Embracing the Promise of Sanctification
As believers, we often struggle to reconcile the reality of our imperfect lives with the biblical promise of sanctification. The apostle Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 can seem like an unattainable ideal: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Elusive Dream of Blamelessness
For many of us, the notion of being blameless can feel like a distant dream. We believe in the finished work of Jesus for our salvation, but the idea of being completely holy and without fault can seem impossible. What about the wicked thoughts that still linger in our minds and hearts? Can we truly be sanctified and blameless in this life?
The Power of Grace Alone
The answer lies in the power of grace alone. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, it is by God’s grace that we stand before Him, washed in the blood of Jesus. It is not by our own efforts that we can achieve sanctification, but by walking in His resurrection power and allowing His healing grace to transform us day by day.
A Work in Progress
While we may not be perfect in this life, we can take comfort in the knowledge that we are a work in progress. As we surrender to God each morning, confessing our sins and asking Him to complete His perfecting work in us, we can trust that He will answer our prayer. It may take time, but we can be assured that He is still at work in us.
A Prayer of Surrender
So let us pray with humility and surrender, asking God to make us more like Him. Let us thank Him for redeeming us and seeking us out, even in our brokenness. And let us look forward to the day when we will be fully perfected in Christ, free from the imperfections of this life.
The Assurance of Eternal Completion
In the meantime, we can rest in the assurance that our Heavenly Father is still at work in us, perfecting us day by day. And when we finally cast aside this mortal flesh and enter eternity, we will be fully completed in Christ, no longer a work in progress. What a glorious promise to cling to!
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