Christian growth is a battle — but we are not alone!
For this is the will of God, your sanctification… (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
Your sanctification, my sanctification, is God’s will.
In the past we (believers) were saved from the penalty of sin. In the future we will be saved from the presence of sin. Here and now, we are being saved from the power of sin, becoming more holy (see 2 Corinthians 7:1), and being made in the image of Christ.
The present is a battle.
God is working in us AND we are responsible for our sanctification
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)
Our responsibility
Work out your salvation with awe and reverence.
This is not about saving faith, believers are already saved. This is about living our lives reflecting that we are redeemed, that the Father adopted us and we are His children, that we are in Christ. We are consistently to live like that.
Most of us are dissatisfied with our walk with the Lord. In fact, the more we grow, the better we are walking with the Lord, the more distressed we are about coming short. Look at godly Paul’s agony! (Romans 7)
We need to keep working at it. We are commanded to keep working at it. We have to make the utmost effort to live righteously; to obey His commandments; to love God.
God is working for our sanctification
There is hope. We can/must trust God for our sanctification, just as we trust God for our glorification.
For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
I certainly can think of ways I now want to live my life His way, when in early days I didn’t. And I can think of ways I do, in fact, live more righteously. Wow! Me!
God promises glorification
God promises victory for believers, all of us who are in the battle now.
God is working to make you and me into the image of His Son. He is working towards our glorification. (Romans 8:29) He promises.
Press on
So… use your discontent as fuel. Make every effort towards your sanctification. Praise God for the ongoing work in your life. Praise God for His awesome promises.
Remember, God wins.
