1323. What is Sanctification All About? Pt. 2

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 the focus would be on Christ. So he established daily chapel services today. That tradition continues with fervent biblical preaching from the University Chapel platform today on The Daily Platform will hear a sermon preached at the Bob Jones University Bible conference. This is a time when classes were dismissed and students concentrate on hearing the word preached from several visiting pastors and evangelists throughout the week. Today's sermon is from the 2021 Bible conference where the theme was.

Sanctify them as will learn through this short study. Sanctification means to be set apart under God. It's an attitude of treating or regarding something as holy. Today's sermon is the second in the series preached by Dr. Pettit will be continuing the sermon from yesterday guiding us through what sanctification is all about and will be giving an illustration about how we treat God something you guys have gotten engaged in the last two or three months should question how special did you treat that diamond you bought that girl me some of you are so so freaked out you know like every day went okay. Is it still there.

It walk away because your whole life is what is it mean to be sanctified. It is, it is the way we treat something first of all is the way we treat God. The Bible speaks of some memorable examples of those who did not treat God as he should have been treated. For example, the two sons of Aaron, their names Renée Babineau by Gov. them what happened to them while they were both priests and they both got drunk and they offered a sacrifice to God. One evening, but instead of using the fire that God and told them the use according to the law.

They use a different kind of fire.

The Bible says a strange fire were not really sure exactly what, but was not according to God's prescribed regulations and as a result, as they offered the sacrifice with strange fire.

What was the response of God, fire came out from the presence of the Lord from the holy of holies and literally burn the brothers and God said a God said in Leviticus 10 verse two. I will be sanctified in them that come nigh to me.

In this case, they failed to treat God with humility, reverence and obedience. You can sum it up in one word is the Hebrew word Kagoshima, which means holy God is to be treated that way we have another illustration in the Bible. The Jewish people complained about having no water to Moses and Moses went to God and God said to Moses, I'll provide water from them from rock. But this what I want you do. I want you to speak before he had smoked the rock with his rod and the water came out this time God said I want you to speak to the to the rock so he goes to the rocket. What is he do instead of speaking to it. He takes the rod in the kits it twice really shifts my what is God do God supplies the water comes gushing out from the rock that Moses lost his temper and as a result, the Lord said to Moses, he would never enter into the promised land.

Why listen to the word of God.

In Numbers 20.

In verse 12 because you believe me not to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel by your actions before those that are around you by what you did, you did not show respect to my main so when we talk about sanctifying got a bit about being sanctified.

It is the way you and I respond in our treatment towards God and of course we have a positive low illustration in the New Testament were taught how to pray our father which art in heaven, what sanctified, or hallowed be thy name. What is it mean it means the concern of the believer is the reverence, respect, honor and adoration of God's name, and he's talking about the way that we live, how we conduct our lives. So when I think of the implications of this idea, the way that we treat are we going, or the way we regard God. A number of verses come to mind. To my mind.

First of all, Matthew 2237 it says we shall love the Lord our God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your what your mind I love God with my mind. We read in Isaiah 66 in verse two, but this is the one to whom I will look he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and he trembles at my word. One of the ways that we show respect to God is that with our mind. There is a humility towards God's word.

We love God by engaging in focusing our minds on the word of God, we respect and tremble at the word. This book unfolds Jehovah's mind this voice salutes and accents kind. This fountain has its source on high. This friend show all your need supply. This letter shows our sins forgiven this guy conducts a straight to heaven. This charter has been sealed with blood. This volume is the word of God. What is that imply that implies that when the Bible is read the Bible is taught or the Bible is preached, and what will I do in my mind and my attitude.

I I I recognize to love God with my mind unengaged in his word. It means that I I'm humble and I I tremble at the word of God. I'd I definitely believe in multitasking I'm not I'm not don't know if I'm very good at it but I think multitasking is a positive quality and I believe in doing that all the time but not when it comes to the teaching and preaching and reading of God's word when I go to church. I don't pull out my cell phone and do stuff on it. I just don't do it you know why because I mean really you say well I listen plus okay let me cut it straight with you. You listen but you don't hear okay why because hearing God's word does not necessarily mean that you are really hearing God's word because involved in hearing the word of God is not your own self effort your own mind, but action involves the Holy Spirit, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the church when you listen to preaching. This is the as is the word is being preached on the outside. This, that the spirit is preaching on the inside and you might hear it, but you're not hearing it. That's what always concerned when I come to chapel in your own your your cell phone or whatever you do it. I don't know what you're doing but I know this art or asked this. Are you really treating God for who he is just the way that we treat the Lord, I believe many people are not going spiritually because they're distracted or did disengage wherever they are and they just simply not listening to God through his word, so we sanctify the Lord God in our heart and we listen to his word, but let me also say this this sanctification not only has to do with the way that we treat God, but safe occasion also has to do with the way God treats us and that's what we read tonight in first grade. This chapter 1 verse two when he says he writes to the saints in Corinth that are sanctified in Christ Jesus. Think of that Paul is writing these believers in this church any calls them the ones that are set apart, and when he speaks about these that are sanctified. It means actually that they are perfectly holy in Christ because if you're in Christ your perfect and that's how he treated them.

That's how he saw them he looked so alone in Christ actions as their actions. He looks on Christ's perfection. Is there perfection. He will some Christ sinlessness is there sinlessness and as a result, in spite of their inconsistencies, their failures, their problems, and by the way the church of Corinth had loads of problems.

How did he treat them. He treated them as saints as ones who had been set apart by the father and redeemed by Christ and the Spirit of God and place them within the body of Jesus Christ. And that's how he saw them, and because of that Paul always treated Christians in a very special way. How did he treat them.

I love second Corinthians 5 verse 14. It's a powerful verse, Paul says, for the love of Christ constrains me literally, the love of Christ controls me is talking about everything that he did in his life and what does that mean when he says love of Christ controls and it means if it exercise control over his thinking of how he actually treats arts believer and explains himself in the next verse when he says, because we have concluded this, that one is died for all there for all of died and he died for all those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their set for their sake died and was race. Here's what Paul say he says he sees Christians to God's eyes.

He sees them no longer in themselves. He sees them in Christ because they died with Christ, and they were placed in the him and they were raised with him and therefore his responses this from now on.

Therefore he says we regard no one according to the flesh.

I don't look at you as just a human being.

I look at you as one who is been sanctified. Therefore, I treat you differently. I treat you with respect I treat you with love. I'm trying to you. I'm patient with you, I am respectful of you. I'm not to be arrogant and talk about myself when I get around you because that's just rude. I'm not to be critical or gossipy of you are not to spend my time thinking evil. If you are not to be jealous of you are selfish not to be negative. Why, because you are in Christ and you have been placed in him you been sanctified in him and what is the work of Christ in your life is your own sanctification.

He died so that you could be sanctified. So when we look at the whole concept of scientific sanctification were talking about the way we treat each other and then finally number three and that is sanctification not only means to set someone apart or to treat someone is holy, but it means to actually purify or to make holding to make it really and actually holy in your life, Peter said, be ye holy, even as I am holding. Speaking of the Lord, and this work of the spirit of God.

We read tonight in first Peter chapter 1 verse two elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father, through sanctification of the Spirit. Now, this sanctification of the Spirit is the one who works in your life on a daily basis and I want to say two things.

First of all, sanctification begins in regeneration when you and I are renewed and arts in our natures are changed. It begins when you're born again.

Second Peter one and verse five says that you are made partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. The spirit of God infuses into every believer a new principle of the spirit.

Jeremiah says it this way, a new heart, I will get them all right spirit will I put within you the spirit of God turns the bias of our will away from ourselves to God, to seek after that which is good and right.

Sanctification begins with the work of the spirit in us and never forget that this is so important. Justification that's God declaring us righteous is God's work for us.

Sanctification is God's work in us. Sanctification is the fruit of justification is the evidence of the new life. They are not the same, but they can't be separated because justification is when you got saved and sanctification is when you're growing and maturing, but you campaign them apart and say you can have one without the other because they are all a part of God's plan.

Therefore, all true spiritual change is worked in us by the spirit of God, which leads me to this this sanctification progresses throughout God throughout our life to God's work in us and through us.

So here's a question has at work.

How does sanctification work in your life now II think you already know it, but I think you need a the curate inherent over and over and over how does it work, let me say first of all, it works through the agents of sanctification and secondly the process of sanctification. Who were the agents who were the what is it that God is using to work in us in the changes. There are three agents number one, the Holy Spirit, Galatians 516 walk in the spirit. You shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Number two the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all of our sin.

If we confess your sins, God is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and then number three the word of God. John 1717.

Sanctify them through thy truth that word is truth. So what is it that God uses in our life to sanctify us, let me put it this way if these things are not a part of your life you not been sanctified, the agents of sanctification are the Holy Spirit the blood of Jesus Christ and the word of God. So what's the process which these agents work and it's a twofold process. But this twofold process when you read the New Testament's is described in many different ways but in essence is the same thing.

This twofold process. For example, includes putting off the old man and putting on the new man Colossians and Ephesians, Ephesians, chapter 4, and having put off the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful us and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, having put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. In other words, the process is a process of putting some things off and putting some things own is the idea of changing your clothes. Another illustration is crucifixion and resurrection, just like Jesus was crucified and resurrected.

So we have to go through great fiction and they better Christ crucified the flesh with the affections of lust. Galatians chapter 4 verse 24 unit 520.

If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit Galatians 525 so how do we live, it was the process of sanctification.

There's there's can be a crucifying somethings can be dying and some things can be resurrected. This can be something put all this can be something put all another phrase that she is in the Bible is dying and living likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed on the sin, but alive in the God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Another one is by loving and not loving. First John two verse book. It 50 love not the world, neither the things of the world.

For if any man love the world love of the father is not in him. As you grow in loving the father then you will grow and not loving the world. Sometimes we say stay away from the world and love the father actually really need to love the father and that'll help you not love the world. The Bible uses another phrase work out what God's work didn't work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for God worketh in you both to will and do of his good pleasure. So God's word salvation in you gotta work it out. Another phrase is often used in the Bible is the idea of the word mortification in the idea of the word renewal or I could use the word vilification was Aminah mortified needs to put something to death mortified. Therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication and adultery. Uncleanness carries talking about putting to death the sinful desires that manifest themselves in sexual immorality. He says you need to put to death.

John 00 and sadistically be killing sin or sin will be killing you and what is the idea of renewal. Although the outward man perish at the inward man is renewed day by day. Second Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18. So when the Bible speaks about how it works. God works through the agents of the word. The Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus Christ and the process is through this dying and living crucifixion and resurrection. Put all put all workout work in love do not love all of that is the process so let me put it all together. Let me give you an illustration and then I'm finished with this tonight. Let let's let's take the illustration of you committing a sin that you really struggle with okay I not ask you how many of you have a sin you really struggle with that blessing you have a sin okay and you really struggle with and when you do it you're tempted to do it and when you do it you feel really bad about you feel guilty. How many can relate to what I just say so. You said you feel bad about it.

So how do you respond what your response to your own sin. How many of you are said to yourself I keep doing this and then your mind, you say I'm not going to do it again. How many have ever done something that you know you should you feel really bad about it and you said, I'll not do that again how we've ever told yourself I'll not do that again so miss next question. How maybe did it again. So what you do and the reason I use that as an illustration because it's what we all struggle with Invesco workspace sanctification. Now when I say workspace sanctification. I'm not. I'm not saying there's no work in sanctification because the Bible says work out your own salvation, but it's the way you do it because actually what you're doing is what you're doing is you're doomed to failure because you can never overcome sin anymore than you can save your own soul. You see, Jesus didn't die justice. Jesus didn't die just to pay for your the penalty of your sin, the guilt of your sin. Jesus died to break the powers and when we go back to the agency of the word, the spirit and the and the blood that's where the power sources and I need to respond according to the way the power of God works so let's go back. Let's say you said you obviously feel guilty about what are you to do well your you're obviously convicted weather in your own conscience of the Holy Spirit is working in your life.

What do you need you actually need to be cleansed, because when you said you separated yourself from God and the real issue is not that you're going to do it again.

The real issue is you been separated from God. You're not in fellowship with God. I'm not saying you lost your salvation.

I'm saying you're out of fellowship with God. The real issue big is this it's you and God and what is God provided for that breaking a fellowship. God is provided. The blood of his own son. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to cleanse us to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What is the first thing on to do. I'm to get on my knees and to confess my sin to God was Aminah.

Confess your sin to God it means to say what God says what is God say about what you just did, then you say exactly what God says in the Bob if you lie don't say.

Gotta make a mistake God sits.

Don't say you made a mistake say you lied if you lied say it if you lusted say it.

Say what you did. Be honest. That's the whole point honesty before God. And when I confess my sins. One is the result.

Once the agency what's happening the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. But not only does his blood cleanses me but his blood also shows me what it took for God to pay for that sin, because it took the blood of God's son dying and his wheeze. As we look to the blood.

What is it begin to do it begins to kill the appetite for that temptation. You see the struggle as we have the temptation we give into it, you know why we give into it because we like it. But when we confess it and we see that it was God's son died and shed his blood on the cross to pay for our sins, God begins to work through the we say the efficacy the power of the blood to change my desire not want to be in that sin in the Bible teaches us that the spirit answers to the blood because when you are cleanse them. What is the spirit of God do this by your spirit you you are restored back in the fellowship with God.

And now you're in a place to do it to have the power of God at work in your wine. And as we go back into the word of God. God begins to renew us so we go through confession and then we go through cleansing and then we go through restoration and then what happens is we begin to realize that the Bible reading the Bible is not a discipline reading the Bible is an absolute necessity because I am dependent on God. If God doesn't help me. I can overcome my sin. I don't read my Bible to show that I'm some kind of a discipline person.

I read my my Bible because of such a rotten center that I'm in a fall away from God.

If I don't get his word in my life and we read the Bible in dependence and we are empowered to obedience and as we walk independence and obedience to God begins to give us victory over that very thing that I've struggled over, over and over and over in my life and here's one of my great make my great concerns that if you go to the four years of Bob Jones and you really don't deal with your sin problems is not like when you go to graduate go away. Fact the matter is worse and so really the time for you to really calm and really change is right now because God has provided what you need in his resources and I'm not. I'm not going to say that this is against this and this is not instantaneous sanctification.

If it if it if there was an instantaneous sanctification.

I'd be the first one, but this is the way that God has made it as he has provided the means of our sanctification. We can grow in the Lord. So I wanted to lay that foundation tonight for you to take home and think about as we listen to the rest of the week and let's pray for God to sanctify us, would you bow your head with me as we prayed. Thank you for your kind patience.

You listen well. I greatly appreciated as we pray tonight I just I just want to lift up prayers. How many of you would just say, Dr. Pettit. Please pray for me tonight.

I know the Lord is working in my heart I know the Lord is working in my heart III know I know I just know I need to really be growing. I got a lot of things God's dealing with me about. Please pray for me tonight – father, we are all in desperate need of your blood of your spirit, and of your word. We want to honor Christ with our lives. We thank you Lord that you set us apart in eternity in a way that we will never comprehend, but we know you did that because you sent your son into the world and you set your spirit into our hearts and Lord I pray that we would be sanctified. I pray that for myself and God. I know that you're doing a deep and thorough work in all of our hearts to be more like Jesus. Help us to treat one another as those that have been set apart.

Help us to love one another as Christ loves us in Jesus name, amen. You've been listening to the conclusion of a sermon by Dr. Steve Pettit preached at the 2021 Bob Jones University Bible conference where the theme was sanctification. Thanks for listening and join us again tomorrow as will hear the next sermon preached from Bible conference here on The Daily Platform