908. Sanctification

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. The school was founded in 1927 by the evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Senior's intent was to make a school where Christ would be the center of everything, so he established daily chapel services today. That tradition continues with fervent preaching from the University Chapel platform today on The Daily Platform were continuing a study series entitled our great salvation which is a study of the doctrine of salvation or so to reality today speaker is seminary professor Dr. Kevin Oberlin preaching on sanctification from second Peter 1 BTU Pres. Steve Pettit will introduce him. We are thankful this morning and excited to have with us Dr. Kevin Oberlin who will be continuing our series on our great salvation. I'm thankful for the wonderful messages that have come. I think both helpful instructional, informational, and I think inspiration also you listen is Dr. Oberlin calms and speaks on the theme sanctification morning to take your Bibles and turn to the second's book of Peter Peter second Peter chapter 1 we been going through on Wednesdays are great salvation is on the theme that we seen grace and mercy atonement and propitiation election and divine calling, conversion, regeneration union with Christ justification in today's message is about you. All of us who are redeemed and justified, and perhaps there are many of us have come in in today to the FMA with heavy burdens may be burdens of actual sin in your life.

My desire is pastoral that you would see Christ and that he would be your encouragement today like us to begin by looking at second Peter one Enesco had just look at verse one. First of all, Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord Monette on the next two verses.

Verses three and four are packed full of rich truth regarding our sanctification and the difficulty is to understand how all these phrases within verse three in verse four fit together and ultimately how life and godliness is produced in our five phrases found in these two verses let's read a number them together according as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness and freeze to through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue phrase three whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises number four that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, and finally, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Look at that first phrase in verse three. How does life and godliness happen. What happens through his divine power to see if there okay now how is that connected with the next phrase. This divine power comes through what comes through knowledge. What kind of knowledge is that while this is the knowledge of God who calls us to his own glory and virtue your translation might say, called us to glory and virtue or my doctor save his own glory and virtue, and how does God call us to his own glory and virtue, or is excellence if you look at the next phrase in verse four it says whereby or maybe your translation says, by which this is plural most likely referring back to glory and excellence. God has granted exceeding great and precious promises and these promises are great in their precious because they're based on God's own glory and excellence. So now were at the fourth phrase you can see there in verse four and the middle that.

Or maybe your text reads so that by these by these what will by these promises ye might be partakers of the divine nature. How does that come about, will look better book and look back at verse three at the verse first phrase we looked at. It's by his divine power that he gives us life and godliness. So it's divine power that allows us to actually partake in the divine nature. It is not that we become God.

Rather, it's becoming like God in a life of godliness, but there's a major impediment and that's actually the on the obstacles found in the very final phrase we have, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through or because of loss or you could say sinful desires. Okay will that's a lot to put together. I just kind of just gave it to us really quickly.

We've gone through twice, but there's a lot of information that I realized exactly densely packed in various phrases.

My question for us today is this how can we become more godly. How can we actually become more like Jesus Christ. How does sanctification work. How do I combat my sin, even sins that I continually struggle with time and time again, let me first acknowledge that the word sanctification Scripture actually has three aspects to it right. You're familiar with this. I assume if you had Dr. as a dispositional syndication which is, you were sanctified in Christ positionally like first Corinthians 1 to my talk about orders perfected sanctification, which is our ultimate glorification. Lord willing to hear a message about that in Ephesians 5 states that Christ will ultimately sanctify his bride, but the third use refers to progressive sanctification, which is the experience of separation from sin's power. Daily through our life in question 35 of the shorter catechism states that quote sanctification is the work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to Diane to sin and live unto righteousness.

The question then is how do we combat sinful desire. What is the connection.

In second Peter 14 between escaping sinful desires and sharing and divine godliness. God has given to us. Great and precious promises. These promises are actually the way that we combat sinful desire promises are so powerful this past weekend I had the opportunity of being in an agreement on a groomsmen and friends wedding in her so much that goes into planning a wedding. Many of you know this firsthand and what we usually remember of the letting may we remember some blooper that happens intimated some about to fall over area of pass out his groomsmen, thinking up that didn't happen this last weekend.

Or you might see some of these reels on YouTube. All these bloopers that happened near the plants falling over a topic. People are candles like starting fire on the veil or something like this. While decorations and settings may be beautiful on the euphoria of being surrounded by close family aunts and friends is wonderful.

The real core of the entire day is that short moment when promises are made in a covenant of companionship is established, words, or exchange, and to people from different families and sometimes from different places and on the planet become a new family. And this happens because of the promise promises are very powerful.

And Peter states that these promises are exceeding great and precious because they are founded on Jesus Christ own virtue and glory.

Verse three look in verse three Christ own divine power that same power that raised Jesus from the dead Romans chapter 1 verse four and that saves everyone who believes. Romans chapter 116 that same power is given unto me, even as Christ himself exemplified perfect and complete glory and virtue or goodness. So what do promises that have to do with my sanctification. Well, the first phrase in verse five reads, and besides this, we could translate for this very reason are now. From there, this very reason. Also, make every effort to supplement two to add give all diligence to add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and the temperance patients in the patient's godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. So after laying the groundwork in verses three and four. Peter is now strongly exhorting you to live a godly life because you have these precious promises give all diligence, make every effort to live godly but wise Peter connecting promises to believers sanctification well is because the promises are our hope Romans chapter 4 verses 20, 21 says Abraham staggered not of the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able to perform. So is there some sin in your life today you been struggling with again and again. Have you ever considered the promises of God as your hope for victory will second Peter one is not an isolated passage in the New Testament nor the promises of God and the connection of God's promises and sanctification is throughout the New Testament.

For example, you can go to second Corinthians chapter 6 verses 14 through 71 and here Paul is provides teaching regarding the doctrine of separation from any form of idolatry. At the same time God gives us promises that actually motivate and tell us God's love for us that he will dwell with us that he will receive us. That'll be a father unto us. So Paul states that these promises should be our motivation to cleanse ourselves from all uncleanness. Have you ever thought of the promises of God actually wetted right into this doctrine. Verse 14 says be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers or what fellowship at righteousness with unrighteousness, what communion hath light with darkness. What Concorde has Christ with Lilo.

What part of T the believers with an infidel, and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols, for you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be there God and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you and I will be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughter, saith the Lord Almighty.

Then you have chapter 7 verse one. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved.

What promises God can be a father he's gonna take. He said actually dwell in you as you are a temple of the Spirit of God having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. So Paul calls on the Corinthians to remember their identity and he calls it a promise, they are the temple got 12 them and receive them so because we have this profound promise throw out anything that would corrupt or obstruct a relationship with God is not just simply promises that seem to be directly related to salvation.

Rather, Paul argues, even in earlier chapters in second Corinthians 2nd Corinthians 124 exhibit example that all the promises of God are incorrect that are in Christ are gay and a man, and unto the glory of God. All the promises of God in Christ are yes we can count and every promise to pick him to pass because of Christ. One man put it this way, all God's Old Testament and New Testament promises of peace, of joy, of love of goodness and forgiveness of sanctification of salvation of fellow fellowship and hope and glorification in heaven. Their only possible and they're all fulfilled in Jesus Christ probably will. We think of regarding the Dr. sex sanctification. The classic passage might be Romans chapter 6. Alas, he actually to go there like to read some these verses with you. This will be our final passage will relook at return to this morning. Romans chapter 6 Paul provides a powerful picture regarding our identity and it says here in verse one, what shall we say then shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God for bid.

How shall we, that are dead to sin and live any longer therein than verse three he wants you to know something know you not to so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death and then go up to verse six or something else he wants you to know. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin, for he that is dead is free from sin.

Now we be dead with Christ. We believe that we shall also live with him and then look at verse nine. Again he wants you to know something. Knowing this, the Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more death, no, no more dominion over him for and that he died. He died in to send wants, but in that he liveth the limits on the God and so our old man is actually crucified with Christ in the body of sin is destroyed.

So we don't have to serve sin were not shackled any longer when you are justified. Volume 1 of your life.

The old man ended and was nothing else to be written on the pages and then came volume 2, this new life in Christ has begun by resurrection, and I know you might not always feel like that's right my not always feel like I've got this new life and in fact were burdened by sin's many times the reason is that although the old man was crucified.

We still have our flash and were fighting with that flash so Paul explains that we need to believe and we need to do in order to fight send this. Look at verse 11 and see what he means. Likewise reckon consider think this way.

Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed on the sin but alive in the God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the loss thereof. Neither you and your members as instruments of unrighteousness on the sin but yield yourselves in the God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness undergone. You need to believe it's true. You need to consider that it's a it's a done deal. Even when it doesn't even feel like it.

And since Paul himself actually uses the imagery of slave. We may use analogy of a newly freed slave after the Civil War in America, that slave would, of course, no in a certain sense that he or she was liberated right but it might take some time for the truth of this to actually penetrate their consciousness in a way that actually leads to change a behavior or sometimes illustrations use of a POW, a prisoner of war who, when they were freed actually did not want to leave their prison had been there so long. It's just hard to believe they were actually free.

You actually can go home. Are you a believer today and yet you're still living in bondage. You're free you're still living as if you're in the old man still living in volume 1.

How do you view yourself. Many times we live like where we are chained and under bonds of darkness and we do so because we are believing empty promises were believing that look at this in a satisfy me when it's actually simply an empty promise, but Christ has freed us and all the promises of God are yes in Jesus Christ.

John Stott said that the secret of holy living is in the mind. It is knowing like you see in verse six of Romans Romans chapter 6 is knowing something it's believing something or reckoning something and then is acting as well. It's acting upon what you know and actually believe we have to let our minds play upon these truths we have to meditate upon them until we firmly grasp and believe them that I can really get out of this prison. I don't have to be shackled by my sin, we ought to believe these things so strongly that a return to empty promises would actually be unthinkable. A born-again Christian should know more. Think of going back to the old life than an adult would think of going back to childhood or married man to the bachelorhood or discharge prisoner to his prison cell many years ago as I was growing up in Chicago member going up and down the highways of these interstates cut through the city there and have these huge billboards and remember driving down the highway. Seeing these billboards on either side of the road. The advertising various company products. These billboards are really promises really me most if not all, or most if not all of them were actually promising something you know, for example, they would say something like, if I drink this particular drink I could be happy. Like the people in the picture using his right if I bought this particular product.

I would be like the guy pictured in the yacht unit with this attractive girl enjoying the breeze from the ocean waters and billboards must work they're doing something because corporations are paying thousands upon thousands of dollars each year for you to believe there promises as I thought about this, I realized how much driving down that highway was actually similar to the Christian life itself.

You see these promises and many times are empty promises but you actually need to learn to believe the right promises you actually need to learn to believe God's promises and so I need to know God's promises and this is actually what the Christian life looks like, right, I mean this is what Christian growth looks like. Christian growth looks like going down a highway if you will, and actually choosing learning to believe in the right promises and I know I'm maturing in my Christian faith. To the degree that I'm doing this that I'm believing God. Every time so this was very helpful for me.

Many times the promises are mass because were actually involved in good things means a lot of good things were doing even a campus like this.

We just tried on a few with them a few these with you.

We just try few promises that I would think with the empty promises and other promises that could actually be God's promises.

Perhaps you realize that you haven't really spent a lot of time with the Lord. So here's one billboard you could be reading or playing in your mind. You haven't really spent time of the Lord, but I could accomplish so much more for Jesus today if I would just use my time to serve him coming know I can serve through society or discipleship or relationships. We all benefit by that and most by working hard in my school and all my classes you can believe that promise. Or you could come over here and corresponding just directly to the opposite side of that of that road is another promise that says Luke 10, but the Lord answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things but only one thing is necessary for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Or maybe for you today has to do with witnessing coming, you can witness everything.

The person on the planet so you what you actually don't need witness of this person even though the Lord's giving you this opportunity me. Besides, it's useless.

Many times you talk to people and they don't accept Christ anyways and you're busy their busy or you could believe this, that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

So given a house or maybe your believing these promises know you been praying for things so long and it doesn't really matter if you print a prayer doesn't really do anything I can live without prayer or maybe there's another promise over here that you need to be believing asked and will be given to you seek and you will find knock and will be open for everyone who asked and thought seeks it receives and he who seeks finds in him who knocks it will be open or what man is there among you when his son asked for a Loki will give him a stone or Casper, for she will give him a snake. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father is in heaven give what is good to those who ask him claim the promises of God. God, you said this and believe it and act upon its maybe there's some in your today your you are able to make it better on your own than with God. I mean after all, you tried that you tried following God and where to get you just got. She persecutor and maybe even lost her job unjustly or maybe you could grill believe this is promise over here Sunday for the Lord gives grace and glory no good thing does he withhold from them. Those who walk up rightly old Lord of armies. How blessed is the man who trusts in you already saw him today are coming in and the thoughts in your mind are playing.

You deserve to indulge in these desires and you deserve a little bit of sinful desires mean after all, when you try to follow God, it doesn't really seem like he provides for me what I think I really need you could believe this promise, you could believe. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart, he'll do that promises it.

Or maybe there's someone here today and you're saying I can't get saved. Everybody already thinks I am in a fight if you're gonna realize that all along I been living a lie and it's better to save face. The let people know I've been living a lie you could just believe this promise today he gives more grace. Wherefore he says God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. Or maybe you're saying this in your mind today it's okay and it feels good for me to hold a bit of resentment against my brother in Christ. After all, I was right on the matter and I don't really need to show as much love to him or her as one person put it, you know I've lost a lot of arguments, but I never lost a rerun in my mind or should you be believing this God who warns that this will destroy you.

Hebrews 12 looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled is going to destroy you. Believe it or perhaps someone here today and you said you know what God cannot use me at all. Look at how I'm already messed up I completely blown it. What can God do with my life. My friends, you need to look to God's promises even as are found in passages like first John 19 that if you confess your sin. God is completely faithful and he's completely righteous to forgive you of yours, your trespasses and to cleanse you from all that unrighteousness, the Christian life is a promise lad life. Follow the promises of God.

Don't believe the wrong promises you need to know what they are. You need to be in your Bible finding out the promises of God as you find out the promises of God, you need to believe those promises affect what you could do is you can actually take it you could to get a piece of paper to draw a line down the middle. The paper and you can actually just write down what scenes I am I committing to me what write down what sins you committed and what you were believing at the moment that you committed a sin. I think of you actually journaled this throughout a week you'll actually see certain sins come up again and again and again.

We call those sins that you're really struggling with and what you can do on the opposite side of the papers you can go over there and you can actually just write down what are the promises of God. I need to believe in that very moment when I believe the wrong promises as we are the ability to send is congruent to our ability to rationalize the sin you rationalize your sin and you believe the wrong things. There might be someone here today and you feel quite discouraged, thinking well okay yeah I can do that but none of this description as I feel so so behind if you like. This is so much I need to do will images encourage you that God's promises of the sanctification are actually good as his promises of righteousness.

First Corinthians 130 states, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Christ alone is our hope. Christ is our righteousness. You probably have no difficulty believing that the Christ is our righteousness, but Christ is also your sanctification. So look to Christ because he alone is our hope all the promises of God in Christ are yes, let's pray.

Father, we want to walk the promise lad life. Help us to do so. Help us to believe you prayed in the name of Jesus. Amen. You've been listening to a sermon preached by Dr. Kevin Oberland, a Bible professor at Bob Jones University. Thanks for listening to our program and join us again tomorrow as we continue the doctrinal study series called our great salvation here on The Daily Platform