Sermons from the Epistle to the Colossians

SANCTIFICATION: A NEW POSITION

COLOSSIANS 3:1-4

NOVEMBER 7, 1999

The Apostle Paul breathed passionate concern for truth coming to life in those who were redeemed. Though he sets forth doctrinal issues with razor sharp accuracy it was never to be merely orthodox. When it came to the ethical and moral issues that the Apostle hammers home, it was not as a mere ethicist. Truth was to come to life. Doctrine must always produce ethical and moral changes. And ethical and moral actions must always have a doctrinal base.

This passion involves the sanctification of the Christian. If you are a Christian then you are presently being sanctified. It is happening right now, as you open your mind to the truth of God's Word and its application is made in your life.

This term, sanctification, has scared some people over the years. The primary reason is due to a misunderstanding and misapplication of sanctification. As a teenager, I recall certain groups equating ecstatic experiences with sanctification. That does not encourage an 18 year old to "pursue sanctification"! Then as I got into college I heard other people talking about what they termed "full sanctification." This too was distressing when I looked at the slow progression of my spiritual life.

Maybe you have felt this same sense of apprehension when someone brings up the subject of sanctification. If so, I have good news for you! Sanctification is neither a scary term nor a forbidden subject. It is the joyous process of growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, being shaped into a reflection of his image. Sanctification, as we shall see in the next few weeks, affects every part of life. It involves both the work of the Godhead in your life, as well as your own disciplined work as a Christian.

What is sanctification? Consider what the following theologians have written concerning sanctification.

R. L. Dabney writes, "Sanctification, in the gospel sense, means then, not only cleansing from guilt, though it presupposes this, nor only consecration, though it includes this, nor only reformation of morals and life, though it produces this; but, essentially, the moral purification of the soul" [Systematic Theology, 661].

James P. Boyce explains, "While justify. . .means simply to declare just, or to treat as just; sanctify means to make holy." He further points out that this holiness carries the sense of being set apart to the Lord and holiness in personal character [Abstract of Systematic Theology, 410].

J. I. Packer writes that the concept of sanctification "is not of sin being totally eradicated (that is to claim too much) or merely counteracted (that is to say too little), but of a divinely wrought character change freeing us from sinful habits and forming in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues" [Concise Theology, 169].

Sanctification is the process of spiritual growth and maturity. In it the believer is being acted upon and taking action himself toward the image of Christ being formed in his life. Because of what Jesus Christ has truly done in the believer, he can press on in sanctification. Let us see how this is set forth in our text.

I. Motivation for sanctification: union with Christ

Since sanctification involves action on the part of the Christian, what is to be our motivation for such disciplined action? It is important that we see how Paul motivated the believers in Colossae to press forward in their spiritual development. Unlike his opponents in Colossae who were antagonizing the young believers, he does not do it by manipulation or guilt or even promise of reward. The whole motivation is found in the Christian's union with Jesus Christ.

1. Foundation for union

When speaking of union with Christ I am referring to the relationship that has been established with Jesus Christ through the instrumentality of faith. The sinner looks to Christ alone for reconciliation between himself and God. His confidence rests in the accomplishment of Jesus on the cross. Once he trusts in Jesus Christ, he is now declared to be "in Christ" or "in Him." Such expressions state the meaning of union. The Christian now lives in a vital, living relationship to Jesus Christ, consequently he is in Christ and Christ is in him.

There must be a basis for this union. Paul's declaration is that it is due to what Jesus Christ has accomplished for the Christian in his death and resurrection. He also adds that the consummation of redemption in the Second Advent serves to motivate holiness in the believer.

a. Redemption accomplished

The language of these verses is intentionally weighted theologically. Yet they have a clear moral application in the believer's life. The theological underpinnings refer to the death, resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and return of Jesus Christ: all in four verses! The first statement, "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ," is an implication of both the death and resurrection of our Lord. There are numerous places where you will see a reference to either the death or the resurrection in which both are implied in apostolic language (e.g., Acts 17:31). Here Paul speaks of the believer being united with Christ in the resurrection as he teaches in Romans 6. The thrust of it is that what happened to Jesus Christ happened to the Christian vicariously.

The whole of the Christian faith hinges on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul said that if there was no resurrection then our faith is in vain. By the same token, if there were no bloody death, our faith would be vain as well, for no satisfaction would have been made before God on our behalf. The Apostle has already referred to these believers dying with Christ (2:20), so now he fittingly points them back to their union in Jesus' resurrection. Added to this is the explanation that Jesus Christ is "seated at the right hand of God." This means that he is in the position of divine honor and authority. There is no other one worthy of our love, affection, worship, and praise. There is no one else before whom we are to bow in submission. Jesus alone sits at the Father's right hand, receiving the worship of the universe as the only Redeemer. The idea of being seated is one that expresses the accomplishment of his redemptive work. The middle voice of "seated" implies that Jesus was seated by the Father, given the position of Lord because he finished the work the Father sent him to do (John 17:3-4). Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and was exalted by God the Father as Lord of all (Phil. 2:5-11). Before him every knee must one day bow and confess, "He is Lord!"

Here is the point Paul makes. Since Jesus Christ has finished his redemptive work, then you can press on in spiritual growth and maturity. You are not working for your redemption. You are working from it. The work of Christ accomplished on your behalf becomes the basis for your union with him and consequently, the basis for your sanctification.

b. Redemption consummated

This redemption will one day be consummated too. "When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." The Bible uses a number of terms to express this truth of the Second Advent or the return of Jesus Christ (including parousia, his coming; epiphaneia, his appearance; apocalupsis, his revelation; and this term phaneroo, his manifestation or open display [C. Vaughan, A Study Guide Commentary, 92]).

Here is the future consummation of the Christian faith, the day that all of the world will know the clear reality that Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer and who the redeemed are that constitute his church or bride. It will end the speculation on how many ways there are to God. It will bring to a grinding halt the human machinery that labors to redeem itself through service and vain effort. While there are a lot of opinions on what kind of timeframe surrounds this event, none of us would argue this grand certainty: Jesus Christ will consummate his work of redemption by gathering the redeemed into his bosom for eternity.

It is this reality that helps to motivate the believer to press forward so that we will not "shrink back at his appearing" or have cause to be ashamed at his return.

2. Dimensions of union

Paul personalizes the believer's union with Christ by looking at each dimension of his life in Christ, then using this as a springboard for increased growth in holiness.

a. Past

The aorist tense is used in the first verse to describe an event that has already transpired: "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above.." This is not something that might have happened to these believers but a reality that Paul calls to their remembrance. Just as they were crucified with Christ (2:20), they also were raised up with him. The power of the cross has been applied to the problem of their nature. In the same way, the power of the resurrection has been applied to the nature of the believer. He has been radically affected from a past-tense standpoint by the death and resurrection. He has received a new life capable of spiritual growth.

Paul adds, "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." You are not the same person anymore. You were slammed onto the cross and nailed to it with all of your sinful affections. God smote you in the person of Christ. You were set free from the old master of sin that dominated your life for all those years. You were liberated by death and given new life by resurrection so that you might live wholly unto Christ. As Paul expressed it: "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living" (Rom. 14:7-9).

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ applied to your life was not in hope that you might have some acknowledgement of him and perhaps consider living for him. He died and rose from the dead to definitely accomplish this! So to press on in sanctification, live in the reality of the death and resurrection of Christ. Think upon this truth. Let it sink in upon you. Let the powerful force of divine satisfaction at the cross and divine life in the resurrection flood your mind.

b. Present

The death and resurrection are past acts with continuing results. But Paul also explains the present reality for the believer. "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." What does he mean by being "hidden with Christ in God"? The term speaks of the continuing union the Christian has with Christ. He is safely tucked away in the arms of Christ, we might say. He is resting in the work that Jesus accomplished that satisfied the Father. As Frances Havergal put it in the hymn, "Like a River Glorious,"

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

They who trust Him wholly find him wholly true.

This hidden with Christ in God also implies a double safety for the believer. He is in Christ, who cannot be moved away from the work he has accomplished. On top of this, Christ is in God, who cannot be manipulated, invaded, threatened, or sullied by any foe. There is the believer's security; he is in Christ, hidden securely in what Jesus has finished. So the believer is not laboring to protect himself or to keep himself secure for eternity. It is a grand reality that he rests in and finds motivating him to press on spiritually.

There is also one other idea in being hidden with Christ. The Christian is a mystery to the world. He cannot be explained in mere human terms. He cannot be understood by natural means. His radically different life contradicts everything the world proposes. Even when he is persecuted and hounded for his faith, the believer continues on in faithfulness. The world wonders why. It is that secret spring of divine life that has been granted in Christ Jesus, nurtured away in the soul, hidden from the view of the world that sustains him in the most difficult of situations.

I read the story of Bruce Olson, who had served for 28 years as a missionary with the Motilone Indians of Colombia, a primitive aboriginal tribe. In 1988, while he and a couple of his Indian friends were involved in ministry, Bruce was captured by the ELN; the communist inspired National Liberation Army in Colombia. For ten months, Bruce sought to help these poor souls by teaching them to improve their diets and assisting in their medical care. Then he was given opportunity to teach the Bible to the guerillas. A number of them professed faith in Christ. All the while, the guerilla leaders sought to lure Bruce into their political camp. He refused, even when being tortured. Finally, the leaders declared that Bruce must die. The night before the scheduled execution, though his body was weak from sickness, Bruce found himself experiencing an extraordinary peace. He thought of himself, as "hidden with Christ in God," so that the physical and emotional distress he faced could not touch him in the depths of his soul. During the night a jungle bird kept singing a tune that reminded him of how his Motilone friends sang of the death and resurrection of Christ. A peace swept over him. As he stood before a firing squad, a reluctant one at that, he found himself at peace. They raised their rifles and he awaited the slugs piercing his body. But nothing happened. Blanks had been issued, evidently in an effort to scare him into submission. But he never budged. He was hidden in the hollow of the Lord's hand. It is that kind of peace, the reality of this truth that keeps the believer going forward in spiritual growth.

But Paul adds one other present dimension of our union with Christ. He speaks of the future revelation of Christ but in the midst of it declares, "Christ, who is our life," or as some of the ancient Greek manuscripts put it, "Christ, who is your life." This is the present reality of the Christian: Jesus Christ is your life. If you boil down the reason for your existence, the purpose of your life, the passion that drives you, the truth that delights your affections, it is Jesus Christ. How can the Christian find the motivation to stand against the onslaught of the world in his life or to strip away the sin that seeks to cling to him? He reflects upon the reality of Jesus Christ as his life. "It is He who gives us life and fans and fosters it by His abiding presence within us" [Vaughan, 92].

c. Future

Even the hope of the Christian serves to motivate his personal holiness. "When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory." This is much akin to what John wrote in his first epistle. "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (I John 3:2-3). It is a wondrous reality that we who are sinners have been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ. Not only does he reconcile us, but also he promises to one day bring us into his eternal presence in heaven. Can we be passive when it comes to thinking upon this truth? Does this not motivate your heart and soul to pursue Christ until you are a complete reflection of him in character and lifestyle?

II. Focus of sanctification: thought and action

Paul does issue two commands in this text. As we have noticed, the commands are given upon the basis of doctrinal truth. He does not have to cajole the Colossians into following after Jesus Christ. He simply sets forth the glory of their position as those in union with Jesus Christ to motivate them in sanctification.

So what is involved on our part? The Holy Spirit is certainly at work sanctifying the believer. But we are also exhorted to action. Dr. Boyce's comments are helpful at this point:

The believer must co-operate in the work of sanctification. His reception of the word of God, his reliance upon its promises, his struggles against sin, and his earnest longings for holiness are important elements in his sanctification. But the existence of these depends upon the belief that God has pardoned his sins, and will accept and bless him, which is the consequence of the personal trust in Christ which constitutes justifying faith [Abstract, 412].

1. New pursuit

Where are you to aim your life? "Keep seeking those things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." This word implies a continual action on the part of the Christian. To "seek" means that you have a definite target for which you are aiming your life. You have something in mind so that you focus your energies in its pursuit. It is not an aimless wandering in life but a definite pursuit of Jesus Christ.

Does Paul suggest that the Christian is to become heavenly minded, losing sight of anything on earth? Does he mean that the Christian is to stretch his mind in contemplation of what might be present in heaven? The language is quite clear. Your pursuit is above, that is, it is to be spiritual in nature. You are to be living with an eye toward eternity. But the focal point of all of your life is to be Him who is seated at the Father's right hand, Jesus Christ. The Christian's active pursuit in sanctification is for his life to be shaped by the life of Christ, his tongue to reflect the gracious speech of Christ, and his service to be selfless like that of Christ.

Sanctification, in its clearest essence, is the shaping of the believer to be like Jesus Christ in every way. We look at our lives and confess together that we are far from being completed! Only the entrance into eternity can bring this pursuit to fruition, but that does not mean we are to do nothing in the mean time. Instead, we are to keep seeking after Jesus Christ in all things.

This whole process can be compared to climbing a mountain. If you have your eye on the peak of the mountain, you are not going to get there by a beeline walk. That is impossible. Instead, you will traverse the mountain, gradually climbing its heights. At times, you will find your path being level. At other times it might even make a slight decline, only to reach a spot where you begin to ascend again. Though you are involved in a slow process of climbing the mountain, your goal to reach the summit burns in your heart.

Sanctification has a distinct goal: shaping the believer in the image of Christ. While ascending this grandest of mountains, the believer will cross much rough terrain, traversing from one level of growth to another. He will have surges in his growth. And he will have those times of leveling off or gradually declining. But these times make the ascent all the sweeter!

2. Distinct mind

This calls for not only action and progress, but also a change of thought and attitude. "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Again, "things above" refers to the spiritual realm as opposed to the material world. Rather than being bound by the things about us, we are to have lofty pursuits as a Christian and lofty thoughts. Lightfoot wrote, "You must not only seek heaven; you must also think heaven" [quoted by Murray Harris, An Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament, 138].

This means that you must have your thinking shaped and sharpened by the Word of God rather than the world. Something is always shaping your thinking. Our minds are porous like sponges. A sponge is either dry or filled with some substance from outside of itself. It can be left in a bowl of dirty water and it will soak up substance, thus affecting the condition of the sponge. Or it can be left in clean water and the content of the sponge will consequently be clean. In what substance are you soaking your mind?

This means that you must discipline your mind to pursue the spiritual rather than the temporal. The involves a process of disciplining your thoughts upon Christ, his work, his promises, the revelation of himself in the Word, and his commands. The patter set for us in Scripture requires our thinking upon it. As the Lord set Joshua as leader of the children of Israel, he was told to "meditate day and night" upon the Law of God. His steps would be affected because he had been soaking his mind in God's Word. We are to seek to be pre-occupied with God's truth.

This brings us back to what is shaping our thinking. Do we read and think upon God's Word? Are we reading edifying books? Are we letting the world of entertainment shape our thinking? We live with a multitude of distractions, so we must double our efforts at this point. We must pull out all stops to be shaped by the truth of God's Word.

Conclusion

As we keep seeking and thinking upon things above, we will ultimately be filled with a consciousness of Jesus Christ. I believe that is the aim of our text, to direct us away from immersing our minds and lifestyles in the temporal things of this world and pursue those eternal qualities in character and life we see in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have the foundation and motivation for spiritual pursuits by seeing what Jesus Christ has done for us, what he is presently doing, and what he shall do. Now let us resolve to seek the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

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