IT'S A PROCESS

IT'S A PROCESS
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 by LINDA WOOD RONDEAU

Categories: devotional / TUESDAY'S TREASURE

TUESDAY’S TREASURE

LINDA WOOD RONDEAU

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV

On a recent trip with the church ladies, I rode in the van. For any senior, getting in and out is a challenge … a step up, a dangling backseat seatbelt, and a climb to the end of the seat by the window. We made several stops; and with each, my dear church friends were eager to help me in and out. I reassured them that I was okay. “It’s a process,” I said.

I have a motto: one breath after another, one foot in front of the other, and one day at a time. Life is a learning process at any age.

To me, that is what’s meant by sanctification.

I remember as a teenager, I misunderstood the teaching of entire sanctification. I thought the term meant, like magical fairy dust, I’d receive a powdering that would eradicate sin from my life for all time. I mistook the intent of 1 John 9 (NIV):

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Then when I slipped up, I rushed back to the altar, feeling defeated or disappointed God had not blessed me with the power to keep sin at bay.

As I grew in my understanding, I learned that “entire sanctification” is a process. Not a one-and-done thing. The Believer’s Bible Commentary explains this process well.*

When we accept Christ, we then are set apart to do His good work. We receive the Holy Spirit who will guide and teach us, infusing us with His fruit. This is called positional sanctification.

Then there is progressive sanctification. This is the process by which God shapes us and helps us to become more like Christ. This is a life-long journey. As Paul writes:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

and

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV

Finally, we will receive perfect sanctification in Heaven.

Believer, Satan is sneaky and a liar. He will do whatever he can to trip us up and to make us believe we’ve missed our mark … no longer worthy to be called God’s child. Don’t believe him. Call upon the Lord, confess your indiscretion, and ask him to renew a right spirit within you. Let the Holy Spirit refine you to do His good work.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:4-6 NIV