Hebrews 10:10 ~ By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
I still remember the day that I was saved so clearly. It was a glorious day and the beginning of my new life in Christ. Some might remember the day that they put their trust in Jesus Christ, and others might not because they have grown up as someone who believes in Jesus Christ and being a believer is just who they are, they know that they are sinners and that Jesus saved them from eternal separation from God, or hell. Hebrews 10:10 ~ By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
My new life in Christ
The moment that we place our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior, we are justified, and our sanctification begins. The meaning of sanctification is well described in FBC’s constitution and reads as follow: “Sanctification is the inward transformation of a believer leading to purity of thought and deed, as the believer is freed from the power of sin. It is the continual growth of a believer as the Holy Spirit enables him to live a life of goodness and godliness. This requires the believer’s active obedience and submission as well as the Spirit’s active transforming power in our lives. This begins at the moment of salvation and is a gradual process throughout the believer’s life.”
Once we are saved, we are called to become more like Christ, pure in thought and deed and living our lives for Christ. Romans 12:1-2 speaks about this new life in Christ, becoming pure in thought and deed ~ “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” God’s will for us after salvation is to be transformed, made holy, separated to be pure in thought and deed, becoming more like Christ.
Becoming more Christ-Like
How does someone who just placed their faith in Jesus, become more like Him? The only way to become more like Him is to study Him through the Bible. We need to look at Jesus’s life to know what we should be doing to be more Christ-like. Studying Gods Word and spending time in prayer is just what we need to help us on our road of sanctification. Only God can help us with the process of sanctification. If we spend more time with God and place Him first in our lives, he will show us the way. But it works the other way as well and I can tell you from experience, that if we do not make time for God and spend time in His Word and in prayer, we will not have the opportunity to grow in our walk.
Earlier on in my walk with the Lord, there was some unresolved sin that I had to deal with in my marriage. I was not submitting to my husband in the way that scripture tells wives to do. I thought that I knew best and that it was not necessary to consult my husband in some aspects of my marriage. Needless to say, my marriage was not a happy place to be in during those times. There was so much tension between us all the time. I prayed for the Lord to intervene and help me with my marriage, but nothing changed. I felt that God did not hear my cry for help. Until one of my dear friends showed me in a very loving way, through scripture, that I am wrong and that I am not obeying God’s will for my life. God showed me that the problem was with my sin, and not with my husband’s attitude. I asked for forgiveness and changed my ways immediately.
During this time of turmoil that I experienced in my marriage, I was not growing spiritually in any way, I was stuck at this one problem and was not able to grow more in the Lord until it was resolved. This might not be the case for everyone, but it was for me in my walk. We have to do our part and take responsibility for our sin in order to move on: John 3:30 ~ “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Trust God
The process of sanctification is not always easy, it is like layers of an onion that just keeps on revealing layers of things that we have to make right with God. But luckily the Lord helps us by The Holy Spirit every step of the way. John 14:26 ~ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.
Trust in God to be with you through the process of sanctification until, one day, we are called to be with the Lord, and we are glorified, spending eternity with our Savior in heaven, sinless.