Roots of the Faith - Sanctification - Ephesians: Growing and Changing - 8/21/24

Sanctification – Ephesians: Growing and Changing

1 Peter 2:1–3 – So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (ESV)

Sanctification: A progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives[1]

Sanctification—specifically progressive sanctification—is the cooperative work of God and Christians by which ongoing transformation into greater Christlikeness occurs.[2]

In this process of sanctification, three points come into focus: The Holy Spirit is highlighted as the person of the Triune God especially responsible for sanctification. The Word of God is emphasized as the instrument through which sanctification occurs. And the community of faith is the context in which sanctification flourishes.[3]

God Wants You to be Changing

The Ephesians had been richly blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1-3)

They had Paul and Timothy as their pastors
Yet, they were told to be growing and changing (Eph. 4:1, 13, 15, 17, 22-24; 5:1)… and you must too!
Change is HARD, but can take place… because God’s commands always assume God’s enablement.

Phil. 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing that He who began a good work in you will complete (perfect) it until the day of Christ.”

Phil. 2:13 “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Relying on Christ’s power (1:19; 2:12, 13) and following His example (2:5; 3:10), Paul is able to face all circumstances with contentment. He wants to impress the same lesson upon his readers (vv. 6, 7, 19).[1]

Therefore, there is great HOPE for those who WANT to change

God Wants You to be Changing to be More Like His Son

Note carefully Eph. 4:1, 15, 24; 5:1 “Be imitators of God as beloved children.”
Consider also Rom. 8:28-29 “…predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”
Col. 1:28 “…in order that we may present every man complete (perfect / mature ) in Christ”
We should be changing to be more and more like Christ in our thoughts, motives, and actions.