Weekly Sermon Recap - 5.25.25
Unveiling the Path to Spiritual Transformation: From Justification to Sanctification
In our spiritual journey, we often hear about the importance of salvation, but how many of us truly understand the profound depths of God's redemptive plan for our lives? Today, let's embark on an enlightening exploration of the transformative process that shapes our relationship with God, moving from justification to sanctification.
At the core of our being, we are three-part creatures: spirit, soul, and body. Each part plays a crucial role in our spiritual development, and God's plan of salvation encompasses all three. But it's the journey of our soul - our mind, emotions, and will - that we'll focus on today.
Justification: The Gateway to God's Kingdom
When we first embrace faith in Christ, we experience justification - the moment our spirits are regenerated and we're freed from the penalty of sin. This is our spiritual birth, the instant we become children of God. It's as if we've just stepped into a vast ocean, our feet touching the water for the first time. But this is only the beginning.
Sanctification: The Transformative Journey
While justification is a one-time event, sanctification is an ongoing process. It's the gradual transformation of our souls, conforming us to the image of Christ. This is where we dive deeper into the ocean of God's presence, allowing His waters to permeate every part of our being.
Sanctification isn't about our own efforts or "white-knuckling" our way to holiness. As the renowned preacher Oswald Chambers beautifully put it, "Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life." It's not about imitating Jesus, but allowing His perfect qualities to manifest through us.
This process is entirely by God's grace, received through faith. Just as we are justified by grace through faith, we are sanctified by the same means. God's grace is free, yet priceless - a gift that merits our gratitude, praise, and worship.
Consecration: The Doorway to Deeper Fellowship
Between justification and sanctification lies a crucial step: consecration. This is our willing surrender to God, offering ourselves as living sacrifices. As Romans 12:1 (Amplified) exhorts us: "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated, and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, rational, intelligent service and spiritual worship."
Consecration is where we transition from merely having a relationship with God to enjoying deep fellowship with Him. It's the moment we decide to make Jesus not just our Savior, but our Lord and King.
The Power of Dying to Self
In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus presents a paradox: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." This isn't about physical death, but about surrendering our psyche - our soul - to God. When we let go of our own desires and plans, we gain the abundant, eternal life that Christ offers.
A.W. Tozer illustrated this beautifully with the image of a bottle in the ocean. A bottle full of air (representing self) will float on the surface, tossed by the waves. But when we empty ourselves of self and allow God's Spirit to fill us, we sink into the peaceful depths of His presence.
Known by God: The Ultimate Goal
While it's crucial to know God, perhaps even more important is to be known by Him. In the kingdom of God, it's not about what you know or who you know, but who knows you. We make ourselves known to God by entering His throne room, spending time in worship and prayer, making Him our refuge, and ministering to Him.
The disciples in Acts 4:13 were recognized as having been with Jesus. Their authority and boldness came from this intimate relationship. Similarly, our effectiveness in representing God's kingdom stems from our time spent in His presence.
Practical Steps to Deeper Communion
1. Study God's Word and listen to biblical teaching.
2. Explore the names of God that reveal His nature.
3. Make the Holy Spirit your teacher and counselor.
4. Spend time in God's presence through worship and prayer.
5. Minister to the Lord by waiting on Him and attending to His desires.
6. Make God your refuge in times of trouble.
As we progress in our sanctification, we become more effective ministers and ambassadors of God's kingdom. We extend His reign on earth, exercising the authority He's given us as His representatives.
Reflection and Invitation
Consider where you are in your spiritual journey. Have you experienced justification - that initial step into God's kingdom? Are you actively participating in the sanctification process, allowing God to transform your soul? Have you made the decision to consecrate yourself fully to Him?
Remember, God is like an ocean, inviting us to dive deep into His presence. The surface may be turbulent, but in the depths, we find peace and stillness. As you reflect on these truths, ask yourself: When I enter a room, do people recognize that I've been with Jesus?
Let's embrace the invitation to sanctification, making the Lord Jesus Christ our King. May we create space in our lives for God to fill, sinking deeper into the ocean of His love and grace. As we do, we'll find ourselves transformed, empowered, and equipped to carry out great exploits for His kingdom.
In this journey of spiritual transformation, may we echo the words of the psalmist: "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple" (Psalm 27:4). Let us turn aside from our own ways, like Moses at the burning bush, and step into the fullness of God's calling on our lives.
In our spiritual journey, we often hear about the importance of salvation, but how many of us truly understand the profound depths of God's redemptive plan for our lives? Today, let's embark on an enlightening exploration of the transformative process that shapes our relationship with God, moving from justification to sanctification.
At the core of our being, we are three-part creatures: spirit, soul, and body. Each part plays a crucial role in our spiritual development, and God's plan of salvation encompasses all three. But it's the journey of our soul - our mind, emotions, and will - that we'll focus on today.
Justification: The Gateway to God's Kingdom
When we first embrace faith in Christ, we experience justification - the moment our spirits are regenerated and we're freed from the penalty of sin. This is our spiritual birth, the instant we become children of God. It's as if we've just stepped into a vast ocean, our feet touching the water for the first time. But this is only the beginning.
Sanctification: The Transformative Journey
While justification is a one-time event, sanctification is an ongoing process. It's the gradual transformation of our souls, conforming us to the image of Christ. This is where we dive deeper into the ocean of God's presence, allowing His waters to permeate every part of our being.
Sanctification isn't about our own efforts or "white-knuckling" our way to holiness. As the renowned preacher Oswald Chambers beautifully put it, "Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life." It's not about imitating Jesus, but allowing His perfect qualities to manifest through us.
This process is entirely by God's grace, received through faith. Just as we are justified by grace through faith, we are sanctified by the same means. God's grace is free, yet priceless - a gift that merits our gratitude, praise, and worship.
Consecration: The Doorway to Deeper Fellowship
Between justification and sanctification lies a crucial step: consecration. This is our willing surrender to God, offering ourselves as living sacrifices. As Romans 12:1 (Amplified) exhorts us: "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated, and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, rational, intelligent service and spiritual worship."
Consecration is where we transition from merely having a relationship with God to enjoying deep fellowship with Him. It's the moment we decide to make Jesus not just our Savior, but our Lord and King.
The Power of Dying to Self
In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus presents a paradox: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." This isn't about physical death, but about surrendering our psyche - our soul - to God. When we let go of our own desires and plans, we gain the abundant, eternal life that Christ offers.
A.W. Tozer illustrated this beautifully with the image of a bottle in the ocean. A bottle full of air (representing self) will float on the surface, tossed by the waves. But when we empty ourselves of self and allow God's Spirit to fill us, we sink into the peaceful depths of His presence.
Known by God: The Ultimate Goal
While it's crucial to know God, perhaps even more important is to be known by Him. In the kingdom of God, it's not about what you know or who you know, but who knows you. We make ourselves known to God by entering His throne room, spending time in worship and prayer, making Him our refuge, and ministering to Him.
The disciples in Acts 4:13 were recognized as having been with Jesus. Their authority and boldness came from this intimate relationship. Similarly, our effectiveness in representing God's kingdom stems from our time spent in His presence.
Practical Steps to Deeper Communion
1. Study God's Word and listen to biblical teaching.
2. Explore the names of God that reveal His nature.
3. Make the Holy Spirit your teacher and counselor.
4. Spend time in God's presence through worship and prayer.
5. Minister to the Lord by waiting on Him and attending to His desires.
6. Make God your refuge in times of trouble.
As we progress in our sanctification, we become more effective ministers and ambassadors of God's kingdom. We extend His reign on earth, exercising the authority He's given us as His representatives.
Reflection and Invitation
Consider where you are in your spiritual journey. Have you experienced justification - that initial step into God's kingdom? Are you actively participating in the sanctification process, allowing God to transform your soul? Have you made the decision to consecrate yourself fully to Him?
Remember, God is like an ocean, inviting us to dive deep into His presence. The surface may be turbulent, but in the depths, we find peace and stillness. As you reflect on these truths, ask yourself: When I enter a room, do people recognize that I've been with Jesus?
Let's embrace the invitation to sanctification, making the Lord Jesus Christ our King. May we create space in our lives for God to fill, sinking deeper into the ocean of His love and grace. As we do, we'll find ourselves transformed, empowered, and equipped to carry out great exploits for His kingdom.
In this journey of spiritual transformation, may we echo the words of the psalmist: "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple" (Psalm 27:4). Let us turn aside from our own ways, like Moses at the burning bush, and step into the fullness of God's calling on our lives.
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