Episode 8: Are you being changed into His image?

In this episode Saso and Ben talk about the topic of sanctification. Below are some notes and thoughts directly derived from this episode. Enjoy!

Sanctification Definition

1. The act of making holy. In an evangelical sense, the act of God’s grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God.

God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2. The act of consecrating or of setting apart for a sacred purpose; consecration.

1828 Webster’s Dictionary

The first part of the process is changing from your way to God’s way. Salvation is the changing of the mind and the process to start to walk a new road, and serve a new master

Romans 6:4

I sing a new song
Since Jesus came.
Serve a new master,
Wear a new name.
Walk a new road,
Have a new goal,
Know a new peace,
Down deep in my soul.

I received Christ, but now what? What changes?

• Romans 6:11
• Colossians 3:3

The power that saved is the same power that changes us through the help of the Holy Spirit. We will receive emancipation from the slavery we endured when we were lost.

• John 8:36
• 2 Peter 1:4

We no longer are saddled with the old nature, but we have escaped that corruption.

The word sanctify at it’s basic level, means to set apart. If you are a blood bought child of God, and you have been born again, then you have been sanctified. You’ve been positional set apart in Christ.

Hebrews 10:10

Sanctification is also the act of making holy or another way to phrase it, it is he pursuit of Godliness. We are commanded to continue in this process of holiness.

Philippians 2:12-13

Notice how it’s God that does the work through us. And it’s only possible if you have been regenerated or born again.

If you’ve not received Christ as your Lord and Savior we suggest going back and listening to Episode 6, because if you’ve not been born again, this episode will likely not be a help to you.

Does sanctification mean we are just to be moral nice people? Not entirely. In fact the Pharisees were very moral people.

This is what Jesus said about the pharisees:

Mark 7:6-7

Since God is our standard, let’s begin by talking about God and His holiness. God is holy and He does not need to be sanctified, He already is. God is pure, set apart and separate from us.

Isaiah 45:22

The idea is that God is separate and distinct from His creation. In fact, we are called to be holy because He is Holy.

Leviticus 19:1-2

If we are going to talk about the process of becoming holy, we must know what it is to be holy. Simply put, God is holy and the process of sanctification is to become holy. To focus this idea in a little more, the process of sanctification is to become Christ like. It is not just a rules checklist, or being moral, because there are a lot of people that are morally good. It’s about being like Christ.

Conforming to His image

II Corinthians 5:17

I have accepted the gospel and Jesus is my Lord and Savior so now what?

Romans 8:28-29

The trials, the experiences in life our to conform us to the image of His Son.

Colossians 1:27

Christ indwells the believer and He is our hope and who we should pursue in our life. We should be striving to be like Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:49

We once bore the image of our earthly father (Adam) and now the goal is to bear the image of our Heavenly Father.

2 Corinthians 3:18

We can gain knowledge about our LORD from the glass of the word, His Word causes our face to shine and changes us from the inside out. Are you happy to be saved? Are or you bitter? Why you mad bro?!

Galatians 4:19

Paul spoke to the believers at Galatia and desire that Christ be formed in them. Paul was their spiritual Father and spoke of the “travail” from old man to new man.

Hindrances to Sanctification

It possible to be complacent or to fall into sin which ultimately hinders our sanctification.

Satan does not here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Pastor & Theologian

It’s so true. We are a forgetful people. Just think about the children of Israel. They had seen the miraculous 10 plagues, then rescued from the Egyptians, the parting of the Red Sea and then we read about how they appear to have forgotten God.

Exodus 16:2-3

Then a little later we read about another time when the children of Israel forgot about God leading them into terrible sin.

Exodus 32:1-4

Christian do you forget God? Have you forgotten God’s blessing in your life?

What about David? David was the man after God’s own heart. David wrote 73 of the 150 Psalms. Would you say David was a godly man? Yes, of course. However we read about David’s sin in 2 Samuel 11 with Bathsheba and the murder of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah. Had David forgotten God? Did he forget how God had blessed and preserved him as King during the reign of Saul? Did David forget the countless battles and victories that the Lord had given?

What is it in your life that makes you forget God and fall into sin stunting your Christian growth or sanctification? Is it an idol? Is it some besetting sin?

Sometimes the problem is that we want our get of hell free card benefit, and then we want to live like we want.

Romans 6:1-2

Why is it that pornography in the church is prevalent? I mean like 60-70% of professing Christians in evangelicalism are looking at porn. This includes both men and women. Talk about stunting your Christian growth!

• 1 Thesssalonians 4:3
• James 4:4

Purity is not something people cherish any more. Its almost as if purity or being pure is a negative pursuit.

Matthew 5:8

What about unbelief? This is a tough one. Remember in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve basically lived in a perfect world in the presence of God. But remember, God told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because if he did, he would surly die. Then Satan comes around and what does Satan do? He lies and causes Adam and Eve to disbelieve what God had said about eating from the tree.

What promises are you not trusting God with? Do you not believe that God’s provision is sufficient in your life? Unbelief can prevent a Christian from growing and becoming sanctified.

There are many ways in which we stunt our own Christian growth.
 


The sin of laziness and complacency will most certainly stunt Christian growth. We often get bogged down with life, or distractions and sometimes it’s easier for us to flip on the TV or thumb through YouTube or social media and put our brains on cruise control. Other than the fact that there isn’t much good on TV nor on social media, we should actively be pursuing growth in the faith. It might mean that you are serving in your church, leading your family devotional time, mistering to hurting brother or sister, praying with your kids. The point is to be intentional with your growth rather than allowing the TV to warp your mind.

Revelation 3:15-17

Either we are walking with God in pursuit of being changed into His image or we are in pursuit of our own desires and pleasures. Now is not the time to take a spiritual retirement. We should be about the Father’s business, growing in the faith and carrying out the great commission.

The defeat of our own will and surrender to His will

Job 13:15

Job experienced many trials, but his will was surrendered to the Father

Galatians 2:20

Then too, think of Germany some years ago, full of little Hitlers and all because of fanatical devotion to a second-rate paper hanger! Here in America radio, TV and movies contribute to a rising generation of young people who try to emulate their entertainment heroes. And what of the believer? If we are attracted to this present evil world, we become increasingly wordly; if we pamper and live for self, we become more and more self-centered; but when we look to Jesus Christ, we become more and more like Him.

Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Great Stone Face

Philippians 2:13

What is the work that He is working in us? That we might me like Him!

• 2 Corinthians 4:11
• Philippians 1:21

The death of the Christian is the final pulling of the plug on the flesh, and the new life and the fulfillment of salvation will be realized. Christ is the One who gives us true life, true satisfaction, and true meaning.

James 1:2-4

What is our typical response to trials? Complaining? Why me? Offended? Oppressed? Bad luck?

Take Action!

• Colossians 3:5
• Romans 6:1-2

The life of the Christian cannot be complacent to sin, but we must be active in being dead to sin which sounds funny but is true.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3
• Philippians 2:5

The goal

John 12:20-21

Do you desire to see Jesus or do you run and hide like Adam and Eve? What is your desire? Is your desire for this world or for your Lord and Savior?

Romans 12:1-2

Are you being transformed by the Word of God or is your Bible dusty? What are you thinking about? What are you dwelling on?

Philippians 4:8

Are you thinking on things that are dishonest, not true, or maybe fake news?

Do you blend into the world or do you stand out for Jesus Christ?
 


Have you grown since you were saved? Or have you taken a turn for the worse? 
 


Your growth should be evident to those around you as once you are filled with the Spirit, there is no denying it in your life.

Ephesians 5:18

May we be changed into His image and filled with the Spirit, Amen!

Be sure to checkout the Changed into His Image book by Dr. Jim Berg.