s love.

Ephesians 3:14-19

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

B.     Keep your mind clean.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;