April 25, 2024 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Hello, friends! Today, as we continue our journey through the book, The Great Controversy, we will be exploring the topic of Sanctification.
You may have heard that justification and sanctification are two sides of the same coin—they are what God does for us, and in us. We cannot have one without the other.
True sanctification is a Bible doctrine. The apostle Paul wrote, “This is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3), and in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 he prays, “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly.”
The Bible clearly teaches what sanctification is and how it is to be attained. Praying for His disciples, Jesus said, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). And Paul teaches that believers are to be “sanctified by the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 15:16).
So, what is the work of the Holy Spirit? Jesus told His disciples: “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). And in Psalm 119:142 we read, “Thy law is the truth.”
God’s Word and His Spirit open to us the “great principles of righteousness embodied in His law,” writes Ellen White. “And since the law of God is ‘holy, and just, and good,’ a transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character formed by obedience to that law will be holy” (The Great Controversy, p. 469).
Of course, Jesus is the perfect example of such a character. He said, “I have kept My Father’s commandments.” “I do always those things that please Him” (John 15:10; 8:29). And through His power, He can change us into His likeness.
We read, “The followers of Christ are to become like Him—by the grace of God to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law. This is Bible sanctification” (The Great Controversy, p. 469).
Please note carefully, this is not something we can do of ourselves! This work can only be accomplished through faith in Christ, and by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. The Apostle Paul gives very clear direction when he wrote: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12,13, NKJV).
As Christians, we will often feel the temptations of sin, and we can only resist through the power of Christ. But when we reach out to Him, “Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, and faith exclaims: ‘Thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 15:57).”
Those who experience the sanctification described in the Bible will be humble. They will never claim perfection for themselves. The prophet Daniel is a good example of true sanctification. We are told that He was a man “greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11) of heaven. “Yet instead of claiming to be pure and holy, this honored prophet identified himself with the really sinful of Israel as he pleaded before God in behalf of his people” (The Great Controversy, p. 470).
We see this example of humility in many of the Bible heroes—Job, Isaiah, Mary the mother of Jesus, the apostle John, and Paul. While all surrendered their lives to the Lord and lived sanctified lives, none claimed to be righteous.
In The Great Controversy we read, “There can be no self-exaltation, no boastful claim to freedom from sin, on the part of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary’s cross. . .Those who live nearest to Jesus discern most clearly the frailty and sinfulness of humanity, and their only hope is in the merit of a crucified and risen Saviour” (The Great Controversy, p. 471).
In the parable of the “Growing Seed” recorded in Mark 4:26-29, Christ describes how growth in the Christian’s life is like that of a plant. Commenting on this parable, Ellen White writes, “The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous, so is the development of the Christian life. At every stage of development our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. As our opportunities multiply, our experience will enlarge, and our knowledge increase. We shall become strong to bear responsibility, and our maturity will be in proportion to our privileges” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 65).
Friends, as we come closer and closer to Jesus, reading His Word, praying for His Spirit’s guidance, surrendering to Him day by day, He promises to live His life within us, helping us to be conquerors through Him! “The Christian’s life should be one of faith, of victory, and joy in God,” writes Ellen White. “For this is this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:3,4, NKJV).
I invite you to pray with me just now.
Father in heaven, thank you that through the righteousness of Jesus is justifying righteousness which makes us perfect in the eyes of our Heavenly father, because of the life and the robe of righteousness of Jesus and the righteousness of Christ, his sanctifying righteousness, which helps us to become more and more like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit every day. We are grateful to have the righteousness of Christ working in us and through us. Lord, we ask that you will give us a fresh understanding of what your will is for us to be obedient to you, to live for you all through the power of Jesus. Help us to understand that sanctification, the work of a lifetime, is important as we connect with you through Bible study, through prayer, and through following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Help us always to honor you. Thank you for hearing us in this prayer, and thank you for the righteousness of Jesus Christ, his justifying and sanctifying righteousness. In Christ’s name we ask it. Amen.