“As the Father hath loved me, so have
I loved you: continue ye in my love.” –John 15:9
Sanctification. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The
born-again experience, whereby we are brought out of the darkness of sin and
called into the light of holiness. Delivered from all sin and walking in
the newness of life. This is made possible because of Jesus; because he
lived, died, resurrected, and ascended back to heaven. As was mentioned
last week, the sanctified life is just that, life. It is a life in
Christ, with Christ, and through Christ.
It is a life in Christ. That means you are in fellowship with Him,
unified with Jesus. You declare and manifest Jesus as the Lord of your
life. It's Christ in you. Christ has filled you with his
Spirit. Each day he is guiding you, directing you, correcting you, and
leading you. This sanctified life is life through Christ. Jesus
gives us power through the Holy Ghost. It is by his grace that we are
saved, and by His grace that we are kept. The same power that created the
universe lives in you to keep you free from sin. The Holy Ghost will lead
you on the path of righteousness each day. Jesus leads, you follow and
live. This is the life of a true disciple of Christ. This
relationship, much like a godly marriage, will not continue without continued
commitment. Christ has given all, you/we must do the same. Every
day. With such a commitment comes the necessary avenues of grace to
cultivate a deeper union. Firstly, by praying to God. The Christian
who is often praying will stay in the will of God. A sinful man will not
pray. A selfish man will not pray. A self-centered man will not
pray. A carnal man will not pray. Pray is both a privilege and a
proving ground. It is among the disciplines of faith set forth by God to
bring us along in relationship with Himself, and with His Son Jesus.
Coupled with prayer is the habitual study of scripture. If prayer is
water to our spiritual man, the Bible is bread. It is a fundamental
nourishment that we need to grow. The Apostle Peter called it milk, writing:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby:” We must pray, we must read the Bible, but also, we must make
every effort to fellowship with other like-minded believers. God’s church
is not a building, but a body. A body of believers that are determined to
make it to heaven and disciple others to do the same. Walking in the
light of God is not a walk that we have to walk alone. These are means
that God has designed which will keep us in fellowship with the Holy
Spirit. If we commit to them the Holy Spirit will guide us, and we follow
in faith. As we follow, our faith grows. As we grow, we bear fruit
unto holiness. This is abiding in the vine. In the same chapter
(John fifteen), Christ likened this relationship to a vine and branch.
The branch cannot bear fruit unless it is connected to the vine. Jesus is
the vine, and we are the branch. When we abide in Jesus, as it says in
the book of Galatians, we bear the fruit of “love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law.” These will naturally occur in your heart and
therefore they will be in your life. Your children will see it, your
spouse will know it, and the world around you will wonder; what has happened to
this man (or woman)? Tell them! You are sanctified! This is
growing in grace. Not sinning and repenting. Not living in
condemnation and failure. Not tormented by sin. No!
Delivered! Redeemed! The sanctified life is a life of victory and
deliverance! A life of walking in perfect love towards God and man, guided
by the welcomed instruction of the Holy Ghost.
Some time ago I came across a married couple. The husband was near
death, and had to be cared for, but his wife was still very able. She sold
everything to go live in a nursing home with him. Sold their house, cars,
most of their clothes. All their worldly possessions could fit in a
suitcase. Yet, with all this gone they were some of the richest people I
had ever met. Over sixty years had gone by. Sixty years of good
times and bad. Laughter and heartache. Prosperity and
poverty. Yet through it all their love was only growing and growing,
while their commitment remained steadfast. This is a sanctified life.
This is a life with Jesus Christ. A life of perfect love. Continue, and
grow, in that love.
