Sanctification through the Spirit:

Sanctification through the Spirit:
(The believer and unbeliever)

1. The initial work of the Holy Spirit is; conviction of a sinner: (Acts 2: 37) (John 16: 8)

2. The new birth; regeneration, the Holy Spirit ministering holiness and righteousness to the heart of a believer by making Christ known.

3. The Holy Spirit leads a believer to crucifixion of the self life (Galatians 5: 24)

4. The final act of the Holy Spirit (in this life) is the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire reflecting an inner work which takes place, “after a believer dies to the old life”.
(a.) The heart is purified by faith (Acts 15:8)
(b.) Purity reflects deliverance from a carnal heart (Romans 8)
(c.) Enduement of power makes men witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8)
(d.) Instantaneous like the new birth. (at one stroke)

· Conviction deals with the sinful side of man. Guilt is revealed. It brings man to accountability, leaving him without excuse; helps him to realize a right standard of life. Conviction leads men to repentance as sin is exposed by the presence of Christ.

· Regeneration, (the new birth; being born of the Spirit) is a union made between the heart of man and the heart of God (after repentance). At regeneration a believer receives forgiveness for all sins committed and guilt is taken away. As a result of Gods Grace the presence of Christ is made known to the heart through regeneration. A believer realizes he’s a new creature, old things have passed away. Holiness of heart begins.

· Crucifixion of self is the path to Entire sanctification. The Holy Spirit leads a believer to crucifixion because the self will and will of God conflicts. This conflict began at the new birth. After trusting in Christ, when all sins were forgiven, the self-desire, self-affection, self-interest and self-position still remained. The carnal nature conflicts with the divine (Galatians 5: 17) ...The flesh lusteth against the Spirit… (James 1: 8)… A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 4: 8)…purify your hearts you double minded. Crucifixion is revealed by the presence of God to end the conflicting battle between self and Spirit. Crucifixion of the old man allows the body of sin to be destroyed by the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire (Romans 6: 6)…knowing this that our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed. When a believer “crucifies” or “puts off the old man” he’s dead! The old habits, old attitudes, and old ways of life are a thing of the past.

· The final act of the Sanctification is the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. This blessing of Divine Grace is a Spiritual operation which purges the heart of a believer from its carnal root. When the old man is crucified, the Holy Spirit purifies, and fills. Self is emptied and the Holy Spirit takes possession of (the mind, will, and intellect). Indwelling sin is purged, and indwelling Spirit takes its place. The Holy Spirit now has full sway, preserving the “spirit, soul, and body,” totally… (1 Thessalonians 5: 23, 24) … and very God of peace sanctify you wholly (entirely), and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ... faithful is he that calls you who will also do it. No longer is man controlled by indwelling sin nor does temptation affect him the same as in the past. The Indwelling Spirit has (Romans 8:2) … “made him free” from the law of sin and death. This “fullness of the Spirit” makes him a witness for Christ. (Acts 1:8) A strong testimony, faithfulness, and godly lifestyle prove’s he is “filled”, “renewed”; or has “the fullness of God. Sanctification strengthens the inner man enabling him to have victory over sin. He becomes an over comer of the world and the wicked one. Peace, happiness and contentment are products of his blessed experience.

The Holy Spirit convicts, regenerates, leads to crucifixion, and renews the heart … but sanctification from a carnal heart only comes through the “baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.” Why sanctification? Man can’t confess or be forgiven from a carnal heart. It’s a result of the Original sin instilled into humanity, (Romans 5: 19)… “For by one man's disobedience many were made sinner's” How does man receive deliverance? Only the sanctifying power of the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire can (Acts 15: 8) (James 4: 8)…purify the heart (Romans 6: 6)…by destroying the body of sin. Then renewing takes place.

There is no time factor between the new birth and the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire, but death to the old man must take place, before a man can be sanctified entire. (Colossians 3: 3) … you are “dead” and your life is hid with Christ in God. A dead man doesn’t show the old life anymore. A believer doesn't grow into this new life. (He grows in it) The purifying work of the Holy Spirit is not a progressive but instantaneous work (at one stroke) when the body of sin is destroyed.

A believer must put off the old man; bury the old life and the old ways, to be “entirely sanctified” (Colossians 2: 12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God. (Colossians 3: 9, 10) Seeing that you have “put off” the old man with his deeds; and have “put on” the new man which is “renewed” in knowledge after the image of him that created him, (Ephesians 4:21,22,23,24) As the truth is in Jesus that you “put off” concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; and be “renewed” in the Spirit of your mind; and that you “put on” the new man which after God is created into righteousness and true holiness (“Renewing” takes place “ after sanctification”) To be renewed is a “result of sanctification”.