I have been reading a lot about Sanctification lately. It seems like every now and then I hit some sort of wall, I think I am chugging along pretty well and my sin or lack of focus or doubts about my walk with the Lord overtake my thoughts and I struggle. I struggle with my motives, question and second guess my thoughts and I always end up back in scripture and God provides the answers to my doubts and I have peace again. I know God’s promises, I believe in the perseverance of the saints but there are days when my behavior and sin get in the way of what I know in my heart to be true according to scripture. The process of sanctification is going to go on until the Lord calls us home or comes and gets us and it’s such a blessing to know and understand that God enables us to serve Him, to spread His Gospel and love and care for His sheep and that HE is in charge of our eternal security.
A few of the resources that helped me this week I have listed below. An amazing sermon by John MacArthur that nearly had me bawling like a baby at my desk at work:Peace and Grace: Links in the chain of security.
A wonderful article by Mike Ratliff from Possessing the treasure, Here: Sanctification, and a A post from Diane at Theology for Girls by J.C.Ryle below.
You can also read the original : Here
SANCTIFICATION BY J.C.RYLE
Sanctification is a thing that cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God.
The holiest actions of the holiest saint that ever lived are all more or less full of defects and imperfections. They are either wrong in the motive or defective in their performance and in themselves are nothing better than “splendid sins,” deserving God’s wrath and condemnation. To suppose that such actions can stand the severity of God’s judgment, atone for sin, and merit heaven is simply absurd.
“By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified…Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. “ (Rom 3:20,28).
The only righteousness in which we can appear before God is the righteousness of another — even the perfect righteousness of our Substitute and Representative, Jesus Christ the Lord. His work, and not our work is our only title to heaven. This is truth that we should be ready to die to maintain.
Sanctification is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration.
He that is born again and made a new creature receives a new nature and a new principle and always lives a new life. A regeneration, which a man can have and yet live carelessly in sin or worldliness, is a regeneration invented by uninspired theologians, but never mentioned in Scripture. On the contrary, St. John expressly says, “he that is born of God doth not commit sin” (I Jo 3:9), “doeth righteousness” (3:9-14); “loveth the brethren,” “keepeth himself,” and “overcometh the world” (5:4-18). Simply put, the lack of sanctification is a sign of non-regeneration. Where there is no holy life, there has been no holy birth..
Sanctification is a thing that admits of growth and degrees.
A man may climb from one step to another in holiness and be far more sanctified at one period of his life than another. More pardoned and more justified than he is when he first believes he cannot be, though he may feel it more. More sanctified he certainly may be because every grace in his new character may be strengthened, enlarged, and deepened….If there is any point on which Gods holiest saints agree it is this: that they see more, know more, feel more, do more, repent more, and believe more as they get on in spiritual life and in proportion to the closeness of their walk with God. In short, they “grown in grace” as St Peter exhorts believers to do and to “abound more and more.” (2 Pe 3:18; I Th 4:1)
For all this, however, the Bible distinctly teaches that the holy actions of a sanctified man, although imperfect, are pleasing in the sight of God.
“With such sacrifice God is well pleased”. (Heb 13:16). “Children, obey your parents…for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Col 3:20). “We…do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (I Jo 3:22). Let this never be forgotten, for it is a very comfortable doctrine. Just as a parent is pleased with the efforts of his little child to please him, though it be only by picking a daisy or walking across a room, so is our Father in heaven pleased with the poor performances of His believing children. He looks at the motive, principle, and intention of their actions and not merely at their quantity and quality. He regards them as members of His own dear Son, and for His sake, wherever there is a single eye, He is well pleased. ~ J.C. Ryle
Selected excerpts from J.C. Ryle, Holiness; Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, available from Chapel Library
