Forgiving Challenge: The 11-Day Life-Changing Journey to FreedomSample

Day 10: What is Sanctification?

While my wife was growing up in Africa, she witnessed practices made by the local villagers to bring about good weather or good crops. One of those traditions was done after harvest. The problem was, rather than the celebration signifying the end of the growing season, the villagers believed that their actions caused the rainy season to end and the dry season to begin. Therefore, if things didn't happen as planned, they must have done something wrong.

Our human nature is to want to feel that we control things and make things happen, like the rain. We want to control our freedom from Sin.

Sanctification is the action or process of being freed or purified from Sin. We live a sanctified life when we are holy and living as disciples of Jesus. Unfortunately, when we talk about sanctification, it's easy for us to fall into the same trap as the villagers in Africa. As we make good choices, it's tempting to take credit for holiness through our good decisions and correct decisions. Indeed now we have some part in this, right? God did so much; now we're obligated?

Not quite.

Sanctification is the sign of salvation but not the cause. The action of making or declaring something holy is entirely the work of God.

Not only does our salvation depend on God's mercy and grace toward us, but so also is the actual working out of our sanctification. We are dependent on God for every breath we take. He is the mediator of all things, including the good deeds and choices we make.

"But wait!" you say. "What about salvation by faith alone? Isn't that what the Bible says? Then why do we need to try? Aren't we free?" We believe that we are saved by faith alone, but it is not a faith that remains alone. If there are no signs of love working out in your life, that faith cannot be genuine.

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 2:26

Just like the village's feast was a response to the changing of seasons, sanctification cannot help but happen when the reality of the gospel dawns on a person.

It's a knee-jerk reaction. Not an obligation.

So let go of trying to earn your freedom. You're better off trying to control the weather!

Challenge: Sanctification comes in response to God's grace. He allows each of us to live a holy life using our unique gifts. Identify three areas/ways in which you are gifted and how God can use those gifts to bring others to know Him.