the basic message # E70
Acts 26:17-18
“I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
According to Webster, sanctification is “the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion.” It appears that most modern Christians believe that once they accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior, their life goes on heavenly cruise control. They wish. In reality, the life of a Christian will be anything but smooth. Trying to live in a corrupt world while remaining faithful to Christ is a daily struggle. Walking through a garbage dump wearing a white suit and emerging spot-free may be an easier task. New Christians often bail-out shortly after conversion simply because they thought the life of a Christian would be easier. Jesus never promised that it would be easy, but he did promise the resources to make it through the journey.
I know Christians in their 60’s and 70’s that haven’t progressed in their Christian walk for the past 20 years. How is that possible? Were they so spiritual that their sanctification process was complete halfway through their life? “There you go being judgmental, John.” Oh? Can a person be sanctified inside and not show it outside? Would a truly holy man go out into the world and conduct himself in evil ways just for fun? Come on, let’s be real.
1 John 2:9
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
Hate is a strong word. Do you hate anyone? Hate means among other things, “to express or feel extreme enmity or active hostility.” So, do you hate anyone, yet claim to be a Christian? Hating someone is a sin, and Jesus died for our sins. Repentant sin, that is. In other words, if you continue to hate someone for any reason, be it skin color, social position, whatever, you must go to God in prayer and plead diligently that he remove the burden of hatred from your heart. I think some Christians enjoy hating other people. Enjoy? Apparently so, since we are quick to rid ourselves of other things we don’t enjoy.
There are many other areas in which we fail to repent regularly. Small things like driving over the speed limit come to mind. That’s a sin!? Is it breaking the law? Christians are called on to be law-abiding citizens, so yes, it would appear to be a sin. Agree? Fudging on income tax might be your pet sin. I know a “good Christian” that “accidentally” let a burning log fall out of his fireplace onto the carpet. Gee, what a coincidence, he needed new carpet anyway. What a stroke of luck- the insurance company had to replace the carpet! Sanctification and repentance go together like a hand in glove. The sanctification process is not an overnight event in which you put a tooth under your pillow and wake up holy. It takes great effort and diligence to pursue the prize daily. Running toward the cross is hard work, but the reward is worth every effort. Am I working my way to Heaven? Don’t even go there.