Great Doctrines - Grace Church of DuPage
Great Doctrines - Grace Church of DuPage
Great Doctrines - Grace Church of DuPage
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L<br />
D OCTRINAL OCTRINAL LLESSON<br />
L ESSON SSECTION<br />
S ECTION 22 PPROGRESSIVE<br />
P ROGRESSIVE SSANCTIFICA<br />
S ANCTIFICA<br />
ANCTIFICATION<br />
ANCTIFICA TION<br />
DOCTRINAL SUMMARY<br />
Sanctification is the continuing work <strong>of</strong> God in the believer’s life which makes him<br />
actually holy ~ simply meaning that we bear an actual likeness to God.<br />
Sanctification is the process by which our moral condition is conformed to our legal<br />
status <strong>of</strong> righteousness, and so it is a continuation <strong>of</strong> what was begun in regeneration<br />
when a newness <strong>of</strong> life was instilled within the believer by the Holy Spirit. And as such,<br />
sanctification is the Holy Spirit applying Jesus Christ’s work to the life <strong>of</strong> the believer.<br />
This sanctification is a moral goodness and spiritual worth which means that not<br />
only are believers set apart in Christ, but that they conduct themselves in purity and<br />
goodness so that they are regarded as being in Christ. Since we are children <strong>of</strong> God and<br />
brethren <strong>of</strong> Christ, we should show a likeness to them in that our lives are characterized<br />
by love, mercy, humility, patience, and righteousness.<br />
And we must always remember that sanctification is a supernatural work that is done<br />
by God, not by ourselves - as our nature cannot produce or accomplish holiness. This<br />
sanctification is a special series <strong>of</strong> works by the Holy Spirit, and therefore this divine work<br />
within the believer is a progressive phenomenon that will operate throughout the entire<br />
life <strong>of</strong> the believer (Phil. 1:6). And obviously, the aim <strong>of</strong> this work is a likeness to Christ<br />
Himself, which has been God’s intention from all eternity (Romans 8:29,30). But while<br />
sanctification is a work <strong>of</strong> God, the believer is constantly exhorted to work and grow in<br />
regard to his salvation; and so the believer has a vital role in his own sanctification ~ to<br />
remove sin and to develop personal holiness.<br />
AS YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER YOUR RESPONSE:<br />
2Cor. 11: 1 ~ I will imitate Christ, as Paul has done before me.<br />
HOMEWORK:<br />
Read the central passages daily.<br />
Read Grudem Chapter 38, sections C-F<br />
Notes<br />
GREAT DOCTRINES III ~ SANCTIFICATION PART 3~SECTION 22~PAGE 3<br />
S<br />
22 P<br />
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