“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” -John 17:19-20
In the very beginning God created Adam in His own image. Adam sinned and God immediately threw him out of the Garden of Eden. He didn’t coddle him or say, “just do better next time.” He immediately chucked him out. God could not tolerate sin, nor will he ever tolerate sin.
Even before Adam, Eve, you and I sinned against God, God was operating to bring us back to complete fellowship with Him. A fellowship that was not interrupted by sin or would entertain sin. A fellowship of holiness. We all face a two-part problem. The sins we commit, and the desire we have to commit them. The majority of grace centered preaching focuses on the committed part of sin and not the carnal (sinful) nature that causes us to commit those sins. It uses the blood of Jesus to cover the whole issue, but scripture address the issue as it is. The scripture proves that there is in fact two separate and distinct works of grace that are necessary to salvation. Two works that solve a two-part problem. The first work is repentance, which addresses sins committed. A sinful person commits sin. They covet so they steal, they lust so they fornicate, and so on. The first work is grace, which is repentance, brings forgiveness and takes care of the sins committed. It takes care of the before. Every sanctified person has a before testimony just like they have a after testimony. A sanctified person may say: before I was a hateful, lying, sinful man, but after I am a loving, truthful, righteous man; by the grace of God and the work of Christ. You may be walking through this life as a liar, cheater, fornicator, or simply a “good person” who believes in your own self for righteousness. Then the Word of God is preached to you and you feel conviction. That means you realize that you are lost, unrighteous, and doomed for hell. The response is repentance. Repentance is a turning away from sin. When you repent, God forgives. God can legally pardon you because Jesus died for you. However, what cannot do is continue to pardon you because Jesus died for you. Salvation is not a revolving door of sinning and repenting; else it wouldn’t be salvation. Jesus died for you, and God will pardon you if you repent. This is the first work of grace, and it takes care of the before. The second work of grace deals with the root cause. Since the first work takes care of sins committed, the second work takes care of the desire that made you do it in the first place. The root of sin that causes you to commit sin. So, what is the second work of grace? It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When you receive the Holy Spirit, it will instantly make you Holy. There will be an immediate, and dramatic change in your life, because there is an immediate and dramatic change in your heart. The old man is dead, and the new man is alive. The sinful is gone, and the holy remains. The seed of sin removed, and the seed of righteousness sown. Now you are living in the after, and since there is a seed, if you yield to His direction, there will be fruit. You will have the power of God that helps you live holy. At this point, you are now restored to the same relationship that was lost in the Garden.
The plan of God was always salvation through sanctification. Holiness is the answer to all the problems of life because Christ is holiness. He came to do the will of the Father, which was to sanctify the people, and thereby bring us back into fellowship with Himself. Holiness is not some high estate reserved for a few, but it is the promise available to every one of you. You can be holy because Christ was holy, and he wants to give you His Holy Spirit. He wants to give it to you so bad that he was willing to suffer and die for you. If you are a lost sinner in need of repentance, repent! If you are forgiven, seek the Holy Spirit! If you are sanctified and walking in holiness, then preach it! Live it! Tell the world of the Christ that died to sanctify them.
