10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.[b] That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers
Tag: Sanctification
Be Being Filled: MT episode 16
My wife Tina really loves Christmas. She does a terrific job decorating the house for each holiday, but Christmas gets the most attention.
This year a new tree was delivered in early October. I happened to come into the room where she had opened the box and began putting it together. I laughed. She heard me and then began to make an excuse, “I had to see if all the parts were there.”
We both laughed together, and I said, “keep it up. Let’s make a Halloween Tree out of it.” (This might drive the fundamentalist Baptists crazy right?) But up went the purple and orange lights and various items were hung around the tree.
Then it was Thanksgiving. (My fav. Holiday) But I suggested let’s keep it up all year around. It can be a Valentine’s Day tree; it can be a St. Patty’s tree. It can be the fourth of July tree. I loved my idea. I don’t think we will be doing it though.
Ephesians 5:18 Scripture says, be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not a command, but it is an encouragement. For the sake of time, I will refer to earlier episodes (Here are links to those episodes 1, 2, 3) where we looked at sanctification (both a onetime AND ongoing event). This is an instance of both present and ongoing sanctification.
You can’t tell in the English; this is where the original language helps. The word and the verb tense – we do not have an English equivalent. The literal reading is, “Be, being filled with the Spirit.”
Be filled, present AND being filled, ongoing. The Spirit’s presence in our lives in what leads us to more holiness (Ezekiel 36:25-27). For believers, the Spirit is always in us.
This time of year, our culture remembers Christ’s birth. It is a date that Scripture does not supply, but I have no problem celebrating it. It is the Apostle Paul who gives us this freedom.
But there is a lot of similarity of Tina’s year around Christmas tree and Ephesians 5:18. The important part of Christmas is not WHEN Jesus was born but THAT Jesus was born. Even more important is that Jesus is born in you (2 Corinthians 13:5). The constant state of Christ be, being in us. Each day of the year.
S-D-G
Two Front Door Houses: MT episode 11
One of the many advantages of growing up in the mid-west is the various farmhouses that remain in use. Some of these houses are well over 100 years old. They are not the mansion plantation houses in the south, but they are still beautiful in their own humble way.
One thing easily noticed is that many of these old farmhouses have two front doors. They are separated by just five to ten feet. Both doors look identical, same height, same width and even the same door.
The reason for two front entrance doors lies in that one is the formal entrance for when company visits and the other is more casual, for the family only.
I can imagine the formal entrance is kept more tidy and spotless. The floors are most likely not messy, and everything is placed in its correct spot.
The casual side, however, may not be messy but for certain the effort placed on the formal side is not on the casual side.
Think of this in terms of your relationship to Jesus. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.”
Last Thursday our discussion was around sanctification. It is the process we are 1. Instantly sanctified at new birth and 2. Progressively sanctified as we live. We are always working towards being more like Jesus, He becomes greater, we become less.
This passage here in Philippians is also passage on sanctification. For those who are saved, it is only because God began that good work. Ezekiel 36:25-27 clearly states it is a work done by God alone.
But for those who are saved, those who have had this good work done in them, you now can work to holiness. How? Because God is at work in you, and He will keep working in you until completion.
The problem for many, and I will speak personally here, sometimes there are 2 entrance doors. One that I wanted Jesus to see, more formal, more together and then the real me. I can’t fool Jesus. In reality, there is ONLY one door to me. Jonah is not the only one who has loved God and tried to hide.
Monday, we will start here and add some thoughts, but for the weekend be challenged with this: what comes to mind when pondering how you can be more holy? That is your starting point to pray and ask the Father, “Help me to grow and be more holy.”
SDG