SANCTIFICATION: A NEW ACTION

COLOSSIANS 3:12-14

NOVEMBER 28, 1999 (Annotated Outline)

J. C. Ryle wrote: "Sanctification...is absolutely necessary, in order to train and prepare us for heaven. Most men hope to go to heaven when they die, but few, it may be feared, take the trouble to consider whether they would enjoy heaven if they got there" [Holiness, 22].

Sanctification prepares us for that holy place called Heaven. We are told in Hebrews 12:14, "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord." Sanctification is not an option for the Christian, but the inevitable consequence of being regenerated by the Holy Spirit. It is God's gracious work of holiness and spiritual growth in the believer. Consider how the Word speaks of this over and over.

"For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth" (John 17:19)

"...just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless" (Eph. 5:25-27).

"Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:14).

"And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness" (I Pet. 2:24).

"Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach" (Col. 1:22).

It is obvious in these texts that Jesus Christ's death on the cross was not simply to justify us legally before God, but to purify us as His own, holy people. Therefore, Christ has taken on the work of sanctification as his very own special work.

Having said that, I must hasten to point out that unlike justification, the believer is involved in sanctification. It calls for his action. It is a divine work; mark that down. Yet it is also a work in which the believer, now regenerated and justified, grows in holiness and in the knowledge of Christ. However, we must not think of it as a 50/50 proposition, in which we try to keep up with the Lord in sanctification or he tries to keep up with us. It is a certain work that will take place in every believer; and just as certainly, every believer will work in sanctification. The Christian is actively involved in his sanctification. How is he to be involved? The last study involved dying and putting off; here he explains what we are to put on in sanctification.

We continue to look at this lengthy section addressing the believer's action in sanctification.

I. Motivation for sanctification

The Lord knows how weak we are by nature, how we tend to shrink from our responsibilities, so he has provided ample motivation for us to press on in spiritual growth in holiness.

1. God's Action

He begins by pointing us to God's action: election.

"Chosen of God" clearly expresses the truth of election. The word is the root of our English word, elect (eklektos). It is used repeatedly in the NT.

Matt. 22:24, "For many are called but few are chosen."

Matt. 24:22 Jesus speaks of divine intervention in the horrors of tribulation "for the sake of the elect"

Matt. 24:31 "And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other"

Luke 18:7 speaks of God bringing about justice speedily for His elect who cry to Him day and night.

Romans 8:33 questions, "Who will bring a charge against God's elect?"

II Tim. 2:10 Paul gives testimony, "For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory." He demonstrates that the thing, which drove him in missions, was the consciousness that God had an elect people who needed to hear the gospel in order to be saved.

Revelation 17:14 describes those coming with the Lord, "and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

None of us could refute the reality that divine election is evidenced from Genesis to Revelation. I do not know of one serious Bible scholar who would dare to deny this doctrine, though some might try to twist and pervert its truth. So why is there such opposition and disregard of his doctrine of election?

(1) Men do not want to admit the reality and extent of divine sovereignty, wanting instead to control their own lives.

(2) Men do not want to admit that they are helpless to come to God, that apart from God's gracious choice, they will turn from him completely.

YET..., it is the realization of this truth, "I have been chosen by God," that motivates believers to press on in sanctification. To deny this doctrine is to put your spiritual growth in jeopardy. For you are left to your own personal motivation or the manipulation of others for growth. That is why multitudes of genuine believers fall prey to legalistic ministries; they need something to keep them pressing forward so they look to strong-arm pulpit tactics to do the trick. Instead, they should find great delight and motivation in pondering the wonder that God would choose them out of all the people in the world!

2. Believer's unique condition

He adds more to this by calling attention to two distinct and unique conditions in the Christian: holy and beloved.

Holy: set apart unto the Lord; belonging only to him; uniquely and specially his; not for common use. E.g., objects in the temple, priests, high priest with his turban and a gold plate on it, "holy to the Lord." (cf. Eph. 2:19-22)

"Beloved": is a perfect passive participle, "having been loved [by God who chose you]". You are the object of divine love. While God loves the world, he loves you in a special way (e.g., love for your church, but special love for your family)

The believer's motivation for sanctification is found in considering God's choice of him and the consequence of that choice, he is set apart as holy to the Lord as an object of God's special love.

II. Appropriate Clothing

Illus: during this time of year, you are careful to see what kind of clothing you need to wear; also, if you are going to a special event, you must know what is appropriate to wear.

The believer is told to "put on" as if he is suiting up in a new set of clothes, having "put off" the old. The word literally means, "to clothe yourself." You are not to randomly grab anything but instead, consciously seek to clothe yourself in that same kind of character and with the same kind of actions you see in Christ. For each of these are evident in the life of Jesus Christ. We also find kindness, gentleness, patience, and love in the fruit of the Spirit.

1. Heart qualities

He names five specific heart qualities that are to characterize the believer. He even uses the word "heart" which refers to the seat of the emotions, the inward part of man, being endued with these special qualities.

(1) Compassion, can also be translated as 'mercy' and refers to ' the manifestation of tender feelings that are shown in concern for others.' It is seen both in a person's yearnings which precede his actions, and also shown in his actions that stem from his inward yearnings. It is not simply a warm feeling for others, but a sense of merciful concern for others that leads the believer to action.

No group of people has shown consistently the level of compassion, as have Christians. E.g., evident in number of hospitals, schools, orphanages, hunger relief, disaster relief, etc. It can be focused on a large group of people or on an individual.

It is also that capacity to be able to join with others in their sorrow or in some plight in which they struggle.

(2) Kindness is also expressed in both attitude and deed. "It is the friendly and helpful spirit which seeks to meet the needs of others through kind deeds." Guy Appere writes that it "leads us to seek the well-being of others....The kindness spoken of here is a disposition of the mind and heart, a loving care for others; it forgets any faults in them, it covers over their wrongdoing and seeks their well-being" (The Mystery of Christ, 102).

We sometime laugh at the many jokes that have been made of former President Bush's call for "kinder and gentler" actions. Yet, how much better off our society would be if there were a revival of genuine kindness shown from one person to another. Instead, the dog-eat-dog mentality leaves the whole society smitten with discouragement. But the Christian community is to be different! That is our uniqueness, showing kindness in the face of the harshness of the world; looking out for the well being of others.

(3) Humility is a virtue that the Greeks would not even mention. It was a curse to them, with all the pride of heart that welled up within them. Yet humility is necessary if we are going to look out for the well being of others. Otherwise, we will simply look out for ourselves.

The word means "lowliness in thinking." Moses was called a humble man, though none of us would consider him a "doormat" sort of person. He was bold, courageous, and caring for the people he led. He even placed himself between God's anger and Israel. This lowliness in thinking is the capacity to see yourself rightly and see God alone as great.

(4) Gentleness or meekness, refers to a selfless spirit. It does not mean "mousy" as some have thought. "It is the restrained and obedient powers of the personality brought into subjection and submission to God's will by the Holy Spirit" [Linguistic Key]. The word was often used of bringing a wild horse under control, so that the word means that a person's strengths, power of personality, intelligence is under the control of the Spirit, so that this person might demonstrate true kindness to others.

e.g., Eric Alexander, well-known preacher, admired by many, yet I watched with delight as he stooped down to talk with my youngest son at the conclusion of a service attended by hundreds. Though he was powerful in the pulpit and ministering to many, he was conscious of a 6-year-old boy sitting in the audience and saw him at the service's conclusion.

(5) Patience refers to the ability of retraining your anger or sense of retaliation or spirit of exasperation with a view or hope for the situation being bettered. "Longsuffering" is another translation. It "enables the Christian not to flare up at the slightest provocation, not to get downhearted or at the least disappointment. The Christian must be able to endure without feelings of revenge, to wait and hope against all odds. Patience enables him to stand firm and remain kind and gentle despite the rebuffs, ingratitude and unpleasantness of other people" (Guy Appere, 102)

2. Big-heartedness

There is a sense that the next two qualities are a natural result of the previous five heart qualities. They are actions but not actions that have no sense of heart. They flow from a loving disposition toward others and a willingness to treat others as Christ has treated you.

"Bearing with one another" literally means that you 'put up with someone', not in an exasperating way, but with a sense of genuine love and compassion. It means that other's weaknesses and shortcomings will not keep you from interacting with them, being kind to them, being involved in their lives, and helping them. This is one of the most difficult things that we face. For we do want to see people do better than they do.

"We wish-quite rightly-they were so much better than they are: more loving, more understanding, more gentle, more patient, more hospitable, more generous, more reliable, more punctual, more open...It is not easy to put up with the irritations, the criticisms, the harsh or bitter words, the unfairness which some of our brothers can inflict on us. They are not perfect; neither is the church. But it cannot live without this acceptance, this mutual tolerance, which is the fruit of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" [Guy Appere, 103].

Forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. This word for forgiveness emphasizes the gracious nature of forgiveness, that you do not forgive because someone earns your forgiveness, but you do it out of love as one who too has received the grace of forgiveness. The complaint recognizes that there will be those times in congregational life when we wrong each other. That is inevitable as fallen people still being sanctified. So the complaint may seem justifiable, but the Word tells us to rethink it in light of the forgiveness of Jesus Christ toward us.

III. The Crown Jewel

Crowning the believer's new action as one being sanctified is a genuine love for one another. "Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." This could mean that 'in addition to all these other things, add love' or it could mean' on top of all the others or more important than all the others, put on love'.

1. Supremacy of love

We are told that "love covers a multitude of sins." And the emphasis in sanctification has to do with the believer being shaped into the image of Jesus Christ, which means that we have a different view and attitude toward sin. Instead of engaging in whatever sin comes our way, we desire to strip it from us, to avoid it, to be clothed with Christ's purity.

Guy Appere speaks of love being the opposite of sin in this context, the means of exterminating sin in our lives.

"This is the way above all others to win this war of extermination...it is the simplest, surest way, the only way that is sure, true and deep. No other penetrates to the depths; no other sees the depths. Only love exterminates...love is insatiable, love is intolerant, love is destructive, love is never satisfied till it has exterminated sin" [101].

e.g., love is the very heart of new life in Christ, for it is called, "the new commandment." Also, Jesus said that we would be identified as his disciples by our love for one another.

Here love refers to our seeking to do good to others, to provide for others' needs, to be sensitive to others in terms of our time, conversation, material goods, affections.

2. Effect of love

"Which is the perfect bond of unity," refers to the power of love to "bind or hold together" the community of believers. Lohse says it is "the fastening together of separate items which are thus brought together into a unity" [Hermeneia, 148]. The implication is that the very different personalities that make up the church are held together by the active love of the body for one another.

Conclusion

We must consider the "clothes" we wear as Christians: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, crowned with love. This sort of clothing never goes out of style; always find a ready welcome in the church; and promotes unity.

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be explicitly approved by South Woods Baptist Church.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy:

Copyright South Woods Baptist Church. Website: www.southwoodsbc.org. Used by permission as granted on web site. Questions, comments, and suggestions about our site can be sent here.