The Pursuit of Holiness: A Divine Calling
As believers, we are called to pursue holiness with every fiber of our being. But what drives this pursuit? Is it our own effort and determination, or is it something more? The Bible tells us that sanctification is God’s work from beginning to end. He initiates it, carries it through by the power of His Holy Spirit, and brings it to completion on the last day.
A Divine Work
In Philippians, Paul writes that God who began a good work in us will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. This is not an optional endeavor; God will finish the work He started. But what about our role in this process? Paul goes on to say that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, “for it is God who is at work in you.” This means that our motivation, encouragement, and strength come from the Holy Spirit, enabling us to engage in the battle against sin.
The Battle for Holiness
The battle image is a powerful one, conveying the idea that we are not passive observers but active participants in the pursuit of holiness. We are called to strain every effort to pursue the calling God has placed on our lives. But how do we do this? By putting on the armor of God, as described in Ephesians, and resting in the finished victory of Christ.
Dependent on God
While we are called to make an effort, our progress is ultimately dependent on God. If we were able to boast about our own sanctification, it would be because of our own efforts, not God’s work in us. But the reality is that our sanctification is dependent on God’s power and grace. He is the one who enables us to stand firm, and sometimes He withdraws His hand to allow us to see our own weakness.
The Purpose of Weakness
Why does God allow us to experience weakness and failure? It is to demonstrate His power in our lives and to show us our desperate need for the gospel. When we fall flat on our faces, we are reminded of our dependence on God and the sufficiency of the gospel to save us from our sins.
The Holy Spirit’s Work
From beginning to end, sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit. He stirs us, moves us, and encourages us to stand in His strength, not our own. As we pursue holiness, let us remember that it is God who is at work in us, and that our efforts are merely a response to His grace and power.
Agents of Sanctification
There are three primary agents in the character formation or sanctification of a Christian: God, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. These agents work together to change us and conform us to the image of Christ.
Inseparable Gifts
Justification and sanctification are inseparable gifts of redemption, flowing from the unified work of the triune God and His electing, redeeming, and renewing mercy. We cannot have one without the other, for they are both part of the same divine plan to save and sanctify us.
The Person of Christ
Justification should not be abstracted from the person of Christ. It is through faith in Him that we are justified, and it is through union with Him that we are sanctified. Let us never forget that our pursuit of holiness is rooted in our relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ.
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