Sanctified by the Spirit (cd)

Paul taught that God justifies the wicked or the ungodly (Romans 4:5). When we initially place our trust in Jesus, God declares us pardoned of all sin and clothed with the perfect righteousness of Christ. Our justification is not on the basis of anything we have done; thus, we come to Christ with all our sin.

As God's love has drawn us to Christ, God's love is too great to allow us to remain in our sin. God's eternal purpose is that after having declared us righteous on the basis of the atoning sacrifice and perfect righteousness of Christ, He will send to us His Holy Spirit to sanctify us; that is, to make us personally holy. His gracious act of justification makes us positionally holy, but the Holy Spirit's work results in our being personally holy.

The work of sanctification is a life-long process that requires our cooperation with the Spirit. Unlike justification, which is a once-and-for-all act, this process of our gradually being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) is never complete in this life, only in our final glorification (I Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Lesson Titles

• What is Sanctification?
• Who is the Holy Spirit?
• Sanctification in the Olivet Discourse
• The Fruit of the Spirit
• The Struggle with Sin
• Guidance by the Spirit
• Developing Personal Holiness
• Developing Spiritual Disciplines of Holiness
• The Fruits of Sanctification
• The Practice of Piety