We can do nothing without God's help

We have no strength in and of ourselves to live as God purposes. The gospel of Jesus gives us strength. (1 Tim 1:12). Gurnall gives a great illustration of this.

"If the ship launched, rigged, and with her sails spread cannot stir, till the wind come fair and fill them, much less the timber that lies in the carpenter's yard hew and frame itself into a ship.  If the living tree cannot grow except the root communicate its sap, much less can a dead rotten stake in the hedge, which hath no root, live of its own accord.  In a word, if a Christian, that hath his spiritual life of grace, cannot exercise this life without strength from above, then surely one void of this new life, dead in sins and trespasses, can never be able to beget this in himself, or concur to the production of it.  The state of unregeneracy is a state of impotency.  'When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly,’  Rom. 5:6."

The fearful judgment of God - not being able to obey.

It is always fearful to read Romans 1:26' "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts."  What an awful judgement when a man or woman cannot get obedience & love for God from himself. Augustine says, "The punishment of a man's disobedience is found in himself, when he in his turn cannot get obedience even from himself."

Sanctification Part 7: Jesus has given us promises for our sanctification

Over the past while I have been writing on the ways Jesus Christ helps Christians grow in holiness or sanctification.

Here is what we have covered so far…

1.  Christ in us makes us a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:23)

2.  Christ together with the Father has sent to us the Holy Spirit, and the work of sanctification is constructed, built, and directed in us by the Holy Spirit.  (Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Galatians 5)

3.  Jesus Christ changes us to want holiness.  God by Christ working in us gives us is the freedom, and argument, and motive for us to live obediently.  If Jesus is in our lives we will want to obey.  (Philippians 2:6-8)

4.  Jesus Christ is our mould for holiness. According to the will and purpose of God, he is our copy and our example of holiness.  He in his humanity and divinity sets before the pattern and path of Christian holiness.  (Look at 1 Peter 1:15 and 1 Peter 2:21) 

5.  Jesus Christ nourishes us in holiness. (John 15:1-15)

We come to discuss another way in the entry today.  In 2 Corinthians 7:1 we have this Word from God.  “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (ESV).  Jesus has given us these promises.  Jesus helps us in our sanctification for he has given us great and precious promises.

What are those promises?  They are the promises given in connection with the New Covenant he installed in this world at the cross. Let me mention 4 that pertain to holiness in the Christian.

One.  God’s law is written on our hearts by the Spirit (Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:33)

Two.  In Christ we are God’s people, and God is our God (Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:33)

Three.  Because Jesus is our great High Priest who died on the cross as our sacrifice he is our Mediator who promises to always intercede for us and help us in our times of need (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Four.  Christians are given the hope of the glory of God!  This hope produces holiness in the Christian’s life (Romans 5:1-5).

Because these promises are secured and given to the believer through Christ, holiness will grow in the believer.  Of course we do not all grow to Christian maturity or holiness at the same rate; and sometimes we don’t seem to grow at all, but grow we will because Christ Jesus has given us precious growing-in-holiness-promises.

Sanctification # 6: Given Christ for holiness.

Writing on how specifically Jesus works for me and helps me to grow in Christian holiness (sanctification) has encouraged me.  Remembering that for our joy and good, and his glory Jesus is for us in this too helps the believer press on.  Well, today I want to remind you that Jesus is our help in holiness in that he was given to us by God the Father to make us holy.

Ephesians 4:1 says, "We were chosen in him (Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy."  How amazing is that!  Ephesians 5:25-27 says, "Jesus gave himself for the church, that he might sanctity and cleanse it, that he might present to himself a glorious church, that it should be holy."  Look at these Scripture texts Colossians 1:2,22; Hebrews 2:11; 1 Corinthians 6:17.  In all these texts we learn the holy Jesus was given to us, and gave himself on the cross for us that we might be holy.  Jesus who is sanctified and those he sanctifies (makes Christians) are all one!

The greatest joy for the Christian is God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  And we want to be holy, even as he is holy.  Now then, is it not marvellous that God in Christ gave himself to us for that very purpose.  No wonder we have the promise that we are sanctified and will be sanctified...we are given Christ for this purpose.

Sanctification Part 5: Jesus Christ nourishes us to holiness

I was listening to a radio program about the relationship between plants and the sun the other day.  The plant specialist guy had nothing but praise for the sun as he talked about the suns role in a plants growth.  Sunlight is made up of electromagnetic radiation.  This electromagnetic radiation is the key in photosynthesis.  This photosynthesis is important because it is the way in which plants derive their energy to grow.

In the past studies we have been looking at how Jesus Christ helps us in sanctification.  We continue that discussion today by focussing on the truth that Christ helps us to grow in Christ-likeness by being our strength.  His blessing and strength flow to us for holiness.

Jesus Christ is the vine; we are the branches (John 15:1-15).  We the branches are engrafted into him and therefore we get nourishment and strength from him that we may work, walk, and grow as becomes the Christian.  He is our “sap” as it were. 

By faith we abide in him, and trust in him.  In faith we maintain that he is the fountain and source of all good things in us.  He is in a place in our life where he in his love purposes to grant us sunshine, rain, nutrients, etc, (grace and help) to make us fruitful Christians.  Look at Ephesians 2:10.  We are created in Christ Jesus for good works.  As the sun gives plants the light they need in order to grow, God has given us to be with Christ so we might grow in holiness and do the good works God has ordained that we do.

Yes, Jesus Christ is the nourishing, life giving vine.

Sanctification Part 4: Let Jesus Christ be your mould.

I continue on the topic of sanctification.  Remember sanctification is “the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” (WSC Q.35)

Also remember in these posts we are listing the role and work of Jesus Christ in our sanctification.  Today we look at the forth way Jesus is involved in our sanctification.

Jesus Christ according to the will and purpose of God is our copy, our example of holiness.  He in his humanity and divinity sets before the pattern and path of Christian holiness.  Therefore, we must keep his Person always before us as the authority and pattern of holiness.  No man, no psychological advise, no man made law, and no mere moral resolution can be our example.  Only Jesus is the standard.  Look at 1 Peter 1:15 and 1 Peter 2:21.  We are to walk in his steps.

So, in your Christian life look with faith to Christ’s love, patience, long-suffering, mercy, humility, hatred of sin, zeal, and truth.  And then by faith pore your life into him and his way.  Let him be your mould!