SANCTIFICATION: A STEP UP
By W. G. Guy
Being “saved” or “born-again” is the first step into a new and changed life. There are more steps to climb in this spiritual ladder as we are to grow up to spiritual maturity in Christ.
2 Peter 1:4-8 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Most churches do not preach or teach this spiritual development as their efforts are spent on building the numerical size of their congregations, and not their spiritual development unto the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13 – Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
What is sanctification? The Greek word used in the New Testament means to make holy; pure; consecrated, separated. From the Old Testament Hebrew it means to be clean, dedicated, holy, pure and separated.
Today too many churches are separating themselves from the Word of God and holiness, but seem to be embracing the world and its ways. They think that being like the world will attract more people to enter into the fold and increase their membership. This is exactly what the apostle Paul saw in the church of the last days because of false preachers, teachers and prophets bringing in false and corrupt doctrines.
1Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Paul went on to describe the results of such compromise with the ways of this vile world.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The question to ask is; where do you find “a form of godliness”? Certainly not in the world, but in a church! And what did Paul say to do in such a case; “from such turn away”.
Spiritual growth is a process that adds spiritual depth and quality in a person: it is like a child grows from infancy to maturity in a progressive, step by step process of learning; then being exposed to the things of the world that need to be overcome, and to manage life skills to survive. This learning and growth process is identified by the apostle Peter, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, the steps in spiritual development.
2 Peter 1:5-7 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
We are to grow step by step; level by level; as a child’s education develops from grammar school to high school and beyond. Each level is proven by tests and trials to verify that what was taught has been assimilated, learned, and applied.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
This growth process in most churches no longer exists. Why? Most likely because most churches have rejected the gift ministries that Jesus gave to us that is for the very purpose of spiritual growth and development of the believers to the fullness of Christ. Consider when did Jesus give these gift ministries to the church:
Ephesians 4:10-12 – He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Sanctification is just one of the steps upward to the fullness of Christ being formed in us. Sanctification simply means to be separated from this vile world and set apart unto Him; for His life to be formed in you. It is development into true holiness as God’s beloved children; this is sanctification.
Hebrews 12:10, 12 – By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 12 But this man (Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Sanctification is but one step up the ladder of our spiritual growth. There are more steps as we are to be conformed to His image; being fully restored from our fallen sinful state. It is part of redemption to grow to the full stature of Christ; having Jesus formed in us. Spiritual maturity is what separates you from the world.
Colossians 1:27 – To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
As Jesus was sanctified, set apart from this world and unto the Father, so it is for us to also be set apart – sanctified to Him. This was the work of the apostle Paul, that he labored to accomplish:
Galatians 4:19 – My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Are you growing to the fullness of Christ? Is your church developing Christ’s character and nature in you? If not you need to seek Him to find a church that will do so. If you cannot find one that will do so, get into the Word of God and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His Word to you so that you will grow into the fullness of Christ, being led of the3 Spirit.
