Here’s something you may not have thought about or even considered, possibly because you think that sanctification was only a responsibility for the Holy Spirit. Though true, it’s not an entire view of the sanctification process; we will continue through life until we reach our Kingdom home.
1 John 3:2-3
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
He’s a heart God. Always have been. (Matthew 5:8) When we don’t yield to God, we become prideful. However, we can learn from Christ how to live willing, surrendered, obedient lives. To accomplish the will of God the Father on earth as it is in heaven and to become the likeness of Christ as He always planned for us to be, our hearts must be exposed and purged of everything that is not in His likeness. Every association we connect with, every thought and attitude that hinders the progression of a maturing faith. Every heart area that is not aligned with Christ must go through a surrender. An exchange with God, if you will.
In the process of biblical personal development, the goal is to progress into the image of God—a place where we have the heart and mind of Christ. Throughout Scripture, particularly in John, we can find that Jesus consistently reminds us that He doesn’t do anything outside the Father and is fully obedient to His will.
Most are familiar with His deity, but are we just as familiar with the part that relates to us for us, His humanity? He’s our blueprint for developing into complete obedience to God the Father in this human life.g in YOUR role in sanctification.
We won’t know what that is or how to do it in a pleasing manner to God if we don’t understand the person of Christ. The person of Christ had to learn the human side since He emptied himself and came into the likeness of humanity to relate with us and be the how, the example, the first.
In Jesus’ emptying, we now know how a pleasing life can be lived to God. We now know how it looks in religious and social circles: conflict, gossip, betrayal, friendships, leadership, and all the in-betweens that come with life. All by knowing the person of Christ. Most are familiar with His deity, but are we just as familiar with the part that relates to us for us, His humanity? He’s our blueprint for developing into complete obedience to God the Father in this human life. Luke 2:40, 52. Matthew 4:1-11. John 4:34. John 5:19. John 5:30. Hebrews 5: 7-10.
Here are more Scriptures (though not exhaustive) regarding how you can intentionally imitate Christ by participating in YOUR role in sanctification. This list is a guide on how to live the how: (ALWAYS be a Berean)
Romans 8:13 – “you put to death.“
2 Corinthians 7:1 – “let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement,”
Philippians 2:12-13 – “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling“
Hebrews 12:1-3 – “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us“
Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness“
1 John 2:4-6 – “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
1 John 2:16-17 – “but whoever does the will of God“
1 Peter 2:21-24 – “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
Sanctification (Holiness) looks like something according to the Kingdom. We aren’t robots; Jesus is not returning to do it for us. We have a role in our sanctification, and staying on that narrow road leads to the Kingdom. Since that’s our home, that’s our focus. We should intentionally move toward home by living like Christ. We can do it because He did it first. We must participate in the progression if we want to develop and grow. We should examine ourselves by intentionally seeking God and, like David, ask God to search our hearts to see if he finds anything not pleasing to Him (Psalm 139:23-24). The heart issues that are secret, hidden, and suppressed spaces and places that don’t align with God are what He is after. He knows better than us what is hiding there. Only the truth of His Word can expel the lies we have accepted because we were conditioned by culture, upbringing, and disappointments that taught us to protect ourselves, look out for ourselves, and become hard-hearted to avoid pain. We may have forgotten that those in Christ are indeed free, and His truth sets us free. He delights in the secret places of our hearts being developed by His truth and wisdom.
We should examine ourselves by intentionally seeking God and, like David, ask God to search our hearts to see if he finds anything not pleasing to Him (Psalm 139:23-24). The heart issues that are secret, hidden, and suppressed spaces and places that don’t align with God are what He is after.
This is the order of God for the saints, and this is the goal of this community. To progressively mature, to live in Christ’s likeness from a heart transformation, not behavioral patterns. We need a life and heart pattern of rendering our heart (Joel 2: 12-13) until we reach the humility Christ had.
I love this quote from a study guide; it is a great resource you should add to your studies.
“It is important that we continue to grow both in our passive trust in God to sanctify us and in our active striving for holiness and greater obedience in our lives. We become passive, lazy Christians if we neglect active striving to obey God. If we neglect the passive role of trusting God and yielding to him, we become proud and overly confident in ourselves. In either case, our sanctification will be greatly deficient. We must maintain faith and diligence to obey at the same time. The old hymn wisely says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
– Systematic Theology (Dr. Wayne Grudem)
About the Author
Nicole Washington is the founder and lead servant at No Limit for Christ Women’s Ministry. She is commissioned to help women strive to embrace No Limit Living by faith in Christ through biblical truth and providing resources for women to mature into the fullness of Christ and live life abundantly. She has studied and graduated from a Biblical Studies program, has an M.S. in Psychology, and is soon pursuing her Ph.D. in Theology. She is married to Jeremi, and together have a tribe of seven children ranging from adults to youngsters in Michigan. Follow the ministry at www.thenlfc.org
