SANCTIFICATION SALVATION CHART

WORD OF SANCTIFICATION SPIRIT OF GOD GOD

CHURCH

PASTOR-TEACHER

PERSONAL STUDY DIVINE

OTHER BELIEVERS DISCIPLINE

UNITY OF DOCTRINE

UNITY OF CHURCH FAMILY

SPIRITUAL GROWTH - TRANSFORMATION

SERVICE

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

ENCOURAGMENT

MEETING NEEDS

EVANGELISM

PRAYER

TEACHING / DISCIPLESHIP

GOD’S PLAN

IN TIME

REWARDS

IN ETERNITY

CHURCH GROWTH

Romans 12:1-2

Remember the three phases of salvation:

Salvation phase one –eternal lifeand justification: I receive eternal life by faith alone in Christ alone – I am convinced that Jesus guarantees me eternal life and I believe Him for it. When I believe in Jesus, at that specific moment in time, I receive eternal life as a free gift and I am justified (made right) before God.

Salvation phase one is.

Salvation phase two - sanctification salvation: As I study and apply Bible Doctrine I experience spiritual growth wherein I progressively become more like Christ. This is a moment-by-moment experience requiring constant effort that extends throughout my lifetime on earth.

Salvation phase two is a process. It usually has many ups and downs but the general direction should be up “upward” into being more like Christ.

Salvation phase three – glorification: an event.This occurs when we arrive in heaven where we are separated from sin forever.

Word definition: “Sanctify” means “to set apart.” For the believer salvation phase two or sanctification salvation means to be increasingly set apart in both mind and actions to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Challenge: We have to live this out in the middle of a world (this ‘age’ with its ways of thinking and acting) that opposes Christ and His Word. This world constantly pulls at our sin nature (temptation) and makes spiritual advancement challenging; yet, overcoming the world and being transformed is very rewarding both in this life and the life to come.

PAGE ONE CHART: God’s goal for our life is to bring this Christlikeness into reality for us.The two key elements to do this is the Word of God and the Spirit of God. As it is needed He uses divine discipline to correct our path when we are not advancing but instead are living according to our sin nature.

Commands in Scripture always address the person’s will. All commands are a matter of choice for the person. To obey is to choose the path of spiritual advancement; to disobey is to choose the path of discipline and defeat.

In the first two verses Paul gives us three commands:

  1. “present your bodies”: present means “to make available” for God’s use. The reference to the body means all that you are and have as a person, which includes – first and foremost – your mind, your thinking.

Our bodies are to be a “living” sacrifice, that is, the presentation is to be an ongoing constant and continuous action. There are no “time outs” and no excuses!

“Sacrifice” indicates the challenge of it – even the painfulness of it - since this goes against our sin nature and the general spirit of the age in which we live. It is the opposite of being self-focused. The sacrifice is not only a putting to death the control of the sin nature, but it is also an active sacrifice in serving others, especially in the church.“The plan of God is that every believer be in full-time, 24 hour-a-day service” (Gene Cunningham). This is exactly what Christ said in Luke 9:23-24.

  1. “do not be conformed to this world” (or the spirit of the age): “conformed” literally means “to be molded after a pattern.” In other words: “Do not let the thinking patterns, attitudes, priorities, and ways of acting of this age in which you live pour you into its mold or shape you by its pattern.”
  1. “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” “Mind” refers to the control center of the individual where our thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and minute-by-minute decisions take place. This is the “real” you. Transformed is to be changed from one thing into another. Biblical transformation is to be changed from the inside out into the likeness of Christ. It is taking in Divine Viewpoint (doctrine).

If we are not being “transformed” we will be “conformed.” Conforming is the “default mode” of our sin nature. This is to “go with the flow” rather than against the flow!

As we are transformed we will discover God’s will – His plan - in our daily life. When we discover His will we experience that it is “good, acceptable, and perfect.” His plan for our life is better and has far superior results than our plans and ways of living.

THE MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION

The Spirit of God using the Word of God is the means by which God brings this goal of Christlikeness about in the life of the believer. This creates the transformation:

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NASB) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

The believer is also placed into the primary place of learning the Word of God (Bible Doctrine) which is the Body of Christ, the Church. Over the church is the Pastor-teacher whose primary job is to teach Bible Doctrine and strive to bring you to spiritual maturity.

Along with learning under the Pastor-teacher, the believer is helped along the path of spiritual growth by other believers in the church (Hebrews 10:24-25). All of these working together bring about a unity of doctrine and a unity of church family (Rom. 12:16-18). Individual spiritual growth and service to the church go hand in hand.

A believer who is not serving is not in the will of God and they will not discover God’s plan for their life! They also will never mature as believers! To absent ourselves from Bible class and to refuse to help others grow and be strong in the faith is a “willful sin” (Hebrews 10:26)! God is going to show His will in the following verses.

Romans 12:3-5: v.3: no arrogance is allowed but rather a proper attitude of humility that is others-oriented. The “measure of faith” refers to one’s capacity to serve the church – as we see in vv.6-8. God has given you all that is necessary to serve.

Vv.4-5: this is the church family, the body of Christ and we are “individually members one of another.” We all have different functions within the church and we have a responsibility of service to the church.(The opposite of individualism.)

Active and continuous service to the church is not an option for the believer who desires to know the will of God for their life and who desires to earn eternal rewards.

vv. 6-8: each and every believe is by grace given spiritual gifts for the good of the church and thus each believer is to exercise his or her will and make themselves available for service. It is in our spiritual gifts that we find our specific service God desires for us to have in the church. Yet, there is much work to be done beyond the spiritual gifts.

vv. 9-21: these address, for the most part, the issue of attitude. Do not serve just because you feel you “have to” or because you think “no one else will so I guess I have to.” Serve out of love: first, for the Lord, secondly, for others. V. 10: “devoted” means “to have family love”

Note a key verse about our service attitude in verse 11: “not lagging” means “do not be lazy” in your service. “Diligence” means an “earnest effort” to do your best. “Fervent” means “to boil with heat” or “hot, on fire.” We are to be “on fire” or passionate about this service in the body of Christ – we can’t wait to serve the church which is “serving the Lord”.

KEY:“ON FIRE” SERVICE IN THE CHURCH IS EXPECTED OF EVERY BELIEVER. WE ARE TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY AND NOT OFFER EXCUSES! IF ONE IS NOT SERVING IN THE CHURCH ONE IS NOT SERVING THE LORD! OBEDIENT CHRISTIANS WILL SACRIFICALLY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY SERVE.

v.13: another key area of sacrificial service: the continuous and consistent giving of money to support the church which is the place of “the saints” service. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NASB)“ 6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”This would also include helping one another financially or with food, clothing, etc. if needed.

Does this mean believers walk around with their hand out? Yes – if they have their hand out giving to others! It does not mean we have a right to demand help from others! We can let needs be known and leave it at that while keeping a right attitude!

There are three wonderful results from believers advancing in the faith and serving (see chart):

  1. The church will grow spiritually and in numbers
  1. The believer will experience God’s wonderful plan for their life in time
  1. The believer will receive rewards in eternity including the right of the advanced service of ruling and reigning with Christ in the MillennialKingdom.

Beloved, are you in a place of service? Here are some opportunities right now:

Giving others a ride to church rather than just expecting the church van to pick them up (including kids).

Children’s ministry helpers on Wednesday nights, Sunday School, etc.

Church cleaning(including toilets!)

Keep auditorium straight (books, etc.)

Greeter / usher

Visiting home-bound church members (encourage, make a meal, read the Bible, etc)

Visiting new comers to the church (witness, meet spiritual needs, etc)

Visiting members, building relationships, meeting needs spiritual and physical

Church treasurer (in August / September)

Nursing home ministry (3rd Tuesday now, but ministry could be developed)

Yard work around church, snow in winter, etc.

Missions coordinator (keep contact with missionaries and their needs, promote missions in the church, etc.)

Music / choir

Maintaining publications table, keeping tracts available, etc.

Many others could be listed and maybe God will show you another place of service in the church or a different ministry!

Remember these keys to service: Be ready and willing to sacrifice; separate from Human Viewpoint thinking; be transformed by the Word of God and the Spirit of God; don’t be arrogant; recognize and willingly accept your responsibility to others in the church; keep a Christ-like and positive attitude that refuses to complain, criticize, or be arrogant; love the people in the church - serve them and take personal interest in them; be consistent by keeping on keeping on even if no one else helps; be responsible by fulfilling your ministry and taking responsibility for it – if you miss replace yourself, that is, do not just fail to show up or stop doing the work;always serve with excellence doing your very best;keep church unity and maintain peaceful relationships; and be passionate or enthusiastic about the service knowing that it is Christ you are serving!

Are you willing?

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