From Saved To Sanctified
Being Conformed to the Image of Christ - Pastor Tim Kroeker
John 14:21:
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
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Perhaps you’ve recently done some holiday baking. Successful seasonal sweets require strict adherence to the recipe. One missing ingredient, applying incorrect proportions, or poor technique can result in a kitchen catastrophe. And so it is with the making of disciples.
This Advent season, we reflected on an ancient Christmas hymn found in Galatians 4:4-5. These two verses form the objective basis for the doctrine of justification by faith, Paul’s central message throughout the letter. However, this leads to a logical question. If we’re saved by faith and faith alone, what is the role of good works and right living? What happens if we leave those ingredients out?
Justification describes a sinner being declared righteous in the sight of God. But the one who is justified is then also sanctified. Sanctification is the Spirit-enabled process by which a justified believer’s life is aligned more and more to that which God has already declared true.
Just as we are justified by faith, so too are we sanctified. We’re made to be more and more like Jesus as we grow in knowledge, obedience, and local church relationships over time.
Justification and Sanctification are both essential ingredients in the successful making of disciples. Making disciples is the primary task given to the church. Therefore, submit to the Spirit-enabled process of transformation both in your own life and in the lives of others.
