Posts filed under ‘sanctification’
Can You Know for Certain?
But then, you hear sermons that seem to create a tension within you. On one hand, yes you are saved. On the other, if you stop working, you may well either lose your salvation or learn you never really had it in the first place! The focus then is directed right back onto SELF. You begin constantly looking at your life, your motives, your words, your thoughts and your actions, always judging them by whether or not you think you are doing everything correctly. If not, then you are in serious danger of either losing your salvation or not ever having had it (depending on which theological camp you find yourself in). If this isn’t maddening enough, you are then, because of your focus, always looking inward trying to judge whether or not you are persevering in the faith, rather than focusing on God, His love for us sinners and just how great His grace is toward us.
Here’s Why It is So Difficult
Do we ever stop to consider what our approach to Jesus will be when we come face to face with Him in eternity?? It’s difficult for us to shape that thinking because He is invisible to us. We are separated by this physical life, though He is clearly here within us via the Holy Spirit. When I finally see Him, I hope I will prostrate myself before Him. I hope I will caress His nail scarred feet and hands. I hope I will give Him all the love I possess for Him. I hope out of all the wonderful things in eternity, Jesus will be my main focus.
Continue Reading August 25, 2026 at 12:31 PM Leave a comment
True Antidote for Vanity
It all boils down to Solomon’s final thoughts on the subject. That is, to fear God and keep His commandments, period. This is the be- all, end-all of everything related to humanity and our need to glorify God. The problem is that we too often go after things in life (even if they appear to be good), from a position of serving self. If/when we do this, we are essentially chasing vanity.
Two Reasons for the Cup
As a young woman goes through the Jewish wedding process, she is focused on the day her groom will come back to take her to the newly finished room in his father’s house. After his father tells him it’s time, the groom will walk through the streets with his groomsmen behind him approaching the bride’s home. He will call out to her as he gets closer. She will come running out to meet and greet him and will be swept up in his arms. They will then turn and go to the room that has been set up for their ceremony and dinner. She will forever remain with her husband as his wife in his father’s house.
Continue Reading August 11, 2026 at 10:08 AM Leave a comment
Two Roads Every Christian Faces
Some argue that we are able to be saved because God grants us something called “prevenient grace.” This is the belief that God grants us the ability to believe Him prior to our coming to Him for salvation and without this prevenient grace, no one could be saved at all. The truth of the matter for me, is that all people have the ability to believe what they read or hear from any source. Those who come to God in faith believing that He exists and has made salvation available to us do so because of their decision to believe Him. This is exactly what the thief on the cross experienced, while his counterpart a few feet away did not. It was solely a difference in belief regarding Jesus.
Third Chapter Coincidence?
Just as Genesis 3 actually occurred, we can know that Revelation 20 will also actually occur. They are connected. They both point to God’s favor, His mercy and His love for His Creation. While Genesis 3 introduced sin into the entirety of His Creation, Revelation 20 is the start of eliminating all of it in practical terms.
Covenants vs Dispensationalism
It seems to me the very plain teaching of Scripture includes a physical return of Jesus, where every eye will see Him of those living at the time (Daniel 7:13; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 14:14). Seeing Jesus is not in the mind’s eye or somehow spiritually. It is a literal event when He physically returns so that the entirety of the world will finally understand that God is in control. That much is clear and obvious. To attempt to turn this obvious meaning into a spiritual return is repugnant to me.
Secular Progressivism
Please notice that Paul considered himself a prisoner of Jesus. Yes, he was physically incarcerated at the time he wrote to the Ephesians, but he still considered himself a prisoner of the Lord, not of Rome. Because of this, and even in spite of his incarceration, he believed he had the responsibility of walking worthy of his calling in Christ Jesus. What does that look like? Well, we don’t have to guess because Paul tells us. We should walk with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love and endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit.
We Are Not in Control
We have two choices in life. One, we can continue to try to do things our way, mistakenly believing that we control our own destiny and the things that happen in life. Two, we can come to the true realization that we are not in control at all and that everything that happens to us happens because of God’s plan. If we try to live the first option, we can quickly grow conceited in the belief that we have it going on; that our decisions are what matters and above all things, we walk in a path that we have developed for ourselves. If we live with option number two, we will more quickly come to the end of ourselves, realizing that the very breath we breathe is on loan from God Himself.
Putting Off and Putting On
I believe it is the put off/put on principle that truly transforms the life of the Christian. While many choose not to put in the effort to create new habits and patterns (and some want to but aren’t clear on how), it is incumbent upon us to understand that this is absolutely part of our sanctification process. We must take it seriously and while we do not do this to “earn” our salvation (since salvation cannot be earned, but it is a completely free gift), this process is a must in order to grow in Christ our Redeemer.
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