The believer in God’s gospel is justified by faith alone.
But God’s gospel never concludes with justification. To
be declared righteous (not condemned) by faith in the propitiatory
blood of Christ is to be saved from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9).
But God’s gospel also deals with the wreckage of sin in
the believer (Rom. 6-8).
This process of changing the justified believer’s life-style
into the saintly character of Christ Himself is called sanctification.
Sanctification means to be set apart for a holy purpose. Every
believer is sanctified in Christ Jesus i.e., placed into the
body of Christ. But the Spirit of Christ is also placed into
the believer.
- Being placed “in Christ” gives the inherited
blessings of the Son.
- Christ being placed “in you” gives the very
life of the Son.
An example of our positional sanctification in Christ
(past event) would be a mother who sets her fine china apart
in a china cabinet for display and special use. An example of
our practical sanctification of Christ in us (present
event) would be when the mother takes the dishes out and cleans
the dust off for her immediate use.
God’s means for our present sanctification is the new
life of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God’s method of accomplishing
sanctification is renewing the believer’s soul and mind.
The Greek word for soul is “psuche,” sometimes translated
soul, life or mind. “Psuche” is where our modern word
psyche comes from. Psyche means - the spirit or soul functioning
through the mind as the center of thought, emotion and behavior–
and consciously or unconsciously adjusting or mediating the body’s
responses to the social and physical environment.
It is the field of psychology that attempts to deal with a
person’s psyche. The goal is behavior modification.
However, when it comes
to the justified believer, God already has a behavioral program
through Jesus Christ Who is the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls
(psuche), 1Pet. 2:25
God’s program is behavior transformation into
the very image and likeness of the Son of God Himself (2Cor.
3:18). Modification deals with the symptoms but transformation
addresses the root cause. That is why many God-fearing believers
take strong offense to psychology’s (“Christian”
or secular) behavioral modification methods for Christians. Behavioral
change is God’s work specifically detailed in Holy Scripture.
Not only is justification of God but also sanctification.
God's 7 Point Program
for Behavioral Transformation
- Counsel
- Power
- Support Group
- Therapist
- Therapy
- Purpose
- Hope
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The Counsel - Holy Scriptures |
And now, brethren, I commend
you to God, and to the word of his grace, which
is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among
all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32).
Holy Scriptures exhort the believer that they are blessed
when they walk not in the counsel of the ungodly but rather meditate
in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1). It is the living word of God
which, when fed upon by faith, produces counsel for every area
of behavior. God claims His inspired Scriptures are all sufficient
to completely perfect the man or woman of God unto every
good work (2Tim. 3:15-17).
Danger! We hear today that “all truth
is God’s truth, whether revealed or discovered.” Such
a statement infers that there is truth to be discovered outside
Scripture’s revealed interpretation. It is true a
monkey has two eyes and a mouth as we do. The lie is the attempt
to interpret this truth of similarity apart from Scripture
and conclude evolution. When one interprets the observations
of science or psychology, etc., and presents such “discoveries”
as truth, as if it were the same as God’s Scriptures,
is hellish. This is unhealthy and rank subjectivity. It enslaves
the learner to the teacher’s opinion of truth.
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Truth sets one free from self and Satan’s deceptions
(John 8:32). If truth frees, what does error do? The Lord revealed
this about sanctification and truth: “Sanctify them through
thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17).
This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh (Gal 5.16).
The “flesh” is the inbred sin in every believer’s
body. Things such as illicit sexual behavior, selfishness that
harms relationships, substance abuse, dishonesty, idolatry, greed,
and lack of ability to control one’s emotions so one’s
actions are “dysfunctional” (wrath, strife, etc.) are
all described as “the works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19).
There is a sense in which we are born with a “genetic
defect,” prone to certain desires. But it’s not to
be compared to the genetic pool that determines one’s race
and other physical traits. That is unchangeable and a nonmoral
issue which should never be discriminated against. Our inbred
“defect” is called fleshly sin. And God has
provided a solution for those who want it.
The death of Jesus Christ the Lord provides full payment for
the penalty our fleshly sin deserves. The sacrificial blood makes
the believer fully accepted in God’s presence (Heb. 10:19-23).
It is the blood of Christ that cleanses our conscience from guilt
before God.
But when yielded to, it is the indwelling Spirit of God that
empowers every believer to put to death every work of
the flesh to produce behavior that is pleasing to God (Rom. 8:13).
That’s why all good behavior in the believer is called “the
fruit of the Spirit.”
God’s sanctification
not only gives full enlightenment on how to behave but it also
provides the full power to perform that behavior
It’s not that the believer won’t have the lust of
the flesh. It is that he won’t fulfill that lust
when he walks in the Spirit. The desires won’t become deeds.
The fantasies won’t become fruit. The attitude won’t
become action. And the “defect” won’t become “dysfunctional.”
Praise the Lord!
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The Support Group - Church |
“The whole church
be come together in one place ... that all may learn, and all
may be comforted.” (1Cor. 14:23, 21)
One of the key purposes of the local church is for sanctification.
God has given all believers a variety of gifts and callings for
the building up of the body. According to Scripture these gifts
are to operate within the framework and order of the local assembly.
Divinely raised up overseers are there as a pattern of good
behavior. As experienced shepherds, through the Word of God,
they, in mature wisdom, guide the flock to fulfill the purposes
of God. Therefore, the divine objective of growth into Christ-likeness
of character is accomplished in the function of the local assembly.
The average “support group”
is built upon the foundation of common experience. Thus, it is
dependent upon man’s worst– ungodly experiences and
immature feelings as its source of support
God’s support group - the local church - is where God’s
best in truth stimulates godly behavior.
God has also given the local church authority to discipline
the sinning believer. This promotes the fear of God which retards
sinful behavior (Pro. 16:6) and shame which induces repentance
(2Thess. 3:14). This also promotes accountability which acts
as a helpful check and balance on one another. When a believer
comes into the fellowship of a local church, he comes under the
authority of the risen Lord and is accountable to the shepherds
and all the saints for his behavior and beliefs (Matt 18:15-20,
1Cor. 5).
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The Therapist - High Priest |
“We have a great high priest
... Jesus the Son of God ... come ... that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:14,
16)
There are times of trial and testing in the believer’s
life when he requires a source outside of himself to cope. Sometimes
he needs mercy– judgment withheld to maintain his fellowship
with God. Other times he needs grace– favor bestowed to
help him endure and be obedient. Where should the believer go
to find such?
Jesus as man has fully tasted humanity and endured the sufferings
associated with obeying God. Though His pressures did not come
from within for He had no indwelling sin, they did come from
without–Satan. Now in heaven, the Lord Jesus lives to give
help for every need to those who come in faith to God by Him
(Heb.5).
Christ alone as
God and man is most “professionally” qualified
to guide and sustain the believer
“Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the
peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philp.
4:6,7).
Anxiety and stress due to the cares of this life are known
to produce troubled minds and erratic behavior. Yet the unexplainable
peace of God is promised to those who bring their cares to
God in believing prayer. This heavenly peace will safeguard
the heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Minds are preserved
through the peace of God. Peace that might not know the answers
but knows God knows– and that He will faithfully work it
out His way. As Isaiah 26:3 assures: “Thou wilt keep him
in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth
in thee.”
2 Types of Peace
“Peace with God” This is the basis for relationship.
The believer is no longer under the wrath and judgment of God
for his sins. Because of the death of Christ Jesus, God is no
longer “angry” at the sinner. Thus, there is peace
between the two (Rom.5:1).
“Peace of God” This is a quality of mind
and the basis for joyful living. Our Lord referred to it in John
14:27, “my peace I give unto you.” It’s
that inner, quiet assurance– regardless of the outward circumstances–
because you know God is faithful and loves you in Christ.
A believer does
have peace with God and yet might not have the peace of God
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The Purpose - Sovereign Design |
“And we know that all things
work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose” (Rom
8.28).
Purpose. Without it life loses its meaning and depression
will set in. God has a purpose for the believer. It is to conform
him to the very image of His Son (Rom 8:29). The believer will
be like Him not only physically some glad day but also internally–
in spiritual character. It is in this state that we will be united
with the Son in an eternal marriage: two of the same “species”
coming together and co-reigning in the kingdom. This is not behavior
modification but a radical transformation of the inner man by
the Spirit of Christ.
In this grand goal of sanctification God is presented as the
Sovereign designer of our circumstances in life. God is using
them, positive or negative, to conform us to His Son’s image.
He is breaking our pride and self-reliance so that we trust only
Him. It isn’t that all things are good in our life, but
that all things work together for good– for the great
purpose of His calling for us.
It is this bedrock confidence in God’s sovereign workings
that through the annals of time has victoriously carried those
who love God through deep waters.
“He shall appear ... And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure.” (1John 3. 2,3)
This world is hopeless. A person without hope is in despair–
perhaps even suicidal. By hope God does not mean wishful thinking,
like one might say “I hope I get rich.” Rather,
God means anticipation of a future event. Like the hope
of an engaged bride is her wedding day.
The great hope of the believer is the certain coming of the
Lord Jesus for him and then with Him. “Looking for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2.13). The fact
that the Lord’s coming is imminent and instant is designed
to cause the bride to live in joyful anticipation, preparing
herself for Him (Luke 12:31-48). She is occupied with maintaining
her purity for Him on the wedding day. This is sanctification
(2Cor. 11:2, 3).
“Hope deferred
maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree
of life.” (Pro. 13:12)
For almost two thousand years God’s sanctification has
worked for believers. Nothing new is needed today. Nothing else
is better. Nothing else is ordained by God– or works. Give
yourself fully to God’s way.
| Man's Words |
God's Words |
| Disease
- something one catches which needs treatment to cure |
Sin
- acts one does willfully which need forgiveness in the Lord
Jesus Christ |
| Compulsive
Behavior - conduct that overpowers one so he can no longer
help it |
Lust-
something inbred in one’s flesh which walking in the Spirit
can overcome |
| Denial Stage
- when one has a problem but won’t admit it |
Deceived
- seduced by Satan so that you lie to yourself and to God |
| Dysfunctional
- inability to function rightly because of negative circumstances |
Disobedient
- not behaving properly because you don’t want to |
| Victim
- one whose behavior is a result of being wronged by others |
Sinner
- one whose behavior is a choice regardless of environment |
| Recovery
- the time needed to find a program which will produce right
behavior |
Repentance
- the act of confessing and forsaking sin by the Lord’s
grace & power |
| Therapy
- the treatment given to aid one in recovering |
Judgment
- if one won’t judge himself, then the church is to render
judgment |
| Codependency
- when one must use and control another to feel accepted |
Pride
- when one values and puts self above their authorities and others |
| Self-Esteem
- the more one loves himself, the more good one will do for self |
Self-Denial
- denying self and esteeming Christ and others as better than
self |
| Counselling
- information by a trained professional that allows you to decide |
Instruction
- Scriptural truth given that requires it be followed and obeyed |