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.

The Adamic Nature...defined in a systematic theology and Internet library

God has opened doors the past 3 years for the subject the Adamic Nature to be taught in contrast to Christ, the supplier of our Salvation and Sanctification in the New Testament.

The simplified system of theology (below, taken from previous expositions) consists of links to the various aspects of the Adamic Nature; how the Adamic Nature effects man: how to get rid of the Adamic Nature; and renewal after the Adamic Nature is removed by the Grace of God. May this simplified systematic study on the Adamic Nature be a blessing to your life in Christ.

1. What is the Adamic Nature? 
2. The human will: tainted with an Adamic Nature
3.  Where does the Bible say man has a free will?
4.  The will of man: Free or controlled?
5. A man ruled by I, me, and mine
6. The Devil's prison house...the Adamic Life
7. The way of Cain, the son of Adam
8. The distinction between the acts of sin and inherited sin 
9.  The Adamic Nature in Justification
10. The Adamic Nature in Sanctification
11. You don't have to let the Adamic Nature get the best of you
12. The Adamic Nature and how to get rid of it
13. God's method of getting rid of the (still existing) Old Adam
14. Death to self: the object of the believer in Christ
15. Human objective from the Biblical perspective
16. What does it mean to, "put off the Old Man?"
17.  The Promise of my Father (pt. 1) 
18. The Promise of my Father (pt. 2)
19. The purpose of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire
20. Complete freedom from the Adamic Nature
21. Renewal takes place "after" man is sanctified

The error of what some people think Sanctification is

Sanctification is not based on what we do. Sanctification is based on what we are. What is man? Man is a sinner by nature; a fallen being; and polluted with sin from birth. Sanctification has nothing to do with the new birth. The new birth only makes men eligible to be sanctified. Sanctification is not a progressive work performed by God as many people think. Sanctification is a completed and final work of the Spirit of God that "removes" the Adamic Nature from the life of a new born Christian. So often people want to believe sanctification is a process. Not so! It's the action of God's Grace that removes the Adamic Nature from the heart of man.

In relation to (2) types of sin (the sinful acts; and the sinful nature) an illustration can be drawn to show the vast difference between regeneration and sanctification. Regeneration is an initial work of the Spirit of God that takes place "after" man is Justified; and declared innocent by God from Heaven. Justification deals with the "acts of sin". Sanctification deals with the sinful nature inherited from the fall of Adam. A child is polluted with the Adamic Nature in the womb of is mother.

Man is rid from all sinful acts when Christ is trusted in and accepted for personal forgiveness found in Salvation that flows from Calvary. Regeneration of the human soul takes place when the new birth is found. The Adamic Nature still exists and tries to rule after regeneration. A regenerated man has power to do right, but the Old Nature still tries to rule. This Old nature that still tries to rule is only dealt with through Sanctification that is an instantaneous experience. The Bible terms this experience as the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. This work of the Spirit of God does not relate to forgiveness of sins it directly relates to the "removal" of the Adamic nature.

The (still existing) Adamic nature cannot be confessed because it is not an act of sin committed by man. The action of man's sins are only dealt with in the power of God's Justification by Grace. The nature of man's sin is dealt with only through the sanctifying power of God's Holy Spirit found in the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire (like on the day of Pentecost). This sanctifying work is not a progressive work but received right on the spot.

The two natures of man (divine and carnal) are not equal. Why? Greater is He in you...The divine nature gives the regenerated soul "power to do right". This God given power is what keeps the child of God from falling short or falling back into sin. Holiness of heart is found here. The Divine nature is the path to receive the sanctifying power of God that "rids" or "removes" the Adamic Nature from the life of a Christian. Sanctification is not a process or gradual separation from worldly things or dying to self. Sanctification takes place when the Indwelling Spirit of God "removes" and "rids" man from Indwelling Sin that still tries to rule a child of God.

The intent of this Blog is to clarify the "error" that many people think Sanctification is. Christians don't live to be Sanctified. Christians get sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost so they can really "live". The struggle of the carnal nature is removed in sanctification. The Old Man is buried and not shown anymore. Sanctification is found and experinced when the Adamic Nature is "destroyed". Read it in Romans 6:6! Don't be caught up in the error of understanding what Sanctification really is.

The crucifixion of self (the path to the fullness of Salvation) Pt.2

Crucifixion of the Old Man, revealed to the heart of a believer by the Holy Spirit, also deals with man’s conflicting inner and outer problems of life. It deals with a life out of harmony with the Spirit of God and out of harmony with the moral truth of the Bible. It deals with a life of holiness (living without sin) that many think cannot be achieved in this life. A believing soul longs for a deliverance from the conflict of the flesh, as the Holy Spirit reveals Calvary to the soul. Like the Spirits conviction upon the sinner…the Spirits deliverance from the bondage of sin at the new birth…the crucifixion of the Old Man is the Spirits directive that prepares a believer for an entire sanctification. Another Biblical term for the crucifixion of self is called…putting off the Old Man.

• Col 3:9…seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

• Eph 4:22…put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

• Col 2:11…in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ

Putting off, getting away from, cutting away, circumcision, or being severed from, are all-definitive to Biblical sanctification. Here are the two sides of sanctification:

1. The human side…which is a believers crucifixion to the flesh
2. The Spirits side…which is God’s deliverance from committed sin or inherited sin

Sanctification through the Spirit gets man away from the lust of the flesh, selfishness, doubt, rejection of truth, etc. The Holy Spirit leads a believer to the crucifixion of self through the revelation of Calvary. Christ’s crucifixion reveals the crucifixion to self to the heart of a believer. The Bible confirms this by saying, “The Old man is buried in baptism”.

• Col 2:12…Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God

This baptism has no reference to immersion in water but relates to an operation of God upon the soul of a believer. After the penitent sinner believes, he is baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ where the Spirit begins it’s ministration to the soul. The Holy Spirit testifies Calvary to the soul and thus reveals the negative side of man, which still exists in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit ministers death to the Old Man through the Spirits baptism into the body of Christ. Without the Spirit’s baptism there is no directive in the heart of man to do right, or to be right. A believer is led to the crucifixion of the flesh by the Spirit’s baptism. When a believer dies to all that he is…he is crucified and thus…can bury the Old Man.

• Rom 6:4-5…Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death,

After the Old Man is dead and buried the Bible says we are planted in the likeness of Christ’s death. When the old life is gone the Holy Spirit takes full possession of the body, soul, and spirit. A believer’s desires are changed, his attitude is different, and all doubt is taken away as belief turns to full assurance. After sanctification the believer is renewed in the spirit of his mind. His whole life and way of thinking is renewed by the work of the Holy Spirit under the power of the Divine Grace of God.

• Eph 4:22-23…That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Renewal takes place, after sanctification. This new part of the Christian life is built upon a life governed by the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. The believer no longer has two conflicting natures but is governed by one, which is the…divine. He is with less attachment to the weights and burdens encountered through life itself. He now has an ability to trust and depend totally on the power of a resurrected Christ. Renewal is another part of the Christian walk where the completed work of sanctification through the baptism with the Holy Ghost allows the believer to be yet a new man. The old man is dead and buried. The renewed man is made true to God because of an entire sanctification.

• Eph 4:24…And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness

After the crucifixion of the Old Man; after indwelling sin is removed; the new man becomes a …renewed man. He’s a controlled man by the Spirit of God. Calvary offers him a greater meaning of life with victory over the selfish side. The world’s influence and the lust of the flesh are now subject to a single minded and single-hearted believer. With a renewed mind the believer is not conformed to the world but rather transformed from it.

• Rom 12:1-2…I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

• Acts 2:46…And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Because of the new man that’s put on and the renewal of the Spirit this man can prove from the heart what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. His will has been changed. The revelation of Calvary has become even more vivid as his consciousness to the Holy Spirit reveals more of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to the heart. The flesh is no longer in control of the believer’s physical body. Since the flesh no longer governs the physical part of man the Spirit of God gives him the power and strength to keep the deeds of the body mortified.

• Rom 8:9… But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

• Rom 8:13…For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Old Testament prophecy concerning the Indwelling Spirit pointed to the fact that God would take away the heart of stone. A renewed man does not war after the flesh. His conflict has been removed. The struggle has been taken away. A renewed believer is mentally and physically controlled by the Indwelling Spirit.

• Ezek 36:26-27…A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you

• Gal 5:16…Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

• Rom 8:11…But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Religion does not offer this kind of power and truth. Worldly teachers do not teach this form of doctrine but, “The Bible does…and the Holy Spirit does”. This Biblical truth cut’s deep into the soul…but yields fruit produced by the Spirit of God. It’s a fruit that offers moral victory through Jesus rather than defeat from the Old Man. It’s a fruit that gets people to heaven by having victory over self. All that’s required is death to the Old Man. When self is crucified and buried the struggle is taken away. The Spirit’s adoption allows the renewed heart of the believer to rejoice seven days a week, 365 days a year. Not just in church on Sunday. With much gratitude toward the Holy Spirits witness the renewed heart of a child of God will cry daily, “Abba Father”.

• Rom 8:15…For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.…The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

"True Life in Christ"... is found by death to the Old man… Hubert T. Lindsey

In a glimpse of Calvary...

As redemption is ministered to the heart of a believer, Divine revelation from the Holy Spirit provides man with a glimpse of Calvary. Although Calvary is revealed to the human soul through the word of truth and prophetic utterances, Divine Revelation comes to man through the Holy Spirit’s witness.

1 John 5:10…He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:

In a glimpse of Calvary God’s goodness moves the human soul enough to help man to escape the bondage of sin. Through a single glimpse of Calvary man can even be swayed enough by God to change the way he desires, acts, and behaves in sight of God. Godly repentance (which comes from the Holy Spirits conviction) becomes the unbeliever’s path to an acceptance of the redemptive work of Christ on a cross. Through the power of Calvary the Holy Spirit’s witness gives the believer a new desire… to stop sinning. This God given righteousness is a result of mans faith alone in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Right living which follows belief, allows the Holy Spirit’s witness to teach, testify, and continue to make Christ known to the heart of a believer. This Divine revelation is also the basis of the forgiveness of sins and removal of guilt from the human conscience.

Heb 10:14-15…For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:

From man’s first Glimpse of Calvary redemption becomes an actual experience in the life of a believer. The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit enlightens a believer to more than forgiveness of sins received at the new birth. The old nature of man is now subject to the presence of the Holy Spirit's regenerating power, and no longer has liberty to go its own way. A newly received divine nature produced by the new birth now rules the life of a believer. This witness from the Holy Spirit (the new nature) takes possession of the inherited fallen nature (or the negative part of man) that often tries to rule in the life of a believer. Holiness of character rules the heart of a child of God. The new nature that comes through the power of Calvary severs the believer away from an existing ego that still tries to rule or rise up. Many believers in Christ struggle with this conflict from the old life and a Christ centered nature of a new life in the Spirit. Through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, God reveals to a believer the Old nature must be destroyed in the believer’s new life in Christ. By Divine revelation another glimpse of Calvary becomes a path to a believer’s crucifixion of self which is… death to the Old Man.

• Death pertains to many personal things such as…ambitions, desires, affections, appetites, interests, habits, etc. These are certain things man pays attention to most in life.

Two crucifixions are recorded in the Bible. Of course the crucifixion of Christ is one crucifixion but the other is the unusual crucifixion of the still existing Old Man. The crucifixion of the Old man is when the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit gets the believer totally away from himself and places him into perfect harmony with God. This work of the Holy Spirit takes man away from…Self. How? The sacrifice of self is recognized through the sanctifying work that comes from God. Sanctification comes through power that comes from the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary.

Enlightenment to Calvary is testified to the heart of man by revelation from the Holy Spirit. Enlightenment to Calvary reveals more than forgiveness of sins. It shows man how to get rid of an inner struggle from self. This work of the Spirit’s witness reveals that man must die to all that he is. (Dying daily is not to be implied here as many believe). Man thus knows the crucifixion of self when he knows the crucifixion of Christ at Calvary.

The Spirit’s work is not limited only to placing a desire in the new convert’s heart to stop practicing sin. The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit exposes and uproots the negative part of man’s nature which produces nothing good in the sight of God. Through this work of the Holy Spirit a believer also comes to a realization of his helplessness and inability that stems from the fallen nature. When man realizes that his trust should be totally placed in Christ for everything in life the Spirit gets him away from a self centered negative side. The Old life thus becomes dead and buried as the life of a child of God transforms into a living sacrifice acceptable to God. Enlightenment to the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary becomes the Spirit’s path… to the sacrifice of the Old Man.

Rom 12:1… I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Putting off the Old Man (like taking off a coat) allows the Fullness of the Holy Spirit to take over mans entire being, body, soul, and spirit. After man puts off all that he is, the inherited body of sin is destroyed through the Fullness of Sanctification which in another term is… the baptism with Holy Ghost and fire. No longer is an indwelling fallen nature of man a hindrance to the fullness of the indwelling Spirit. Man thus empties all of self and separates from conformity to the world; Christ’s baptism from heaven thus becomes a final transformation into the fullness of an entirely sanctified man. When the Old man is put off completely the heart of a believer is not only cleansed and purified but that life is renewed through the Spirits work of Entire Sanctification. Renewal which comes after sanctification is a totally committed life of faith and obedience in Christ without an inner struggle. This renewal only comes through a second glimpse of Calvary. Man’s second glimpse of Calvary has more meaning than the first. Unlike the first glimpse of Calvary which comes in the life of a sinner… the second glimpse of Calvary comes in the life of a believer through a transformation from worldly ties and renewal in the inner man.

Rom 12:2…And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Believing in Christ and a first glimpse of Calvary forgives the penitent from all past sins. A second Glimpse of Calvary gets the believer away from an inherited fallen nature that compels him to struggle against the work of God. Sanctification through the Spirit is God’s means of offering the power of redemption to every human soul. The power of the Holy Spirit’s witness helps any man regardless of his condition of heart, to recognize Calvary above all things.

The new birth at salvation of the soul (through the forgiveness of sins) is not a progressive work of the Holy Spirit…its instantaneous. The Baptism with the Holy Ghost (that destroys the Adamic nature) is not a progressive work of the Holy Spirit…its instantaneous. Dying totally to the old life “is” a progressive work. This progressive death to the old life is only revealed to the heart of a believer …through a believer’s glimpse of Christ at Calvary.

Renewal takes place "after" Sanctification

To be renewed is to have a sanctified heart. A sanctified heart is where the Indwelling Spirit totally possesses the heart, life, and body of a believer in Christ. Sanctification is full salvation...without the struggle of the Old Nature or the inner conflict caused from the Old life. Not all Christians are "renewed" but all Christians "can be renewed"!

The work of the Holy Spirit is not to be limited or confined to the new birth or regeneration only! Renewal is the product of final work of the Holy Spirit..received in this life! Its not the process of being sanctified gradually...its the result of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire...that rids the believer in Christ from the conflicting Adamic nature. Christ has the power to "rule" and give members of His body "victory over the control of the flesh". Glory!

Renewal is a blessing of God's Grace...that keeps the Indwelling Spirit in full possession of the believer's heart, soul, and body. Renewal is not a gradual process...its the finished product! A renewed man has "put on the new man" and is controlled by the new man.

Col 3:10...And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Here's the scriptural characteristics of a renewed man...

Col 3:12-15...Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

When renewal is experienced...the new man is put on....contentment is found. Contentment is real Christian living! Contentment is caused from victory! Victory brings Glory to Christ! Blessed be His holy name forever!