Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.40\00:00:02.77 And I want to ask you two very important questions. 00:00:02.80\00:00:05.70 First, is it possible to have a personal encounter 00:00:05.73\00:00:08.85 with the grace of God and still be lost? 00:00:08.88\00:00:12.26 And secondly, do you know what it means 00:00:12.29\00:00:14.59 to be a sanctification seeker? 00:00:14.62\00:00:16.80 Please join us now on "The Grace Pipeline," 00:00:16.83\00:00:19.38 for the Bible's answers to these questions. 00:00:19.41\00:00:22.03 Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline." 00:00:43.58\00:00:45.70 If you've been following this series, 00:00:45.73\00:00:47.43 you know that it is taken from a book 00:00:47.46\00:00:49.47 that is also titled "The Grace Pipeline," 00:00:49.50\00:00:52.52 that God gave me the privilege of writing. 00:00:52.55\00:00:55.45 And if you are following along in this series companion book, 00:00:55.48\00:00:59.49 today's lesson study will be taken from chapter 6, 00:00:59.52\00:01:04.15 "Growing in the grace of sanctification." 00:01:04.18\00:01:07.71 Now during our last four programs, 00:01:07.74\00:01:10.14 we have taken a good look at being justified by grace. 00:01:10.17\00:01:16.27 The question I want to pose today is this, 00:01:16.30\00:01:19.93 is it possible to taste of God's grace 00:01:19.96\00:01:23.27 and fall away from it unaware? 00:01:23.30\00:01:25.72 That's an important question. 00:01:25.75\00:01:27.72 And we must know what answer the Bible gives. 00:01:27.75\00:01:31.99 Today, we will look 00:01:32.02\00:01:33.39 at the importance of being a sanctification seeker. 00:01:33.42\00:01:38.80 On His last occasion to teach the multitudes in the temple, 00:01:38.83\00:01:43.34 Jesus rebuked the religious leaders, 00:01:43.37\00:01:46.18 identifying them as hypocrites and blind guides for their sake 00:01:46.21\00:01:51.13 and the sake of their traditions. 00:01:51.16\00:01:53.23 They had set aside the word of God, 00:01:53.26\00:01:56.05 and set forth useless teachings. 00:01:56.08\00:01:58.75 These teachings hindered the people's spiritual progress. 00:01:58.78\00:02:03.38 Christ issued a final scathing indictment. 00:02:03.41\00:02:07.40 saying, 00:02:07.43\00:02:11.20 "See your house is left to you desolate, 00:02:11.23\00:02:14.81 for I say to you, you shall see me no more till you say, 00:02:14.84\00:02:19.62 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'" 00:02:19.65\00:02:24.09 And leaving the temple never to return again, 00:02:24.12\00:02:27.86 Jesus and His disciples, walked to the Mount of Olives. 00:02:27.89\00:02:32.10 The sun was setting on the Mount 00:02:32.13\00:02:34.21 and in figuratively setting on Christ earthly ministry. 00:02:34.24\00:02:38.61 We see in Matthew 24 and Matthew 25, 00:02:38.64\00:02:43.03 how Christ utilized every last moment to teach His followers, 00:02:43.06\00:02:48.17 sharing the signs that would precede His second coming 00:02:48.20\00:02:51.87 and cautioning of the need 00:02:51.90\00:02:54.21 to be prepared for its uncertain timing. 00:02:54.24\00:02:59.15 The Savior frequently taught in parables. 00:02:59.18\00:03:02.92 Stories that illustrated a religious lesson. 00:03:02.95\00:03:06.86 This final sermon was no exception. 00:03:06.89\00:03:10.18 Among other symbolic accounts, 00:03:10.21\00:03:12.74 He shared a parable of ten virgins 00:03:12.77\00:03:15.85 and the bridegroom in Matthew 25:1-13 00:03:15.88\00:03:20.16 drawing from a familiar Jewish wedding custom. 00:03:20.19\00:03:24.34 Now according to the cultural tradition, 00:03:24.37\00:03:28.71 the groom attended by his groomsmen 00:03:28.74\00:03:31.86 arrived late in the night to retrieve his bride. 00:03:31.89\00:03:35.71 The bride had already taken the necessary steps 00:03:35.74\00:03:39.29 to prepare herself and longingly awaited for her love. 00:03:39.32\00:03:43.91 The bridesmaids kept watch for the groom, 00:03:43.94\00:03:47.24 ready to rush out, and to greet him with lamps in their hands. 00:03:47.27\00:03:52.71 They would light his pathway to the bride 00:03:52.74\00:03:55.97 and accompany the procession to the wedding feast, 00:03:56.00\00:03:59.16 celebrated at the groom's home. 00:03:59.19\00:04:02.46 So in His parable Jesus presented 00:04:02.49\00:04:06.11 five of the attending virgins as wise and five as foolish. 00:04:06.14\00:04:12.39 All were wearied from the long wait in the darkness. 00:04:12.42\00:04:16.56 All became drowsy and slept 00:04:16.59\00:04:19.10 when the arrival of the groom was delayed. 00:04:19.13\00:04:22.03 Suddenly at the midnight hour a shout pierced the air. 00:04:22.06\00:04:27.03 "Behold the bridegroom is coming. 00:04:27.06\00:04:29.75 Go out to meet him." 00:04:29.78\00:04:31.58 So startled, the ten sleeping virgins 00:04:31.61\00:04:34.44 responded to the midnight cry 00:04:34.47\00:04:36.63 and arose to trim their lamps, 00:04:36.66\00:04:38.91 but only the wise had brought additional flasks of lamp oil. 00:04:38.94\00:04:42.94 The foolish virgins petitioned the others to share, 00:04:42.97\00:04:47.15 but the wise knowing it was impossible 00:04:47.18\00:04:49.52 to give of their supply, 00:04:49.55\00:04:51.24 sent the foolish ones off 00:04:51.27\00:04:52.97 in search of another source for the necessary oil. 00:04:53.00\00:04:56.54 And meanwhile the bridegroom arrived 00:04:56.57\00:04:59.38 and ushered all who were ready into the wedding hall 00:04:59.41\00:05:03.00 at his home, shutting the door to the reception behind him. 00:05:03.03\00:05:07.64 So, when the other virgins returned pleading, 00:05:07.67\00:05:10.64 "Lord, Lord, open to us." 00:05:10.67\00:05:13.53 They discovered that their own reckless 00:05:13.56\00:05:15.90 disregard had shut them out. 00:05:15.93\00:05:18.02 The bridegroom rejected these who were strangers to him 00:05:18.05\00:05:22.89 and refused to open the door saying in Matthew 25:12, 00:05:22.92\00:05:28.65 "Assuredly, I know you not." 00:05:28.68\00:05:33.01 And that is the sad conclusion of the parable. 00:05:33.04\00:05:38.32 You are most likely aware of the rich symbolic meaning 00:05:38.35\00:05:43.26 within this parable in Ephesians 5:23-32 00:05:43.29\00:05:48.54 and Revelation 19:7-9. 00:05:48.57\00:05:51.91 This clearly identified the church as His bride, 00:05:51.94\00:05:56.05 betrothed to Christ our bridegroom. 00:05:56.08\00:05:59.18 By portraying Himself as the bridegroom, 00:05:59.21\00:06:02.26 Christ implied He was God. 00:06:02.29\00:06:04.55 We often find in the Old Testament 00:06:04.58\00:06:06.93 that God was portrayed as the bridegroom. 00:06:06.96\00:06:10.50 So the church is in the Bible, 00:06:10.53\00:06:14.05 throughout the Bible is repeatedly symbolized 00:06:14.08\00:06:16.91 by a virtuous woman, a chaste virgin 00:06:16.94\00:06:20.30 who is not defiled by other relationships. 00:06:20.33\00:06:23.93 Christ promises to return to claim His bride, 00:06:23.96\00:06:27.66 who has made herself ready 00:06:27.69\00:06:29.58 and completed her purpose of sharing 00:06:29.61\00:06:32.58 the gospel of grace with all nations. 00:06:32.61\00:06:35.58 The ten virgin bridesmaids, to which Jesus referred, 00:06:35.61\00:06:40.87 represented church members, 00:06:40.90\00:06:43.15 two different classes of believers 00:06:43.18\00:06:45.28 in the gospel of grace. 00:06:45.31\00:06:47.16 Their lamps are symbol of the word of God. 00:06:47.19\00:06:49.69 As the Psalmist, said in Psalm 119:105, 00:06:49.72\00:06:53.27 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." 00:06:53.30\00:06:57.46 And the oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, 00:06:57.49\00:07:00.73 which we also see in Zechariah Chapter 4. 00:07:00.76\00:07:04.28 By inference the oil, also symbolizes 00:07:04.31\00:07:07.59 the character of the virgins that the wise virgins obtained, 00:07:07.62\00:07:12.86 through the Holy Spirit's influence. 00:07:12.89\00:07:15.44 And the flask that held the additional oil 00:07:15.47\00:07:18.26 represented the vessel of the heart. 00:07:18.29\00:07:22.10 What is the meaning of the caution 00:07:22.13\00:07:25.02 that Christ issued in this parable of the second coming? 00:07:25.05\00:07:28.92 Please consider this important point. It is critical. 00:07:28.95\00:07:33.28 Jesus did not distinguish between 00:07:33.31\00:07:35.59 the two classes of bridesmaids, the attendants. 00:07:35.62\00:07:39.58 He didn't call them wise virgins and foolish maidens. 00:07:39.61\00:07:44.02 He referred to all ten as virgins. 00:07:44.05\00:07:47.26 So this leads us to believe 00:07:47.29\00:07:49.38 that the five foolish virgins were not hypocrites, 00:07:49.41\00:07:53.42 but rather were members of His church 00:07:53.45\00:07:56.28 whose spiritual progress had been stifled. 00:07:56.31\00:07:59.98 They were familiar with the theory 00:08:00.01\00:08:03.59 of the gospel of grace, 00:08:03.62\00:08:05.43 but they did not recognize their need of 00:08:05.46\00:08:08.55 and their dependence upon the Holy Spirit. 00:08:08.58\00:08:11.70 While I was writing, "The Grace Pipeline," 00:08:11.73\00:08:14.15 I reflected on this truth and was astonished to realize 00:08:14.18\00:08:18.53 an amazing aspect of this parable I had never seen. 00:08:18.56\00:08:23.47 Jesus represents and presents 00:08:23.50\00:08:25.97 each of the ten sleeping virgins, 00:08:26.00\00:08:28.80 as previously encountering a personal experience 00:08:28.83\00:08:33.32 with the grace of God. 00:08:33.35\00:08:35.17 The foolish virgins represent those who receive 00:08:35.20\00:08:39.31 only the supply of grace which provides 00:08:39.34\00:08:42.39 the first stage of salvation, justification. 00:08:42.42\00:08:46.54 They hear the good news of salvation by grace. 00:08:46.57\00:08:50.64 They repent and accept Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, 00:08:50.67\00:08:55.67 professing His name, but refusing to tap 00:08:55.70\00:09:00.22 into God's grace pipeline for sanctification. 00:09:00.25\00:09:05.07 These foolish ones never learned to depend on God 00:09:05.10\00:09:08.20 for the fullness of His quickening grace. 00:09:08.23\00:09:11.88 It's either as a result of their fixed rebellious attitude, 00:09:11.91\00:09:16.58 or perhaps as a consequence of a false teaching 00:09:16.61\00:09:19.69 that hinders their progress, 00:09:19.72\00:09:22.51 at--either way they refused to grow in grace 00:09:22.54\00:09:26.11 and did not permit the Lord to finish His work 00:09:26.14\00:09:29.07 of salvation in their lives. 00:09:29.10\00:09:31.26 They have what we call head knowledge, 00:09:31.29\00:09:34.18 but not heart knowledge. 00:09:34.21\00:09:36.11 Yet foolishly, they feel secure with the lamp of profession-- 00:09:36.14\00:09:42.08 their profession of faith in their hands. 00:09:42.11\00:09:45.51 Now the wise virgins stand for those 00:09:45.54\00:09:48.19 who accept Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives 00:09:48.22\00:09:52.13 and following their experience with justification. 00:09:52.16\00:09:56.52 They welcome the wonders of God's grace 00:09:56.55\00:09:59.41 to operate on their hearts, 00:09:59.44\00:10:01.28 for the second stage of salvation, sanctification. 00:10:01.31\00:10:06.25 They receive the gift of the Holy Sprit 00:10:06.28\00:10:09.63 and develop Christ like character, 00:10:09.66\00:10:12.15 growing in grace, and steadily progressing 00:10:12.18\00:10:15.94 along the path of eternal life. 00:10:15.97\00:10:18.83 Now obviously, this parable does not present these 00:10:18.86\00:10:22.83 who had a real relationship with Him 00:10:22.93\00:10:25.13 is being perfected in character. 00:10:25.16\00:10:28.28 We can conclude this because the scripture says "They slept." 00:10:28.31\00:10:33.51 The sleep that settled over all, 00:10:33.54\00:10:35.34 at the darkness of the midnight hour, 00:10:35.37\00:10:38.01 represents a certain spiritual weariness and apathy. 00:10:38.04\00:10:43.16 When great spiritual darkness settles in, 00:10:43.19\00:10:45.90 over our world at the end of time, 00:10:45.93\00:10:48.24 still the wise virgins are depicted 00:10:48.27\00:10:52.21 as having hearts that awaken, 00:10:52.24\00:10:54.61 from which flow the issue of God's love, light and life. 00:10:54.64\00:11:00.80 Now at a glance it seems rather selfish at first 00:11:00.83\00:11:04.61 that they would not share their oil with the others. 00:11:04.64\00:11:08.05 But how could they possibly share and parcel out, 00:11:08.08\00:11:12.70 part of their own character traits, 00:11:12.73\00:11:15.84 rather with the sufficiency of God's grace 00:11:15.87\00:11:18.80 stored in their heart. 00:11:18.83\00:11:20.46 They wisely rise to the occasion 00:11:20.49\00:11:23.83 and proceed into the wedding supper of the lamb. 00:11:23.86\00:11:28.53 When the end comes, those who are unwise 00:11:28.56\00:11:31.32 and following the steps of the foolish virgins 00:11:31.35\00:11:34.35 will respond to the cry of their would-be bridegroom, 00:11:34.38\00:11:38.07 but lacking an abiding relationship with the Lord 00:11:38.10\00:11:41.58 in true Christian character, 00:11:41.61\00:11:43.50 they will be found unfit to attend the marriage feast. 00:11:43.53\00:11:47.29 Their ill-judged rejection of God's grace of sanctification 00:11:47.32\00:11:52.64 will shut the door to eternal salvation. 00:11:52.67\00:11:56.64 Christ warned generations of His followers to come. 00:11:56.67\00:12:00.46 with these strong words found in 00:12:00.49\00:12:02.71 Matthew 7:21 and Matthew 25:13. 00:12:02.74\00:12:07.98 Matthew 7:21 reads, 00:12:08.01\00:12:10.15 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' 00:12:10.18\00:12:13.84 shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 00:12:13.87\00:12:16.35 but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." 00:12:16.38\00:12:20.80 And Matthew 25:13, Jesus says, 00:12:20.83\00:12:24.11 "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day 00:12:24.14\00:12:27.26 nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." 00:12:27.29\00:12:31.26 Is it really possible to taste of God's grace 00:12:31.29\00:12:34.60 and fall away from it unaware? 00:12:34.63\00:12:36.87 Yes, we will later explore many occurrences in scripture 00:12:36.90\00:12:41.73 that reveal this tragic truth. 00:12:41.76\00:12:44.58 Plenty of professing Christians today 00:12:44.61\00:12:47.50 are experiencing spiritual weariness and empathy. 00:12:47.53\00:12:52.71 Is that you? Is that me? 00:12:52.74\00:12:55.93 Certainly, many of us have taken an occasional spiritual siesta, 00:12:55.96\00:13:00.81 but now is the time to awaken to all 00:13:00.84\00:13:03.90 that God makes available to us by grace. 00:13:03.93\00:13:07.21 Soon we will hear the clarion call. 00:13:07.24\00:13:11.04 "Behold, the bridegroom comes." 00:13:11.07\00:13:14.64 Let's determine to tap in to His grace pipeline by faith 00:13:14.67\00:13:19.10 and fill our hearts with His holy oil, 00:13:19.13\00:13:22.81 the Spirit of the living God. 00:13:22.84\00:13:25.27 I want to be prepared to greet Him 00:13:25.30\00:13:27.14 when He returns, don't you? 00:13:27.17\00:13:31.33 In our journey, to better understand the grace of God, 00:13:31.36\00:13:35.06 we have now reached the place of the pipeline 00:13:35.09\00:13:37.56 that is my most favorite topic, "Sanctification." 00:13:37.59\00:13:41.91 Nothing satisfies the soul of a born again Christian, 00:13:41.94\00:13:46.18 like God's sanctifying work in our soul. 00:13:46.21\00:13:50.10 Have you ever asked? 00:13:50.13\00:13:52.03 What is God's will for my life? 00:13:52.06\00:13:54.65 It is a common question. 00:13:54.68\00:13:56.31 And the Apostle Paul provides an answer 00:13:56.34\00:13:59.03 in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4. 00:13:59.06\00:14:02.38 This I'll read parts of 3:7-8. 00:14:02.41\00:14:06.26 Here's what Paul says, 00:14:06.29\00:14:08.25 "This is the will of God, your sanctification. 00:14:08.28\00:14:12.93 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 00:14:12.96\00:14:17.80 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, 00:14:17.83\00:14:23.39 who has also given us His Holy Spirit." 00:14:23.42\00:14:27.99 Now that may not be the answer 00:14:28.02\00:14:29.53 you were looking for or the solution you sought, 00:14:29.56\00:14:32.86 but it is the answer for the abundant life 00:14:32.89\00:14:35.92 that the Christ came to impart to us. 00:14:35.95\00:14:38.64 When I travel to speak at various events, 00:14:38.67\00:14:41.50 I sometimes share a popular teaching 00:14:41.53\00:14:43.72 which I have titled "Sanctification Seekers." 00:14:43.75\00:14:47.71 And it's so funny, audience just seem eager 00:14:47.74\00:14:50.82 to hear the topic, 00:14:50.85\00:14:52.36 until I translate the meaning. Look at this. 00:14:52.39\00:14:57.06 To "seek" is to pursue. 00:14:57.09\00:15:00.64 "Sanctification" is the synonymous with holiness. 00:15:00.67\00:15:05.66 Therefore, to seek sanctification 00:15:05.69\00:15:09.13 means to pursue holiness. 00:15:09.16\00:15:13.34 Once I explained this, 00:15:13.37\00:15:14.74 that seeking sanctification is pursuing holiness. 00:15:14.77\00:15:18.28 Often eager expressions fade away. 00:15:18.31\00:15:21.25 And occasionally you can hear 00:15:21.28\00:15:23.45 a collective groan from the audience. 00:15:23.48\00:15:26.18 The idea of pursuing holiness 00:15:26.21\00:15:28.80 can make people recoil emotionally, 00:15:28.83\00:15:32.21 perhaps because we envision rigid requirements 00:15:32.24\00:15:36.52 and strenuous work on our part. 00:15:36.55\00:15:39.10 Possibly, it's because we have encountered 00:15:39.13\00:15:41.60 so-called holiness movements, 00:15:41.63\00:15:44.23 in which harsh people take radical measures, 00:15:44.26\00:15:48.17 resulting only in rigid outward appearances, 00:15:48.20\00:15:52.00 and appalling actions without affecting 00:15:52.03\00:15:55.30 an inward development of genuine love 00:15:55.33\00:15:57.89 and Christlike character. 00:15:57.92\00:15:59.90 You know what Jesus would call those? Whitewashed tombs. 00:15:59.93\00:16:03.87 That's what He calls such hypocrites. 00:16:03.90\00:16:06.84 "Pursuing holiness is simply growing in grace." 00:16:06.87\00:16:13.32 Please don't allow any false notion to deter you 00:16:13.35\00:16:17.49 from becoming a "sanctification seeker." 00:16:17.52\00:16:20.48 It is God's will for you. 00:16:20.51\00:16:23.02 It is one of His greatest blessings. 00:16:23.05\00:16:25.77 And by His grace He will perform a work of holiness in you. 00:16:25.80\00:16:30.69 This is so important for Hebrews 12:14 tells us that, 00:16:30.72\00:16:36.45 "Without holiness we will never be able to see the Lord." 00:16:36.48\00:16:41.90 The scripture reads this way, 00:16:41.93\00:16:44.24 "Strive to live in peace with everybody 00:16:44.27\00:16:47.55 and pursue that consecration and holiness 00:16:47.58\00:16:51.59 without which no one will see the Lord." 00:16:51.62\00:16:55.47 Salvation is by God's grace, 00:16:55.50\00:16:58.92 but it demands human cooperation. 00:16:58.95\00:17:02.12 We must strive to tap into the grace pipeline by faith, 00:17:02.15\00:17:07.15 allowing God to do a work of sanctification in us. 00:17:07.18\00:17:11.34 We want to be ready, when the bridegroom returns. 00:17:11.37\00:17:14.83 And in Ephesians 5:25-27, 00:17:14.86\00:17:20.08 Paul explains that Christ loved the church 00:17:20.11\00:17:23.17 and gave Himself for her, for what reason? 00:17:23.20\00:17:25.91 That He might sanctify and cleanse her, 00:17:25.94\00:17:29.02 that he might present her to Himself a glorious church, 00:17:29.05\00:17:34.06 not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, 00:17:34.09\00:17:38.58 but that she should be holy and without blemish. 00:17:38.61\00:17:43.09 Scripture clearly reveals Christ is returning for a bride, 00:17:43.12\00:17:47.70 who has made herself ready. 00:17:47.73\00:17:50.25 A bride who has attained by grace, 00:17:50.28\00:17:54.17 a double portion of perfection, by faith that of justification 00:17:54.20\00:18:00.36 through the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:18:00.39\00:18:03.73 and of sanctification imparted to us by Christ' righteousness, 00:18:03.76\00:18:10.09 and primarily worked out in us 00:18:10.12\00:18:12.63 by the refining fire of God, the Holy Sprit. 00:18:12.66\00:18:17.78 His chaste bride will be dressed in His spotless robe 00:18:17.81\00:18:21.96 of righteousness that is undefiled by sin. 00:18:21.99\00:18:27.10 Carefully, consider this next graphic of God's operation 00:18:27.13\00:18:31.52 in both justification and sanctification. 00:18:31.55\00:18:36.31 Let's read this, 00:18:36.34\00:18:37.89 "Justification is an act of God. 00:18:37.92\00:18:42.28 Satisfaction is a work of God." 00:18:42.31\00:18:48.00 Both are by grace. 00:18:48.03\00:18:50.44 God begins His work of sanctification in us. 00:18:50.47\00:18:54.27 When we are regenerated, born again, 00:18:54.30\00:18:57.39 and by our permission and unresisting response, 00:18:57.42\00:19:02.49 He continues it until the day of our glorification 00:19:02.52\00:19:05.71 when Christ returns. 00:19:05.74\00:19:07.67 We enter into His lifestyle of holiness by faith, 00:19:07.70\00:19:12.84 in the work that God will accomplish in us, 00:19:12.87\00:19:16.96 along with our cooperative effort. 00:19:16.99\00:19:19.86 You are most likely familiar with James 2:17 that states, 00:19:19.89\00:19:24.77 "Faith without works is dead." 00:19:24.80\00:19:27.12 I want to read that to you from the amplified version. 00:19:27.15\00:19:31.03 Listen to James 2:17, 00:19:31.06\00:19:34.01 "So also faith, if it does not have works, 00:19:34.04\00:19:38.61 deeds and actions of obedience to back it up, 00:19:38.64\00:19:42.21 by itself is destitute of power. 00:19:42.24\00:19:46.03 it is inoperative and dead." 00:19:46.06\00:19:50.19 What is he saying? 00:19:50.22\00:19:52.22 By active faith, we trusted God for our justification, 00:19:52.25\00:19:58.11 for our pardon to be declared innocent 00:19:58.14\00:20:02.03 because Jesus' blood covered our sins. 00:20:02.06\00:20:05.56 And we just trust it, when we confessed our sins, 00:20:05.59\00:20:09.38 and we asked God to grant us repentance 00:20:09.41\00:20:13.35 that we had been justified, 00:20:13.38\00:20:15.19 and born again as a child of God, 00:20:15.22\00:20:19.23 by active faith which includes actions of obedience. 00:20:19.26\00:20:24.76 We must trust Him for our sanctification, 00:20:24.79\00:20:28.82 to be set aside from sin, 00:20:28.85\00:20:32.17 to let our life grow in holiness 00:20:32.20\00:20:38.08 as we eagerly seek sanctification. 00:20:38.11\00:20:42.66 We are instructed to pursue all the grace, 00:20:42.69\00:20:46.47 God has made available to us 00:20:46.50\00:20:48.81 that He may do a work of separating us from sin. 00:20:48.84\00:20:52.65 Making us suited to one-day be ushered 00:20:52.68\00:20:56.48 by our loving bridegroom 00:20:56.51\00:20:58.15 to a seat of honor at His marriage feast. 00:20:58.18\00:21:01.97 The Old Testament word, "Kadesh," means to sanctify, 00:21:02.00\00:21:06.95 to be made holy. 00:21:06.98\00:21:08.62 The New Testament Greek word, 00:21:08.65\00:21:10.30 "Hagiasmos" is translated into English as sanctification. 00:21:10.33\00:21:16.02 Sanctification and holiness, these are synonyms. 00:21:16.05\00:21:21.09 Both words carry the meaning of being separated to God 00:21:21.12\00:21:25.65 and away from evil. Sanctification subdues sin. 00:21:25.68\00:21:30.76 It sprouts naturally from justification 00:21:30.79\00:21:34.09 and blooms in us as we grow in grace. 00:21:34.12\00:21:37.45 After God justifies us, 00:21:37.48\00:21:39.49 declaring our innocence of his past sin, 00:21:39.52\00:21:42.16 He begins the sanctifying work in our hearts, 00:21:42.19\00:21:45.34 separating us from the evils of the world unto Himself. 00:21:45.37\00:21:50.27 To rescue us from sin and death, 00:21:50.30\00:21:52.57 God's plan is to renew a right spirit within us 00:21:52.60\00:21:56.23 and restore us to moral purity. 00:21:56.26\00:22:00.15 In the process of salvation by grace, 00:22:00.18\00:22:02.83 justification and sanctification are intimately connected. 00:22:02.86\00:22:07.09 Their vital union cannot be separated. 00:22:07.12\00:22:09.75 So let's consider a quick comparison 00:22:09.78\00:22:11.98 of these two stages of salvation, 00:22:12.01\00:22:14.54 to help establish their significant differences 00:22:14.57\00:22:18.33 and inseparable union. 00:22:18.36\00:22:20.96 Justification, Christ-- this is what-- 00:22:20.99\00:22:25.04 "Christ imputed righteousness that puts us in right standing 00:22:25.07\00:22:28.78 with a holy God making our justification possible. 00:22:28.81\00:22:33.29 When we repent and accept Christ as our Savior, 00:22:33.32\00:22:37.07 His precious blood blots out our past sins 00:22:37.10\00:22:40.35 that separated us from a holy God, 00:22:40.38\00:22:43.44 and His sinless record is credited to our account. 00:22:43.47\00:22:47.32 God pronounces us innocent. 00:22:47.35\00:22:49.98 This act of justification is entirely His responsibility, 00:22:50.01\00:22:55.23 and demonstrates His eagerness to pardon us. 00:22:55.26\00:22:58.86 Taking but a moment, justification is the first stage 00:22:58.89\00:23:03.28 of salvation and changes our record." 00:23:03.31\00:23:06.77 Sanctification, "In contrast, changes our character. 00:23:06.80\00:23:11.95 This is the second stage of salvation, 00:23:11.98\00:23:14.86 and is our through Christ's imparted righteousness, 00:23:14.89\00:23:18.87 received into our hearts by faith. 00:23:18.90\00:23:22.06 God's sanctifying work results from His passionate 00:23:22.09\00:23:26.35 pursuit to recreate within humanity a character 00:23:26.38\00:23:31.19 that is in harmony with His. 00:23:31.22\00:23:33.68 This amazing grace of this work progress over our lifetime, 00:23:33.71\00:23:38.99 and requires our permission 00:23:39.02\00:23:40.94 and cooperative effort in the process. 00:23:40.97\00:23:44.02 God's provision of power, 00:23:44.05\00:23:46.34 given by imparted right-- righteousness, 00:23:46.37\00:23:50.04 calls for us to meet His standard of behavior." 00:23:50.07\00:23:54.70 Many, who have the appearance of being religious, 00:23:54.73\00:23:57.84 possess knowledge of God and exhibit a certain outward 00:23:57.87\00:24:01.86 form of godliness, but deny living 00:24:01.89\00:24:04.74 in the experience of His sanctifying power. 00:24:04.77\00:24:07.92 The kingdom of God is not a matter of mere talk 00:24:07.95\00:24:11.13 and knowing the right answers to Bible questions. 00:24:11.16\00:24:13.89 But the kingdom of God is following in the continuing-- 00:24:13.92\00:24:18.76 following in Christ' footsteps 00:24:18.79\00:24:21.22 in the continuing power of God's grace. 00:24:21.25\00:24:24.32 If we ignore God's work of sanctification, 00:24:24.35\00:24:27.95 we are like the foolish virgins of the parable 00:24:27.98\00:24:30.90 calling on His name, 00:24:30.93\00:24:32.82 but refusing to do the will of the heavenly Father. 00:24:32.85\00:24:36.26 Jesus warned such reckless behavior ruins 00:24:36.29\00:24:39.89 any right to enter the kingdom. 00:24:39.92\00:24:42.76 God wants us in heaven, 00:24:42.79\00:24:44.69 but an unholy nature would make us miserable there. 00:24:44.72\00:24:49.00 His plan is to transform our fallen condition 00:24:49.03\00:24:52.65 to prepare us for eternal life with Him. Where? 00:24:52.68\00:24:57.65 2 Peter 3:13 puts it "That in the new heavens 00:24:57.68\00:25:01.74 and the new earth where righteousness dwells." 00:25:01.77\00:25:05.85 We will dwell with God where only righteousness can dwell. 00:25:05.88\00:25:11.92 God's love is the compelling force behind His grace. 00:25:11.95\00:25:17.27 In an upcoming program, 00:25:17.30\00:25:19.44 we will examine how grace provides sanctifying power 00:25:19.47\00:25:24.23 to keep us abiding in Christ, securing our salvation. 00:25:24.26\00:25:28.91 This is such an exciting truth that I can't resist, 00:25:28.94\00:25:32.26 giving you this brief preview of 7 sources, 00:25:32.29\00:25:36.31 by which God sanctified works sanctification into our hearts. 00:25:36.34\00:25:41.36 We are sanctified by "The Heavenly Father, 00:25:41.39\00:25:45.89 The gift of our Lord, Jesus Christ, 00:25:45.92\00:25:49.44 The gift of the Holy Spirit, 00:25:49.47\00:25:52.41 The gift of God's love, 00:25:52.44\00:25:54.99 The gift of the Holy Scriptures, 00:25:55.02\00:25:57.58 The gift of faith 00:25:57.61\00:25:59.77 and the privilege of obedience through God's grace." 00:25:59.80\00:26:05.19 I hope that you'll be able to join us 00:26:05.22\00:26:07.27 for the upcoming programs. 00:26:07.30\00:26:09.75 Truly, this is exciting news. 00:26:09.78\00:26:13.45 You know, Paul quotes Jesus as saying, 00:26:13.48\00:26:16.45 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power, 00:26:16.48\00:26:21.23 He says, is made perfect in weakness." 00:26:21.26\00:26:24.84 Grace is the only way we experience 00:26:24.87\00:26:28.24 the power of God unto complete salvation. 00:26:28.27\00:26:31.41 We absolutely know that righteousness by faith 00:26:31.44\00:26:35.52 is the only kind of righteousness there is. 00:26:35.55\00:26:39.55 The righteousness of Christ imputed to us 00:26:39.58\00:26:43.24 or in other words, 00:26:43.27\00:26:44.64 credited to our account is what justifies us 00:26:44.67\00:26:49.15 and makes it possible for God to declare us 00:26:49.18\00:26:52.20 not guilty at the penalty of sin. 00:26:52.23\00:26:55.11 But the righteousness of Christ that is imparted to us 00:26:55.14\00:26:59.15 or poured into us by the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:26:59.18\00:27:02.86 and Christ living in our hearts 00:27:02.89\00:27:05.40 through faith will sanctify us. Glory to God. 00:27:05.43\00:27:10.83 Join us next time, please, 00:27:10.86\00:27:13.33 as we consider the importance of 00:27:13.36\00:27:16.61 practicing righteousness in our day-to-day lives. 00:27:16.64\00:27:21.19 Righteousness when we receive it is something that 00:27:21.22\00:27:25.61 by faith we can put into action. 00:27:25.64\00:27:28.68 And it is required of us that we do practice righteousness. 00:27:28.71\00:27:34.19 So now our prayer for you 00:27:34.22\00:27:37.18 is that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:27:37.21\00:27:41.35 the love of the Father, 00:27:41.38\00:27:42.75 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 00:27:42.78\00:27:45.35 will be with you always 00:27:45.38\00:27:47.21 and that you will become a sanctification seeker. 00:27:47.24\00:27:52.64 And you will seek the Lord, 00:27:52.67\00:27:55.41 seek to know Him, and grow in grace. 00:27:55.44\00:27:59.30 Thank you for joining us. 00:27:59.33\00:28:01.03