Are we holy or do we become more holy? A sanctification clarification

8/2/2012

How does a person become holy? Is it by something we do? Fasting, giving up bad habits, reading our Bibles, praying more? No! None of these will make us holy or more holy, because they are all based on what we do. Grace is about what God does. The definition of sanctification (holiness) is to be set apart by God. When we believe in Him, a transformation process begins at the moment we are born again. At that very moment, we are made holy in Christ. We are set apart by God for Himself and for His own purposes.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul writes, "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

The reality is that you don't become holy by what you do, and you can't become more holy than you are right now. You have been set apart, and it's not possible for you to cause yourself to become "more set apart" than you already are.

The idea that one can grow in holiness fails to recognize the finished work of Christ on the cross. Holiness comes to you in the person of Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:11, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."

Truth is based on what God says. Let's not be thrown to and fro by our feelings or our actions. The truth is not determined by what we feel or how we behave. Remembering and recognizing who we really are in Christ will automatically change our feelings and our actions will display this awesome reality. It is not the other way around as many false teachings will suggest. Through this reality, a transformation process will take place and our lifestyles will change through the renewing of the mind.

Even though the behavior of the believers at the church in Corinth was sinful, Paul still referred to them as saints in 1 Corinthians 1:2, "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:"

In 1 Corinthians 1:30, Paul reiterated that it was God's doing that they were in Christ, and that Christ is their sanctification. "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption," These saints are already holy in God's eyes. And as a believer, so are YOU! Amen! :-)

In Hebrews 10:10, the author is explaining that one sacrifice of Christ is sufficient and that God took away the Old Covenant to establish the New, "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Let's look at Scripture that seems to point to seeking holiness. In Hebrews 12:14, "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord." It seems the author is clearly advising us to pursue holiness. If we define pursuing sanctification as getting better and better at keeping rules, we will find ourselves right back in legalism, but we have already seen that rule-keeping is not the meaning of holiness.

To pursue it means that we act diligently to agree with God concerning what He has said about us, and we act like it's true because it is true! We have Jesus Christ, and He is our holiness. So we are pursuing sanctification or holiness when we are living out of the reality of His indwelling life. We grow in the expression of holiness in our thoughts and attitudes and even in our actions, but we don't become more and more holy. Our actions are catching up with our identity and we begin acting more and more like the person we already are in Christ. You are holy. This is what we are! Remember 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Amen! :-)

When we affirm that Jesus Christ is our holiness and simply accept His finished work as the basis for our holiness, we honor the cross and the Christ who gave Himself for us so that we might be made holy. Remember you are a saint! :-)

9 Comments

tope abioye

7/16/2014 12:16:48 am

Great

David Grant

12/7/2014 01:06:48 pm

this is awesome! My pastor did a message similar to this back in the summer and I I have never forgot to do it. I decided to do a message about it myself if God sees fit. I think the entire church needs to hear this and I think you 4 having the passion 2 writing this. God bless and keep doing what you're doing.

Char

1/9/2016 10:25:18 am

I know people who struggle over Scripture that says we're to "be" Holy, to display fruit, the ways we "should" act when they fail at it time and again. I did the same and still have to remind myself.

But by renewing our minds, we will become more Holy in our actions. As you said, Scripture also shows that we were already made Holy and justified. We ARE righteous, simply because of Christ. But we are being "made" Holy...in thought and action. Which also says we can't make ourselves act Holy but it's something we're made into. If we try to keep the laws ourselves were going to be riddled with guilt when we fail to keep even one of the commandments. But since we have been set free, that condemnation of our failings is not from God.

Ramon

12/3/2016 09:13:47 am

Brother this is awesome I am preparing a message on holiness and was looking for conformation on what I was feeling in my spirit - and you expressed it the way I had it in my mind - we are already holy because of our position in Christ and His work on the cross - the expression of our sanctification is catching up with what we already have been declared - Holy unto the Lord. Thank You and God Bless you always.

Gene Kotobalavu

2/25/2018 02:07:05 pm

Hi there. I have only just started becoming familiar with New Covenant teachings. I've been a christian for about 30 years and I'd never heard a message on the New Covnant until I came across a Pastor in Texas called Andrew Farley. It's been about 12 to 15 months that I have been soaking and basking in the New Covenant. If I could say what i've experienced in this short time, it would be that the New Covenant dispenses freedom / liberty from the the burden of legalistic requirements. Thank you for the article you have posted here. I'd be keen to read anything else you have on the New Covenant. Thanks again and keep up these types of posts. You never know what one of your posts might do for someone in the world who gets to read it. You may contribute to the makings of a great evangelist or teacher.

Chris Combs link

8/26/2019 12:13:21 pm

The concept of "progressive sanctification" is just another form of legalism where we try to make ourselves more acceptable to God, who has already accepted us. I like what John Piper says:" We need to become in experience what we already are in Christ"

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Denny Aryanto link

6/9/2020 09:49:42 pm

THE EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE WITH GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH"

I hereby tell my experience with the Lord in full honesty and truth.

WHEN GOD CLEANS, hallowed OR WASHED ME THEN I WILL BE IN THE DIMENSION OF THE WORLD AND ALSO AT THE TIME TOGETHER TOGETHER IN THE DIMENSION OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" IS THE SPIRIT.

AND IF I HAVE WASHED BY THE LORD GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" THEN I HAVE BECOME ONE WITH GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" WHICH IS GOD THE LORD GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" IS IN ME AND I AM THERE IN HE AND GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" WHICH IS GOD THE LORD GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" IS IN ME AND I AM THERE IN GOD AND WE ARE ONE "

WHEN I WAS PURCHASED BY THE LORD GOD THE FATHER ‘YAHWEH’ IS THEN I WAS GIVEN POWER TO FORGIVE SIN OF HUMAN SINS WHEN I AM SAYING THAT THE DOSAGE IS FORGOTED BY THE LORD GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" SHOULD I DEFINITELY MAKE SOME DOSE AND REFER TO DOSE AND DEFINITELY DEFINITELY TO DEFINITELY SUSTAINING THE DOSAGE AND TO MAKE YOU A DEFINITELY AND TO DEFECT AGAIN FOR DOSE AND TO MAKE YOU SOME SIN

AT THAT TIME BECAUSE I AM ONE WITH GOD GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" THEN I WAS GIVEN THE ABILITY TO ACT, TAKE, CREATE, FEEL, FEEL, FEEL, BLESS, KNOW THE SECRET SECRETS, AND BE ABLE TO ACT, THAT IS A YEAR "IS YEAH, WHICH IS THE YEAR" IS THIS "YEAR IS THE GOD"

BUT I'M REALIZED THAT I AM NOT THE NATURAL GOD OF THE UNIVERSE OF ALL CREATORS THAT DOESN'T BE THERE AND ALSO WHO CREATES EVERYTHING TO BE SEEN AND NOT SEEN.

WHEN YOU HOLY IN THE GOD'S ATTENDANCE THE FATHER "YAHWEH" THEN YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY GET WHAT THAT GIVES DIVINE PLEASURE.

THE DIVINE PLEASURE IS A PLEASURE THAT YOU FEEL IN THE HEART, SOUL, SPIRIT AND ALL OF YOUR BODY AND THE CENTRAL IS IN YOUR HEART.

TASTE OF DIVINE PLEASURE IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS VERY MUCH ENJOYED AS YOU ARE SO VERY VERY VERY FALLING LOVE OR LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING IN LOVE BUT IT'S SO MUCH, SO MUCH, VERY VERY VERY FALLING LOVE, OR LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING IN LOVE, BUT IT'S SO MUCH, SO MUCH, VERY VERY VERY FALLING, LOVE, OR LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING IN LOVE, BUT IT'S SO MUCH, SO MUCH, VERY VERY VERY FALLING, LOVE OR LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING IN LOVE, BUT IT'S SO MUCH, SO MUCH, VERY VERY VERY FALLING, LOVE OR LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING, LOVE, BUT, YOU ARE SO MUCH, SO MUCH, VERY VERY FALLING, LOVE, OR LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING, LOVE, BUT, YOU ARE SO MUCH, SO MUCH, YOU ARE VERY VERY FALLING, AND LIKE YOU.

THE DIVINE PLEASURE IS ALSO YOU WILL FEEL WHEN YOU ARE IN HEAVEN, AND THAT YOU FEEL FOR A LONG TIME.

THEN THOUGH SEX IS NOT VERY IMPORTANT AGAIN IN HEAVEN BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS THAT GIVEN A DIVINE PLEASURE THAT ENJOYS AWAY AWAY MUCH FAR AWAY ONCE SEX IT IS OWN.

THAT IS THERE IS NOTHING WHICH IS MARRIED OR MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN, AS WE ARE THERE LIVING LIKE ANGELS IN ANGELS IN HOLY.

IN HEAVEN ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE FRIENDS, FRIENDS, LOVERS, KERABAT, FAMILI AND OTHERS IN HOLY.

BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY FEELING THE DIVINE PLEASURE, THEN I REALLY WANT THAT EVERYONE CAN ALSO PARTY FEEL IT.

IN THE PROPERTY AND PURPOSE OF MY PRAYER, I PRAY TO GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" ASKING TO SHARE OR SPREAD THE FEEL OF DIVINE PLEASURE TO AS MUCH AS EVERYONE EVEN UNTIL THE WORLD.

MY DESIRE AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE LORD GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" IS SPREADING IN LOVE OF PURE SINCERITY AND HIS LOVE AS WELL AS SPREADING THE DIVINE PLEASURE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE PEOPLE ARE ALSO IN THE SINCERITY AND HIS SUCCESS AS WELL AS SPREADING THE DIVINE PLEASURE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE PEOPLE ARE ALSO IN THE SINCERITY AND PURE.

PLEASE REMEMBER AND KNOW THAT THE LORD GOD THE FATHER "YAHWEH" IS:

GOD LOVE YOU !!!

THE LORD GOD'S FATHER "YAHWEH WILL ALL HUMAN LIVES HAPPY DURING THE LONG TIME THEN IT CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF GOD THE LORD FATHER" YAHWEH "AND I WANT TO ALL THE HUMAN LIFE, ALSO CAN BE UNDERSTANDING THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF GOD GOD THE FATHER" YAHWEH "AND I WANT TO ALL THE HUMAN LIFE, ALSO CAN BE UNDERSTANDING THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF GOD THE LORD FATHER" YAHWEH "AND I WANT TO ALL THE HUMAN LIFE, ALSO CAN BE UNDERSTAND.

LIVING IN 2 DIMENSIONS (DIMENSIONS OF THE WORLD AND DIMENSIONS OF THE SPIRIT) AND LIVING WITH THOSE WHO ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY OF MAGIC ABILITY AS ALSO SUCH AS ALSO CALLED AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT AND CHILDREN ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY OF MAGIC ABILITY.

CHILDREN'S CHILDREN ARE CALLED CHILDREN OF LIGHT AND CHILDREN'S CHILDREN ARE Called CHILDREN OF Darkness.

CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WISH ALL HUMAN LIVES HAPPY HAPPY WHEN THE CHILDREN WISHED ALL HUMAN LIVES HAPPY EVEN IN THE PRAYER OF THEIR PRAYERS, THEY WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY, RUINED AND SICK.

CHILDREN OF THE LORD GOD REALLY ALL EVEN PEOPLE INTO HEAVENLY, AND THE CHILDREN OF THE LORD'S CHILDREN WANT YOU ALL ENTRY INTO HELL.

CHILDREN CHILDREN IN BASICALLY AMATLAH EVIL AND LIKE EVERYTHING DESTROYING OTHERS FOR ITS OWN ADVANTAGES.

Because our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against rulers, against the forces of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heaven.

Therefore, wear full armor from God,

Pete Blagden

5/9/2022 10:59:30 pm

Yes we are renewing our mind, but we aren't supposed to be struggling with sin. Repent and be baptised, it says to do this as when you are baptised after repentance it cuts off sin nature. I don't have any repetitive sin nature any more. I see so many Christians struggling with sin, battling it every day and then they feel condemned. It's a viscous circle of repetitive behaviour for them. Praise God He made a way.

Are we holy or do we become more holy? A sanctification clarification

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