One of the more unpopular topics in modern Christianity is sanctification, and not without reason. No one wants to be told how they should behave, act, and live their life, as a matter of fact, people despise that. In the modern culture and the wave of individuality, you are told to be your own person, do what seems right to you, and don't let anyone tell you how to live your life. So where does sanctification fit into all of this for a Christian?
Culture changed, God hasn't
1 Peter 1:14-16 says "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written 'You shall be holy, for I AM holy'." Sanctification is the process of becoming holy. Christ was the best example here on earth that we have of holiness; in other words, sanctification is the process of becoming more and more Christ like. Many people prefer to have their ears tickled, listening to incomplete gospel, and ignoring the concept of sanctification altogether. Yes, that might be easier, less confrontational, fits into our modern culture much better, but that doesn't make it true. God has not changed.
When we believe in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, we understand the need for His redemption, and we turn away from our sins. Then, the process of sanctification begins. It begins at the cross and ends when we exhale our last breath. We will never achieve 100% sanctification as long as we are in the flesh, but we need to strive for it daily. We receive justification through the death of Jesus, but the moment we stop striving for sanctification, we put that justification in jeopardy. In Hebrew it says that "He has perfected those who are being sanctified," meaning those that are in the process look perfect in God's eyes. Later in the same chapter it says that "There remains no sacrifice for sins if we go on sinning willfully." So, Jesus did all the hard work. He came down to earth, preached the good news, gave himself as a sacrifice on our behalf, and asks something of us: that we strive to be like Him. We like the forgiving, we like the "dying for us" part, but we don't like the "being like Him" part because that requires some effort on our end.
Sanctification is not a task, it's a way of life
If being a Christian to you is a task, it seems like a laundry list of rules that seem impossible to complete-- then my friend, I have to say, you haven't understood what Christ has done for you and what you have been saved from. Sanctification should be a daily internal desire to be like Christ, not a burden to do something you dread. My actions when no one knows what I am up to need to be more Christ like. My behavior when I am hanging out with my friends needs to be more Christ like. My integrity and honesty at work need to be more Christ like. My honesty, charity, obedience, mercy, character, my everything needs to be more Christ like -- and that is sanctification.
Sanctification is something I have been thinking about for the past few months, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you. Take some time to consider what role it plays in your life and what is pleasing and not pleasing in your life to God. Don't lose heart when you make mistakes, no one is perfect. But, don't sweep sins and behavior that is unpleasing to God under the rug either. If you slip up, regret it deeply, remove things in your life that lead you to slip up, take action, and God will help you. God bless!
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