Grace Bible Church

What is progressive sanctification? It's a myth if by the term you mean that the objects of GOD'S grace somehow become more and more intrinsically holy; that somehow they become more and more spiritual, and that somehow they become less and less sinful!

The man or woman that will speak of how holy they feel or act has not seen GOD at any time, and is not in process being sanctified.

A true sanctifying experience begins with conversion, or regeneration, and works exactly the opposite of that which alleges an abounding holiness experience. True, deeds are more readily subdued; but subdued and eradicated are two different things altogether. Men and women born of the spirit of GOD, groan rather than gloat. They grieve at the extent to which corruption has so contaminated their every faculty, "Children who will not lie". We are ashamed at how sinful we are in our most holy duties. And rejoice that GOD does not see it! And they pray for more grace!

All of the holy men of old fell on their faces before GOD confessing their corruption and vileness. Listen to the holy man Daniel, "Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength."

When He saw GOD everything He imagined to be comely, holy if you will, spiritual revealed itself for what it was in the sight of his GOD, corruption.

Now that's progress!

To see GOD as He is, is to see Him in all of his righteousness, and thus see yourself in all of your corruption, as you really are. Now that's holiness!

Listen to Job, a perfect man: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" Job 42vs5.

Now that's progress!

Consider again the publican, He with his head bowed down smote his breast, the source of his own evil, and said GOD be a mercy seat for me, the sinner. Put my sin away by the shed blood of your darling Son, and give my conscience peace. This is the person that goes home after true worship justified in the conscience.

Now that's progress!

Holiness is necessary to see GOD. Our Holiness is Jesus Christ. He has clothed us with his righteousness. GOD looks on us through Christ and says, "it is good". That's all. Just read the book!

1cor 1vs 30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made un to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

What is my objective here? To tell you the truth; that you might be free.

Sinner saved by free and sovereign grace take your refuge in him who sanctified you all at once, Heb 10vs10. And when He sanctified you, you were constituted perfect and fit for glory upon regeneration, Heb 10vs14.

This perfect sanctification did not occur as a result of your good works, efforts or acceptance of GOD'S salvation. But, rather, as Christ your surety stood in your place to magnify GOD'S law, and make it honorable, He bestowed upon you the merit of perfect obedience, thus making you perfect in him. We are accepted in the beloved and complete in Christ lacking nothing Col 2vs10.

The experience of sanctification likewise was not a consequence of your duty or deserving, but GOD in power, according to His glorious power sanctified you by His Spirit in the gospel and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ upon your heart and conscience. So that now through the obedience of faith you appear to be one of GOD'S elect children of 1peter1vs2, Heb10vs22.

The joy then of the believer is to be found in the promise of GOD, that He will work in us the will and to do of His good pleasure, Phil 2vs12.

That we are to put off the old man with it's lust, putting on the new; that we are to mortify therefore our members which are upon the earth; give no occasion for the flesh; bring our bodies into subjection; walking in the Spirit and not the flesh; growing in grace and in the knowledge of the LORD; setting our affections on things above, where Christ is, having Crucified the flesh, this we will do, if indeed we are born again. For so is the incorruptible seed in us. It will bear these fruits of itself, Gen 1vs12.

But this is not becoming more and more holy. It is simply living the life of holiness. Christ in us the hope of glory. And these wonderful and marvelous imperatives will never be so brilliant in us as to obscure the sin that has the believer unto the day of his full adoption rights, saying "Oh wretched man that I am."

I thank GOD that Christ is my Sanctification!  

Don't you?