Draft 5

THIS INCEDIBLE LIFE
1/23/05; TSL #5 – Philippians 2:13; Gateway Sermon Notes

REVIEW - Interest

Several weeks ago we began a study on the spiritual life – or experiential sanctification. It is that period of time from the point of our conversion to when we go to be with the Lord. We are addressing the questions: How do we live the Christian life? How do we grow in the Christian life? How are we experientially sanctified? These are questions concerning sanctification. So far we have discovered …

The possibility and power of sanctification.

The original design prior to sanctification.

The marring and redesign leading to sanctification.

Need

Today we venture further as we examine the kernel of sanctification. What is sanctification by nature? What is its beginning point in the plan of God? I believe many people miss this in their Christian lives and as a result they live confused and powerless Christian lives. They lack direction and conviction.

Orientation

Let’s look first at erroneous views of the spiritual life, or sanctification. We will be better able to grasp the biblical view if we are acquainted with the less that biblical views. Notice that these views have often been held by sincere people. They were people for one reason or another came to their conclusions as to how the Christian life was to be lived. So we are not here to condemn and judge people as much as we are to make sure our own thinking is as biblical as possible.

I. VIEWS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE.

A. View #1: Legalism: Saved by grace, live by works. Galatians 3:3

Legalism is the view of spirituality and sanctification that sees spiritual progress as accomplished solely through meritorious works. Works will inevitably flow from the spiritual life, but they are not the means or criteria for the spiritual life. We not only are saved by grace, but we walk by grace. I am spiritual because …

Church Attendance
Church Service and Activity and Sacrementalism
Financial Giving
Rule-Keeping in Regard to Clothes, Food, Drink and Entertainment (1 Cor 8, Ro 14)
Extended Times of Prayer

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) Many years ago while living in the Dallas area I cam upon a gentleman who was a businessman. I got to know him through some business dealings that I had of my own, and so I was working with this fellow. It turned out that he tried to cheat me. At first I thought that there was just some breakdown of communication, but he was really trying to cheat me. Before this took place, this man has spoke glowingly about his membership at one of the biggest Baptist churches in Dallas. How proud he was of that fact! He was also quick to tell me how he was also a deacon, and how the pastor knew him personally. Yet he was a shady businessman. It seems he held out his church membership as his spirituality.
B. View #2: Libertinism: Saved forever, sin doesn’t matter. Romans 6:1

Libertinism is on the other side of the works and sin spectrum. On one had the legalists insists that works makes him spiritual, but the libertine insists that no works are necessary and works play no role. The libertine can excuse some of the grossest sinful behavior. This is not spirituality. A person is not spiritual if they are living contrary to God’s specific words of conduct and morality. The lack of works does not immediately or automatically determine the spirituality of a person, but they can be a warning or indicator as to whether a person has real faith.

Do you see how each of these positions has aspects of correctness? The legalist is right in that there are specific rules to follow in the Christian life (rules concerning murder, sexual immorality, proper speech, thoughts, etcetera), and the libertine is right in that we have been totally forgiven – but they err when they take their views and exclude the balancing doctrine – the legalist expecting his rule-keeping to gain approbation with God instead of an inner heart change, and the libertine exploiting forgiveness and sinning presumptuously.

C. View #3: Emotionalism: It’s all about how I feel. Romans 10:2

This has been a popular approach to sanctification and spirituality. Rather than basing one’s faith on the facts of Scripture and being confident in that, they rely on the shifting winds of emotion. The emotionally driven person doesn’t feel like he or she has worshipped God, or gotten close to God, or experienced God unless they have traveled to the heights of emotion.

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) This last summer our son Jon, his friend Nick and I went to Six Flags here in Houston. What a day that was. It seemed like the hottest day of the summer! Toward the end of the day we decided to go on the Texas Cyclone, the older wood roller coaster. My, it whipped us left, and then right, and then up and then down! By the time we were done with the ride it felt as if our skeletons had been beaten against a brick wall. When you go by emotion in your spiritual life you will be beaten all over the place. You can be spiritually bi-polar! God by the facts of the faith, not emotion! Sometimes husbands you will not feel like loving your wife, and wives sometimes you will not feel like loving your husbands, and sometimes teen you will not feel like obeying your parents but you know it is the right thing to do.

God made us with emotion, and emotion when guided by the Scripture guided mind is good. But emotion without the rudder of Scripture can lead to a shipwreck. Be aware of your feelings – God certainly can lead through them – but don’t make them your sole criteria for spirituality or determining the will of God. They are a cruel taskmaster that will abandon you in your darkest moments. There are many times in your Christian life when you need to step back on the truths of Scripture regardless of your feelings!

D. View #4: Intellectualism: It’s all about what I know. 1 Timothy 6:20

Intellectualism is a form of legalism, but its focus or means of approbation is the intake of Scriptural data. We of all people know the importance of learning Scripture. It is the primary means through which God reveals Himself and how we are to live. But it is not the automatic means of spirituality or sanctification.

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) Some of the most unspiritual people I have ever met are people who have a thorough understanding of the Bible. We like to revere people who know the Bible. We like to hold them up and respect them, and probably we should. But it is not an automatic means of spirituality. When it comes to spirituality and life change some people could just as well be studying Aristotle and Shakespeare as Paul and Peter.

E. View #5: Extremism: Overly active or passive. Matthew 26:41

Extremism is what I call those who are extremely active or passive. There have been movements through church history that makes activism or passivity a virtue as in pietism or quietism. Again, there is some truth here. Certainly we can see both in Scripture, but the problem is when we hunker down on one verse to the exclusion of others. Are there not times for active piety and can we not cite Scriptures for them? Certainly the passages with analogies to athletics! Are there not times for retreat and quiet and the times for them? Certainly many of the Psalms!

God has given us a will and abilities and He expects us to use them in balance with times of waiting on His chosen activities. For remember that when it comes to the manifestation of His power He works in various ways: He works independently of us, interdependently with us, and internally within us. (Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) Notice that when Moses led the children of Israel through the sea. He said, “Stand back and see the salvation of the Lord.” The passive quietistic folks like to stop right there. But we notice that right after that Moses told them to go forward. The truth of the matter is that wisdom at times tells us to act and sometimes to wait. Sometimes it is right to do one, and sometimes the other, and sometimes as with this case it is a combination – but we are never to exclusively choose only one and demand that others do the same. I find that often how one determines which they prefer depends on what they want to do at the time – and they use God and Scripture as their excuse to do what they want to do. One can be used as an excuse to do nothing and one can be used as an excuse to not wait on God. (Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) Whenever I speak about this balance between God’s actions and our participation I remember the advice I was given as a young man by one of my mentors. I was a young single man in my early 20s and we were talking about courtship and finding the right person to marry. At that time in my life that was very important to me. My mentor, a godly man, said to me, “Rich remember what Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Watch and pray.’” He told me that I needed to be watching, I needed to be doing something about my singleness and my hope to one day be married to a committed Christian. Don’t just pray and don’t just watch, but watch and pray (Matthew 26:41 in the Garden of Gethsemane – it appears to be present tense, linear action).

F. View #6: Perfectionism: State of relative perfection. Romans 12:1-2

Believe it or not there have been those in church history who have held to a form of perfectionism. They feel they can get to a place where they no longer sin intentionally or willfully. Forms of this can be “the higher life, the deeper life, the surrendered life, and the victorious life.” All of these speak of a special act of the will (or surrender) which results in an elevated form of spirituality.

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) Back when I was just out of college and starting seminary I worked in a Baptist church that had a guest speaker (Cecil Magee) from the deeper life movement. He passed out tracts labeled with Galatians 2:20a - “Not I, but Christ.” He got a few of us together before the regular church wide meeting for a time of instruction and confession. The point was to get us to confess sin and totally surrender. It was counterproductive because it made us look for special elevated state of spirituality beyond what we were given at salvation. There were serious interpersonal and body life issues that were detrimental to our church.

G. View #7: Spirit Baptism: Second work of grace. Romans 8:9

Spirit baptism has been popular now for over 100 years. It takes the experience of the early church in the Book of Acts and makes them normative for every Christian. This position states that ever Christian should seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and when a person does so he is spiritual and is at an elevated state of the Christian life.

Closely related to this position is the idea that speaking in tongues is an indication of true spirituality. This cannot be upheld in the Scripture. There were some in the early church that were given the ability to speak in a foreign language for purposes of evangelism, but tongues is nowhere seen as normative or a proof of spirituality.

H. View #8: Materialism: Spirituality equals prosperity. 1 Timothy 3:6-10

And finally there is the materialism view, or the “Health and Wealth,” or “Prosperity Theology,” or “Faith Movement.” In this view prosperity is the necessary result of spirituality. If a person truly has faith or spirituality he will be prosperous in health, wealth and influence. The key world here is “necessary.” Health and wealthers say higher faith must result in prosperity, and that in fact God is obligated to do so based on the promises of His Word.

But the fatal flaw in their theology is their Theology Proper, their view of God. It is a misunderstanding of the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of blessing and suffering for the believer. God does bless His people with health, wealth and prosperity – we see that clearly in the Bible. But we also see that Bible teaches that sometimes (oftentimes) God allows undeserved suffering for His people in order to achieve His purposes. Prosperity is not an independent sign of spirituality!

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) One of the saddest stories I ever heard was from my wife when she worked at a hospital and witness and Prosperity Theology church come to pray for a person who was dying. They all were gathered around the bed holding hands and adjuring the dying person to confess sins. They also blamed the person for having inadequate faith. It was simply cruel. The person went ahead and died, and then they were not done - they stood around trying to mustard up the faith to raise the person from the dead. So in the closing moments of this believers life he was accused of inadequate faith, and as the cause of his own death. Does God call us to confess sin that leads to healing? Can God raise a person from the death? Yes and yes. But the Bible never says that we are to assume that God will never bring underserved suffering.

Now that we have looked at erroneous positions of spirituality and sanctification – let’s spell out the biblical position and be clear on what we are to believe and live.

II. A SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE.

The New Life View

God causes the new life received at rebirth to live itself out. It prevails.



TODAY’S LESSON ...

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) It is like receiving a gift from God. In this nicely wrapped gift are three other gifts. All are received by grace. Inside they are labeled “justification, sanctification, and glorification.” We pull the first out and are very aware of its contents, for this is being made right with God instantaneously, being made right with God through double imputation. Then we pass the second for a moment and look to the third and find here glorification which is eternal life in heaven. When most Christians think of the grace gift of salvation they think of just these two. The third is post salvation and is all about effort and work and depends completely on my volition to make it a reality. But look again at the gifts! There is a cord that leads from to another. The first is obtained and it is inextricably linked to the second, and that inextricably linked to the third. All three are in the initial package and are given at rebirth.

For just as sure as we experience being made right with God in justification, and just as sure as we will experience eternal life in heaven, we experience a new life in time (with a new disposition, outlook, attitude and actions). The second gift is procured and maintained by the same grace and the same guarantees of the first and third. I rejoice because God has promised me a life of real Godward change that will never completely fail nor fall. In fact, despite stumbles and trips along the way this life will prevail.

Observations …

1. Sanctification begins at the moment of spiritual rebirth with the creation of a new capacity of mind, will and emotion. 2 Cor 5:17, Ro 6:14

2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks about the new life. We are made completely new in the sense of our new constitution, or disposition. We are not just new in the sense of our justification or position. We are new in our capacity in regard to sanctification. We are not talking about just the forgiveness of sins here; we are talking about conquering the penalty of sins, and the power of sin, and ultimately the presence of sin.

Romans 6:11 spells out this transformation: “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This state of being “alive” is the new capacity of mind, will and emotion. The change happens at the moment we are reborn. A real and true change happens in the way we think things, decide things, and feel about things – all of this thinking and choosing and emoting are now Godward.

2. Sanctification means that although the former life is not destroyed, the dominion of the old life is gone. Ro 6:5-6, 1 Cor 6:11

Romans 6:5-6 speaks of no longer being a slave to sin. The old life is not eradicated, but although it still exists while we are in these bodies in this life it no longer dominates. We don’t have to sin anymore. We are no longer dead in our trespasses and sins unaware of the spiritual life that is around us.

1 Corinthians 6:11 speaks of a fundamental constitutional change that resulted in a new life identity and lifestyle. Because the Corinthians were Christians they were no longer marked and dominated by their former manner of life (Paul makes a list). And Paul uses this to encourage them to say that, “This was your old life that dominated you, now you have a new identity and domination. Although at time you flirt with this old life and come under its influence form time to time, you have a new life trend.”

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth) It is like your life is represented by a neighborhood, a block of homes. On this block there is a bully that rules over all the children. What the bully wants the bully gets. He takes candy from the kids. He intimidates. He fights and beats kids up. He is the bully on the block. But one day a stronger person comes who is kind and benevolent. The new person now rules the block. Is the bully still there? Yes. Is he just as strong? Yes! He still can intimidate and beat someone up every once and a while. But he is not longer the dominant force on the block. And so it is with us with the new life we have been given.

3. Sanctification causes a new life pattern consisting of growing obedience and righteousness. Phil 2:13, Eph 2:10

Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Here is a fascinating verse, because it indicates to us the way in which God implements this new life in us. God does it through influences and bending our will. He doesn’t coerce or circumvent our will, but He certainly influences, and insures that our will and the course of our life will be marked by a Godwardness. God gives us a studied intent. “He makes His church willing to live godly lives” (MacArthur Study Bible). God insures the want-to and the power, all without removing our legitimate free will.

Ephesians 2:10 speaks about the works that God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. This means that God’s specific unalterable course for every believer is that there will be evidence of spiritual works. It is inevitable. Just like justification was preordained by God, the sanctification of a believer was forordained as well.

So what we find is that God doesn’t save us and then everything is completely laid upon our will and our ability to pull the Christian life off. On the contrary, salvation works in us in such a way that it influences, bends and guides our will to go God’s way. And this saving faith does it in an unfailing way. The will, attitudes and values change.

4. Sanctification remains imperfect in this life; a battle rages between the new dominant life and the lingering old life. Gal 5:17, 1 Pt 2:11

Galatians 5:17 says “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: for these are in opposition to another, so that you may do the things that you please.” The idea here is not that we can’t do some things, or many things that we please. The idea is that we cannot do all the things that we want to do. We can’t live perfectly this side of heaven.

1 Peter 2:11 says “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.” The bully is no longer the domineering force on the block but that doesn’t prevent him from coming out to fight. He wins skirmishes but he never becomes the bully of the block again nor prevails.

5. Sanctification is not automatic (it includes the will), yet it is inevitable because of the prevailing nature of the new life. Ro 6:22, James 2:14

Romans 6:22 indicates, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”

James 2:14 tells us, “What use is it my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” Real faith is restless and is a change agent. Thus, real faith manifests itself in new attitudes and conduct. Without some evidence of new attitudes and conduct we wonder about the genuineness of such faith. Real salvation, real faith, works itself out in the life of a believer; albeit imperfectly.

Justification always issues into experiential sanctification. There is no such thing as justification that stands alone. Justification and sanctification are inseparably linked in our salvation. Thus, a fruitful, righteous life is not just possible (Savior only position?), or probable (Savior only position?), but inevitable (Lordship).


CONCLUSION

Oftentimes when it comes to the spiritual life and spiritual growth we are told what we need to do to maintain it. We are told what our will needs to will. But oftentimes what is neglected is the key, or the secret to it all. The “secret” about sanctification is that at the moment of our rebirth God places in us a prevailing influence that will so direct our mind, will and emotions to change our attitudes and conduct. They have been moved Godward. Later on we will talk about the things that we can responsibly will, but we need to first understand and take comfort in the fact that God places in us this prevailing influence that will persevere to the end! Ultimately, since I have the new life God works on my will, influencing it and bending it His way. And when my life is marked by the fruits of this new life it confirms to me that I have it. The bully is still on the block, but my new life has a bigger power that works on my will so that I choose Him, and works on my mind so I fill it with Him, and works on my emotions so that I love and enjoy Him.

Ultimately sanctification does not depend on what I do after salvation, but rather what I was given at salvation. Some may say, “I don’t understand completely how divine sovereignty and human responsibility work themselves out in spiritual growth.” Well, do you understand it completely when it come to justification? We understand that God is absolutely sovereign and that He chooses who will be saved and He involves in a real way our will to chose to believe. It doesn’t depend completely on our will but God incorporates our will in a real way. When it come to sanctification it is the same thing. God sovereignly wills and promises a new life with a real Godwardness, and yet He includes in a real way our will as we seek to struggle and grow in the Christian life. The same mystery between God’s absolute sovereignty and man’s real free will in justification is the same mystery in between God’s absolute sovereignty and man’s real free will in the change that occurs in experiential sanctification.

Central Idea: Sanctification is that prevailing operation of the Holy Spirit through the new life, involving our responsible participation, by which He enables us to live lives that are pleasing to Him.

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) Martin Luther has a useful analogy about sanctification. There was a sick man lying on a bed on the edge of death. A doctor arrives and administers a healing dose of medicine. The doctor then sits back and waits for the medicine to cure the man. Is the man cured? Yes and no. He has the medicine in him and it will certainly cure him, but not instantaneously. We were that dying man. At our salvation were given salvific medicine. Were we healed? Yes and no. We have salvation in us and it will certainly cure us in this life, but not instantaneously. What more, we may have set backs! But the medicine certainly and inevitably will prevail. You can’t take this analogy too far, but it is useful inasmuch as it depicts the biblical evidence. We can thank the leader of the Protestant Reformation for it.

(Illustration: Spiritual Growth, General) Another way of looking at it is this way. When our oldest son Ricky was younger I wanted him to mow the lawn. He hadn’t mowed the lawn before, but it was time for him to learn. We sat in our house when I approached him with the idea. There was something inside that resisted. For various reasons he did not want to mow the lawn. But I kept working on him, I didn’t give up and finally I persuaded him. Soon we were out in the garage and I was explaining the lawn mower and how fuel it up and start it. Then I explained how to run the mower on the grass. I found that he couldn’t quite push it. So I got behind him and placed my hands over his and pushed the lawn mower. The lawn got mowed much to Ricky’s pleasure. I worked with Ricky in two ways: I worked on his will until he did what I asked. I pressured and cajoled; and then I actually empowered him during the task. I enabled him to “will and to do” as Philippians 2:13 says.