PRACTICING THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST
A. The Old Testament word godesh and the New Testament word hagios are mostly translated consecrate, sanctify, and holy. For the sake of continuity, we'll use the word sanctify.
B. PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION as revealed in the Bible enriches the practical dimensions of the LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST in one's life.
C. In this lecture it is my desire to help us comprehend more about each of the three segments of SANCTIFICATION, which are as follows.
I. SEGMENT ONE - POSITIONAL SANCTIFICATION.
A. The believer has no participation in this whatsoever. It is a sovereign act of God in which He sets apart each believer for Himself.
B. It happens at conversion.
1. 1 Corinthians 1:2 says, "To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus."
2. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
3. 1 Corinthians 3:17 says, "If any man defile (or, "corrupt") the temple of God, him shall God destroy (or, "corrupt") for the temple of God is holy (sanctified), which temple ye are."
4. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, "And such were some of you: but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
5. Hebrews 10:10 says, "By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
II. SEGMENT TWO - ULTIMATE SANCTIFICATION.
A. Like POSITIONAL SANCTIFICATION, the believer has no participation in this. It is a sovereign act of God!
B. It happens at the moment a Christian leaves this life, whether by the rapture or death.
C. In heaven, the believer will be "with Christ" (1 Thessalonians 4:17), and "like Christ" (1 John 3:2,3), "forever" (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
D. Ephesians 5:27 says, "That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
III. SEGMENT THREE - PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION.
A. This is the daily process in which the believer is being conformed to the image of Christ.
B. The greater part of this is God's doing, but the Christian does have some responsibility.
1. God uses, among other things, His Word (Psalm 19:12,13; 51:1,2,7-10; 119:9; and John 17:17), the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18), and circumstances (Romans 8:28-30).
2. The Christian is also to cultivate SANCTIFICATION in his life.
a. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." This reminds us of Romans 12:1,2.
b. How does a Christian cleanse himself from these things, and work as successful as possible toward maximum SANCTIFICATION?
c. From among the many, I want to share with you four assignments that will help.
3. As often as possible fall in love afresh with the Lord Jesus Christ (John 21:17).
NOTE: Regular participation in the Lord's Supper in the biblical manner will help in this effort immensely.)
4. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(a) Analyze. Frequently search for sins in your life (Lamentations 3:40).
(b) Admit. Confess what you find to God.
(c) Abandon. Forsake all of them (Proverbs 28:13; Lamentations 3:40 - "turn again to the Lord").
(d) Ask. Ask God to forgive and cleanse you in the practical dimension.
(e) Accept. By faith accept God's forgiveness and cleansing (Hebrews 11:1).
(f) Act. Act forgiven because you are. - This means to walk in (or, after) the Spirit (read Romans 7:21-8:4). Failure to "walk after the Spirit" sets one up for "walking after the flesh" again which quickly leads back to the sins earlier abandoned.
1. Withdrawal from those who are "vessels unto dishonor" (2 Timothy 2:21).
2. Never cease taking in healthy amounts of the Word of God (John 17:17-19).
(g) We should realize that in this life our "practice" will never match our "position," so we shouldn't become discouraged as long as we are trying.
(h) We should, however, be steadily improving.
(i) As we become more and more like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), the "trickle down" effects should motivate us to keep making progress in it. Among the many, here are seven.
(j) A life more free from psychosomatic illnesses (Proverbs 14:30; James 5:13-20).
(k) Liberation from self-inflicted difficulties (Proverbs 14:30).
1. Greater balance, harmony, consistency, and Spirituality in life, as a result of a "tranquil mind" (Proverbs 14:30).
2. A life God may likely use (2 Timothy 2:19-21).
3. More prayers may be answered (Psalm 66:18).
4. A greater degree of deliverance from the sinful overtures of the world (1 John 2:15-17), the flesh (Galatians 5:16), and the devil (1 Peter 5:8,9).
5. Eternal rewards may accrue to the believers account in Heaven (1 Corinthians 3:14; and 2 Corinthians 5:10).
A. We have learned a little about how POSITIONAL, ULTIMATE, and PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION fit into PRACTICING THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST.
B. Let's vow to more earnestly practice what we've learned.
Bob Bruton