Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Sanctification: A resurrection to real Christian living

In order to live in the fullness of God's Spirit one must die and empty out completely to self. After death to the Old Man takes place - resurrection occurs. Man cannot be resurrected unless he dies first. Resurrection is real life under the full control of the Holy Spirit. Resurrection is a completed work of God's sanctifying power that rids the believer from a still existing Adamic life. Resurrection cannot take place until one dies first to self, self habits, and selfish ambitions.

Colossians 3: 1-3...If ye then be risen (resurrected) with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

A dead man is put in the grave. A dead man does not show the old life anymore. The old life is buried and gone. The resurrection by God's Holy Spirit makes the Christian life "hid" in Christ. No longer are the old deeds from the old man carried out anymore.

Colossians 3: 4-10...Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye 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:
"To mortify deals with the characteristics of the former physical life of a sinful man before God's Grace comes in. The acts, habits, ambitions, and affections of a sinner are the exact opposite of those same faculties within the child of God. To mortify deals with the physical actions of a Christian that struggles with the Adamic life - which can be completely put off. The physical acts of anger, filthy communication, aggravation, pride, and fornication are put off and not allowed when God destroys the Adamic life. Love for God and love for fellow man are the physical fruit of a child of God's character- after mortification. This lifetime fruit is put on. In mortification the physical character of a child of God is completely renewed by the operation of God's Holy Spirit".
The sanctified life is found through an experience that takes place "after" Salvation. The sanctified life is a resurrected life delivered from self and selfish ambitions. The sanctified life is a renewed life freed from the bondage of self. The sanctified life is physical experience of God's Spirit taking "full possession" of the spirit, soul, and body of man.

1 Thessolonians 5:23-24...And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; 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 calleth you, who also will do it.