Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Sanctification

  
Salvation is a gift of God through faith in Jesus his only begotten son. Read these verses carefully and in the end is a children's hymn to help you remember.
 
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
 
Many churches preach the grace of God, by faith and not by works for salvation. Many in those churches do no work of service because grace is not works. They are afraid to mix works with God's grace. God has ordained that we are to walk in good works. We are to work outwardly our salvation. This is our sanctification, working outwardly the new life within us.
 
Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Some repeat a prayer to be saved. Are they saved? We must show the new life in our outward expression of sanctification; pure hearts cleansed by the blood of the lamb. Servants of the Lord giving light and truth and Jesus, the way of salvation to as many as will receive him.
 
John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 Salvation first, then the good works; this brings insight to the word of God given through James.
 
Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
The world wants to see God in us who profess to believe in him.
 
1Pet 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
 
Religion puts works as a way to please God. God is pleased in his Son; believe in him first and be saved by faith and then show the world by your life that you belong to God.
 
I want to put down all that the Spirit is showing me. There is more, but we need to understand that we are saved through faith in Jesus. Our sanctification is living out our life so that others see Jesus in us. It is not work by self effort alone, but the walk of faith as we learn from the Spirit of God as he teaches us all things. Get in the word of God and hear the voice of God. Pray to him and do his will. It is spirit to spirit that we live outwardly our sanctification. I am reminded of a children's hymn by Charles King.
 
If you're saved and you know it, clap your hands!   X X X
If you're saved and you know it, clap your hands!   X X X
If you're saved and you know it,
Then your life will surely show it,
If you're saved and you know it, clap your hands!   X X X
2.   Stomp your feet
3.   Say "AMEN"
4.   DO ALL THREE
 
This simple children's hymn is a way of getting across the message. Music and the word is a great way to remember the word and to be refreshed in the spirit. Saved by faith, God sees us in Jesus. The world sees us in the flesh, so we need to be like Jesus, to show them our new life.

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