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Home Sermons 2011 Sanctification: The Divine Transformation (Part 4 of 'The Way of Salvation')
 
Sanctification: The Divine Transformation (Part 4 of 'The Way of Salvation') PDF Print E-mail
Written by David Charlton   

Scripture

 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Philippians 1:4-6

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God -- not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 Summary and Purpose

Summary: When I was in middle school, high school and college, I used to stand in front of the bathroom mirror, look at my muscles and sing, at the top of my lungs, the chorus to “I Am Iron Man”. It began in the 9th grade when I started to work out with weights. In the 10th grade I joined the wrestling and swim teams. As I noticed various muscles develop I couldn’t help but admire the rather significant changes in my body.

In a similar way, we, as followers of Christ, should be able to look at ourselves in the mirror and notice significant changes in our character. We should look into our eyes and see courage where fear once stood and see love where hatred once ruled and see compassion where indifference once dominated. As we look into the mirror we should see elements of Jesus’ character reflect back to us. This is because as we walk with Christ, the Holy Spirit works to change our hearts and make us more like Jesus. This process of change is called sanctification.

Look for and expect these changes in your heart. If you are walking with Jesus, you should be more like Him now than you were when you first started your Christian walk. It’s not an easy process and there will be some set backs but the Holy Spirit will not quit its work on you. So, don’t give up! As you become more like Jesus, God will use you to do His kingdom building work here on earth.  

Purpose: To help the congregation understand sanctification. To encourage people to look for the changes in their hearts as they walk with Christ.  

The Sermon

I. Introduction: Time in front of the mirror

     1. My time in front of the mirror as a teenager and young adult

  • I used to stand in front of the bathroom mirror, look at my muscles and sing, at the top of my lungs, the chorus to “I Am Iron Man”.
  • This began when I was in the 9th grade when I started to work out w/ weights. In the 10th grade I joined the wrestling and swim teams.
  • As I noticed various muscles develop I couldn’t help but admire the rather significant changes in my body.
  • I now realize how vain I was. I assure you, I no longer do this. (My body isn’t as flattering as it used to be. That helps.)
     2. As Christians, however, we should look in the mirror to discern significant changes
         in our character.
  • We should do this not to brag or show off
  • We should do this to acknowledge the change God is working in us and to give God thanks and praise.

     3. We should look into our eyes and see…

  • Courage where fear once stood. An example of this would be: “A year ago I didn’t have the courage to stand up for what’s right. Now I can do what’s right despite the consequences. I’m no longer afraid thanks be to God.”
  • Love where hate once stood. An example of this would be: “Three years ago when I first received Christ into my heart, I hated black people. Now, I really enjoy being in predominantly black events. I think I might be falling in love with black people, thanks be to God.” 
  • Compassion where indifference dominated. An example of this would be: “Six months ago I never gave a second thought to the plight of run away teens. I never cared about them and thought of them as hooligans who needed to be rounded-up and thrown in jail. Now, thanks be to God, I volunteer at a homeless shelter for run away teens. I’m beginning to understand them.”
    4. As we look into a mirror, we should see elements of Jesus being reflected back to
        us.
  • As we walk with Christ, the Holy Spirit works to change our hearts and make us more like Jesus.
  • Our goal as Christians is to become more like Christ
  • This process of change is called sanctification.

II. Sanctification: The process of becoming more like Christ

     1. As we walk with Christ, the Holy Spirit works to change our hearts and make us
         more like Jesus.
     2. This process begins at justification (Justification occurs when we receive God’s
          divine pardon/complete forgiveness through faith in Christ. Refer to the 16
          January 2011 sermon.)

     3. Second Corinthians 3:18 describes this process

III. Second Corinthians 3:18: The sanctification process

     1. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed
         into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord
         who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

     2. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord…..”

  • We can look upon God and be with God and have communion with God without hiding anything. Once we receive God’s forgiveness and trust Jesus, we become God’s children. We bring our whole selves to God, our good and bad qualities.
  • We behold the glory of the Lord by having an intimate, personal love relationship with God. This relationship is maintained through prayer, Bible study, worship and service. It’s spending time with God.

     3. “…are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another…”

  • As we spend time with God, the more we become like Jesus. We become like the people we hang out with. If you hang out with God, the more your character matches God’s character. The more you become like Jesus.
  • It is a process…one degree of glory to another

    4. “…for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

  • The Holy Spirit is God (Lord). (Father, Son and Spirit make up the one true God. To worship one is to worship all three because the three make up the one true God.)
  • The Holy Spirit is the one who changes our hearts as we walk with Christ.

IV. Sanctification is a process: Sometimes we back track in the process

     1. Our former sinful self creeps back into our hearts and we take a few steps back.
          We commit a sin and become less like Christ.
     2. When this happens, we must repent and trust that the Holy Spirit is still working on
         us. (For a more detailed description of repentance, refer to the 9 January 2011
         sermon.)
     3. Remember Philippians 1:4-6 – “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with
         joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being
         confident of this, that he [God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to
         completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (NIV translation)
     4. So, when you take a few steps back in this process, don’t give up. God isn’t
         finished with you yet.

V. Sanctification has a purpose

     1. As you change and become more like Christ, God will use you to expand His
          kingdom on earth. In this way, more people will come to know God in an intimate,
          personal and loving way.

     2. The work you do for God to expand His kingdom is called good works.

  • Good works comes as a result of being saved.
  • The more we become like Christ, the more good works we can do.
     3. Consider Ephesians 2:8-10 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith;
         and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God -- not because of works, lest
         any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
         good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. “
  • “For we are His workmanship…” – God is changing and molding us. This is sanctification.
  • “…created in Christ Jesus for Good works…” – God saves us and changes us so that we can do kingdom work for Him!!!
  • In response to God’s saving grace, God expects us to spread the gospel through word and deed. The more we become like Christ the better we can do this.
  • THIS GIVES OUR LIVES A DIVINE PURPOSE

VI. Conclusion

     1. Do you want to become a better person? Do you want to become the person God
         created you to be? In other words, do you want to become more like Christ?
     2. If you answered yes to the above questions then repent and trust Jesus as your
         Savior and Lord. Receive God’s free offer of forgiveness. This begins the
         sanctification process to become more like Jesus.
     3. If you are already a Christian, are you cooperating with the Holy Spirit through
         Bible study, prayer, worship, fellowship and service? We can’t expect the Holy
         Spirit to change us if we don’t cooperate.
 
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