The Life Side. The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually, but instantly once I enter by faith into the realization that He “became for [me] . . . sanctification . . . .” Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life.The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is “Christ in you . . .” (Colossians 1:27). It is His wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification— imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His Word?Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ to me. It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy— it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him, and that He now exhibits in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is something altogether different. The perfection of everything is in Jesus Christ, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfect qualities of Jesus are at my disposal. Consequently, I slowly but surely begin to live a life of inexpressible order, soundness, and holiness— “. . . kept by the power of God . . .” (1 Peter 1:5)._______________________________________________________________

 

June 23, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, surrender is not an easy thing to learn. It is not easy to discover that I cannot be the person I would like to be, even with Your help; I must surrender completely. And today You taught us that perhaps one of the most debilitating things we learn is how to “imitate” or “go through the motions” of being more like Jesus. We go to church, Bible studies, engage in service to and for others, but even and sometimes especially within those activities can confuse our connection with obligation, or responsibility. Thank You for teaching us that our spiritual activities are the byproducts of our allowing You to live through us.

And God says…”I came to give you life and life more abundantly, not obligation, responsibility and guilt.  As the song says…”This is where the healing and your sanctification begins”; in the knowledge that you are not (and never will be) able to be good enough to be a child of God. Your efforts to be “good enough” simply replace one kind of bondage with another. You are free when you realize that I come to live within you and will guide you in all things. All you need to do is to surrender to Me. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you need, including the power and strength and grace of Jesus will be provided. The abundant Christian life is not a series of things you do, or behaviors you demonstrate or give up. Surrender is where the healing and sanctification begins. The abundant Christian life is Jesus living inside of you. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”