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The
Perseverance of the Saints -- Part 2 Our Response to the Spirit’s Sanctifying Work, (2 Thess.
2:13-15) By Jay Wegter INTRODUCTION – The world has a definition of freedom and happiness that
is divorced from holiness in the Lord.
Since the Fall of us all in our first parents, the human race has
worshipped and served the creation instead of the Creator (Rom. 1:25). At salvation, we become new creatures with new desires.
We were changed from worshippers of the creation, to worshippers of the
Creator. As a result, salvation is
sanctification. For sanctification
means that the believer is set apart for
God. The Christian is set apart for God, and set apart from the
world to be a worshipper of God (1
Cor. 6:13-20). Therefore salvation entails a new relationship with God and a new
relationship toward the world. As the
reality of our salvation relationships is lived out, we are progressively sanctified by God’s
Spirit. To the degree that the believer
cooperates with God’s purposes in sanctification, he will experience joy,
peace, assurance, growth in grace and perseverance. A Christian’s devotion to God’s purpose in sanctification is referred
to in Romans 12:1 as his “reasonable” or “rational” service of worship. It is “rational” to devote oneself to
sanctification because we were saved for the purpose of enjoying God. And it is impossible to enjoy God without
holiness! At our justification, we received the perfect status of adoption before
God. Every barrier that blocked the
reception of God’s love was removed at justification. We ought to regard sanctification as taking our justification
seriously, for sanctification prepares us to live with God forever. Application – Discuss the reasons
why holiness in the Lord is the only true happiness. Note the following connections between holiness and happiness. 1.)
Humans were made for
God. Salvation restores that created purpose.
An idol or “false integration point” cannot bring joyful unity to the
soul of man. 2.)
It is unspeakable joy, pleasure and peace to possess a conscience that
is clear enough to reflect the face of the Creator. It is only the clear conscience that possesses a boundless
capacity for the reception of God’s love. 3.) Truth and beauty are joined.
The highest beauty is God’s holiness.
When the
creature is holy,
he is able to look upon God’s holiness and be ravished by it. 4.) Holiness is
to be lifted out of self-consciousness, self-concern and selfishness.
To be perfected
in holiness is to possess a limitless for passion for God’s glory. 5.) The Lord is
the habitation of righteousness. Gospel
holiness brought to full fruition involves being an eternal
partaker in the righteousness of God. Holiness rejoices that God shares His
own righteousness with His redeemed creatures. 6.) It is the
holy individual who becomes an unhindered channel of God’s love. The “wine” of heaven is to endlessly
experience God’s love passing through one’s soul as it is expressed to others. SALVATION IS A
COMPREHENSIVE WORD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13, all Scripture citations from the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996. In modern
Christianity, the term “salvation” is often used only to mean deliverance from
eternal judgment. By contrast, Scripture
emphasizes the completeness and comprehensiveness of salvation. God saves us from sin, misery, guilt,
pollution, wrath, death and corruption.
In the Bible, the person who is “being saved” manifests a liberty from
the dominion of sin. Eternal life is
the OUTCOME of a life of overcoming sin and serving righteousness through
Christ (Rom. 6:22,23). As with every
true believer, the Thessalonians were CHOSEN by God for salvation. The decree of election connects the ends (salvation), with the means (sanctification). The saints are elected unto holiness. God has
chosen us that we might be holy. Those
who are truly the elect of God will not fail to achieve that end by God’s grace
(Eph. 1:4). Believers are
“beloved by the Lord.” They owe their
preservation to Christ’s effectual love in shepherding and preserving their
souls. They owe their stability in
persevering to the election of grace. Application – God will not forsake the work of His
hands! Where He has begun a work, He
will perfect unto the day of salvation (Phil. 1:6). Those who are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit will persevere
to the end. GOD BRINGS ABOUT
OUR SALVATION BY MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION BY THE SPIRIT AND FAITH IN THE TRUTH. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren
beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for
salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth (2
Thessalonians 2:13). Those chosen for
salvation as the end and goal are prepared for it by sanctification. Sanctification is the necessary means to
obtain that end. This salvation which
becomes our possession, is THROUGH sanctification by the work of the Holy
Spirit. Sanctification is a process. It
causes the believer to be increasingly detached from the world and increasingly
devoted to Christ. Application – Sanctification is never offered as an
option. Sanctification is the will of
God for all Christians (1 Thess. 4:3-8).
SANCTIFICATION
IS A GIFT BY CHRIST AND HIS WORK ON OUR BEHALF. BUT THIS GIFT
PLACES A HEAVY OBLIGATION UPON US AS BELIEVERS. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren
beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for
salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth (2 Thessalonians
2:13). Christians are
under obligation to be active in the
power of God (Rom. 8:12-17). They are
to put to death the deeds of the
flesh and reckon themselves alive to
God and dead to the misdeeds of the
flesh (Rom. 6:11-13). This obligation
is in total agreement with our new nature.
For God has quickened our reason, wills and affections that they may be
put to work in sanctification. The Holy Spirit
sanctifies us. He communicates the
benefits of Christ and His death to us.
The power of the cross is active in both justification and sanctification. Faith accepts Christ’s work as the ground of
both (See Romans 6, 1 Cor. 1:30, Heb. 2:11; 12:2). Application – We are dependent upon Christ for our
sanctification. We are to cry to Him as
our merciful High Priest. He willingly
gives us new measures of mercy and sanctifying grace (Heb. 4:15,16). Jesus told His disciples, “apart from Me you
can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Sanctification
is born out of union with Christ.
Sanctification is so related to Christ that one cannot receive it but by
communion with Him. (When we exercise
faith in the truth of Christ we are communing with Him.) THE HOLY SPIRIT
WORKS UPON US SO THAT OUR WILLS, OUR MINDS AND OUR AFFECTIONS GIVE VITAL,
ACTIVE CONSENT TO THE TRUTH REVEALED IN CHRIST. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren
beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for
salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth (2
Thessalonians 2:13). Just as we
received justification by faith in Christ, so also we receive sanctification’s
progress by faith in Christ. It is
ongoing faith in the truth of God’s Word that sanctifies us (Jn. 17:17). When the truth is believed and loved, it
dominates exceptionally in all areas of one’s life. The believer’s
relationship to God’s truth goes far beyond assent and admiration. The true Christian loves the truth so as to
be transformed by it. The truth becomes
central in his thoughts, meditations, affections and decisions. Application – The saints are commanded to work out
their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12,13). But this is not to suggest that our activity
in sanctification is a legal or law work.
Actually, our progress is purely evangelical. That is, it is gospel based.
All of our advancement in holiness flows from the cross. The “fear and
trembling” has to do with the awesome proposition that the God of the universe
is intimately at work in our thinking, desiring and willing. It is a fearful and wonderful thing to
recognize that He is constantly willing to animate our obedience. It is also as cause for fear and self-watch
to consider that our flesh may resist the operations of the Spirit. We are warned not to place ourselves in
peril by neglecting the means of grace (Heb. 2:3; 10:22-25). Review the duties commanded of all believers
(attention to the Word, prayer, the
Lord’s Supper and fellowship). THE EFFECTUAL
CALL OF THE GOSPEL IS UNTO HONOR, HAPPINESS AND THE GLORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. It was for
this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14). It is the
gracious will of our Savior that the glory He possesses and the glory He has
purchased be communicated to those believe in Him and obey His gospel. Those who believe and repent shall be with
Christ to behold His glory and they shall be glorified with Christ and partake
of His glory. The everlasting life we
possess now will have its fulfillment in the redemption of our bodies. God calls us to heaven. He expects us to run the race set before us
with endurance. Application – Consider the relationship between our
progress in holiness and the level of our desire to be with the Lord (see 2
Cor. 4:16-5:10; Rom. 8:23-25; Phil. 3:20,21; 1 Pet. 1:3-9; 1 Jn.
2:28-3:3). THE LORD EXHORTS
US TO “STAND FAST” AND NOT TO WAVER.
MANY OBSTACLES STAND IN THE WAY OF OUR SANCTIFICATION. So then,
brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether
by word of mouth or by letter from us (2 Thessalonians 2:15). We must lean
heavily upon the Lord in order to lay aside our doubts and fears and stand fast
(Rom. 14:4; 1 Cor. 16:13). God’s
election is NOT a ground for inaction on our part. God’s choice of us is the strongest incentive to action and
perseverance. Scripture always joins
privilege and duty. (You have an
anointing, now abide in Him, 1 John
2:27,28.) Since life and favor are
assured to us in Christ, then we are to live for Him, depending upon His
promised installments of future grace.
(Review the privileges of 2 Thess. 2:13-15.) Application – The Christian is justified that he might
be sanctified. Now that he possesses
righteousness in Christ and is assured of immutable love and favor, he can
pursue sanctification with complete abandon.
There is no cause for fear of failure. Unlike the
believer, the unregenerate man possesses no such position or status before
God. He or she is yet in a state of
moral paralysis. Their sins remind them
of their liability to judgment before God.
Their moral failures stir up their enmity toward God. Their guilt presses a sense of God’s
disfavor upon their consciences. As a
result, they have no incentive or power to pursue holiness. They need to see the beauty and preciousness
of Christ, the Friend of sinners. Every
unbeliever is a stranger to grace.
Therefore the pursuit of God’s holiness sounds to him like trying to
build a ladder to the moon. A SUMMARY OF
REASONS WHY THE SCRIPTURES CALL FOR PERSEVERANCE. 1.) Perseverance is necessary because the
Christian life is a fight (James 1:12; Heb. 3:6; Acts 14:21,22). We are called to be overcomers. We are to live out Christ’s victory in our
life and walk (1 Pet. 2:21). 2.) Perseverance is a necessity because it is
a vital safeguard against presumption.
Those who profess Christ are warned against the prospect of
self-deception (Eph. 5:1-6). 3.) Perseverance is necessary because
hypocrites walk for a time, become careless, then fall away (Matt.
13:18-23). God uses exhortations to
perseverance to admonish and awaken diligence and holy fear in the saints. It is God’s way of instilling
sober-mindedness. 4.) Perseverance is necessary because it such
a revealer of your relationship with God’s truth (Col. 1:9-14). 5.) Perseverance is necessary because it is
genuine faith in action. Perseverance
is the opposite of a mystical, privitized religion that remains locked in the
corner of one’s soul. When Christ
returns, He will find His people pressing along the path of duty and using the
means of grace (1 Pet. 4:7). |
