The Glory of Gripping Things

Understanding the way our Father works is a personal passion for me.  I did not ‘major’ in theology, and so many things have to be painstakingly explained to me, like I was a small child. It seems that I will occasionally find something that is insightful.  A critical need we have is understanding the subtleties and significance of being made right with God (justification) and being made whole (sanctification).  This verse really applies here,

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”

Proverbs 25:2

Furthermore it was the Bereans who were the only ones in Scripture to be called “noble minded” for their serious study and thought (Acts 17:11). Study should not make your spirit ‘rigid’, rather the opposite should occur. God wants us to be learning Him and His ways. Understanding is a good thing. There are things you want to grip.

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Justification & Sanctification– Gripping the Two

  1.  Justification is free (John 4:1)
  2. Sanctification is costly (Lk. 14:25-33)
  3. Justification is instantaneous (Jn. 3:8)
  4. Sanctification is a lifelong process (Jn. 8:31)
  5. Justification is by faith (Eph. 2:8)
  6. Sanctification is by faithfulness (1 Cor. 4:2)
  7. Justification is not of works (Eph. 2:9)
  8. Sanctification is of works (Eph. 2:10)
  9. Justification involves Christ’s love for me (Jn. 3:16)
  10. Sanctification involves my love for Christ (1 Jn. 4:19)
  11. Justification concerns Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21)
  12. Sanctification concerns my righteousness (Lk. 14:25-33)
  13. Justification involves my position in Christ (Col. 2:11-14)
  14. Sanctification involves my practice (Col. 3:1-11)
  15. Justification considers what God has done (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
  16. Sanctification considers what I am doing (Lk. 14:25-33)
  17. Justification is God’s commitment to me (1 Jn. 5:9-13)
  18. Sanctification is my commitment to God (Jn. 14:15)
  19. Justification requires obedience to one command: to believe the Gospel (Ac. 6:7)
  20. Sanctification requires obedience to all of Christ’s commands (Matt. 28:19-20)
  21. Justification focuses on the cross which Jesus took up once and for all (1 Cor. 1:18)
  22. Sanctification focuses on the cross which I am to take up daily (Lk. 9:53)
  23. Justification is finished at the moment of faith (Jn. 5:24)
  24. Sanctification is not finished until I go to be with the Lord (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

Discerning between the two should only be a blessing. Also this is no way puts God in a ‘box’, but it does have an ability to explain much.

The author of the above ‘list’ is unknown. May they be blessed by this if they should read this post.
 
 
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Author: Pastor Bryan Lowe

A repentant rascal with definite issues, but who is seeking to be authentic in his faith to Jesus Christ. An avid reader and a hopeful writer. Husband and father. A pastor and Bible teacher. A brain tumor survivor. Diagnosed with clinical depression, and now disabled. Enjoys life, such as it is, in Alask.a (Actually I have it pretty good.)

6 thoughts on “The Glory of Gripping Things”

  1. This is funny because you said I looked like I was pondering something early in a photo. I was thinking this: “Why am I taking this picture? It is my study and devotion time.” Study, seek and search out the Truth in the Word. As always your offerings are insightful. God Bless you

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  2. Bryan, I love your writings and they have really encouraged me when I have been ill, I have bipolar 1 w/psychosis, but on this one I would like share with you what the Lord has taught me.

    I use to very focused on my part in the work of sanctification, always trying really hard and trying to do all the right things. But I was unhappy.

    Then the Lord spoke to me through some verses….and here they are:

    Col. 2.6 “as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him”, i took this as we don’t do anymore for our sanctification than we did for our salvation, i.e. it is by faith. See Romans 1.17 “the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith” i.e. we receive righteousness by faith at conversion and by faith in our walk
    .
    Hebrews 13.21 “equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight”, God works in us to do His will, not our works

    2 Cor. 3.18 …”beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
    As we worship and are occupied with the Lord out of love and thankfulness and not obligation we are changed/sanctified into the image of Christ.

    I could go on but I just wanted to encourage you and your readers that it is God who takes care of our sanctification and in fact Christ has become our sanctification (see 1 Cor 1.30).

    God bless you,

    Matt

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    1. God does take care of put sanctification but we must also allow Him to complete this work in us, the more room we give Him the more space He takes up. Sanctification is about being submissive to God so that He is able to transform us.

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    3. Indeed, you bring so much. All that I might tell you is that He covers us, and that He brings us through many issues. I do rest in His kindness for my soul. I bring nothing, and yet He brings everything.

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