Study of the Holy Spirit (5)

Sanctifying Work of Holy Spirit

Jim Davis

We noticed in our first study of the Holy Spirit that He gives life to matter. He not only gives life but sustains all the living creation. The laws of reproduction and life are derived from him. The Holy Spirit not only imparts and sustains life in the physical world but he also gives and sustains the life of God's spiritual creation in Jesus Christ. This is done through his sanctifying work.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

1 Peter 1:1-3
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (NIV)

Webster's dictionary says the word "sanctify" simply means to set apart for a sacred purpose; to free from sin. Christians are called saints because they have been set apart by the Holy spirit as a result of their belief in the truth. Therefore, we begin to see that the Holy Spirit's work involves keeping us set apart for God's sacred purpose of salvation. The Spirit endeavors to keep us free from sin as He leads, guides and instructs us through the Word of God. It is the Spirit that gives the Word of God life as it is implanted in humble hearts.

James 1:21-22
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (NIV)

I. How does the Holy Spirit Sanctify?

A. Sanctification is something that is bestowed upon us. The word "saint" is derived from "sanctification". Becoming a saint is done as the Holy Spirit gives a new birth and sets us apart for God's holy calling. Sainthood is not something we earn, but rather is done by the sanctifying work of God as we surrender to the Spirit's instruction.

John 17:17, 19-20
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth . . . For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (NIV)

B. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God.

Acts 20:32
"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (NIV)

Romans 15:15-16
I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

C. The sanctifying work of the Spirit does not eliminate our obedience.

1. Sanctification of the Spirit takes place as we believe the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

2. Although we are obedient, it is still the work of the Spirit to sanctify or set us apart.

Psalms 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NIV)

3. The Spirit cannot sanctify us without our cooperation in obedience.

Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' (NIV)

D. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us by placing the seal of his presence upon us.

Ephesians 1:13-14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of his glory. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (NIV)

1. The purpose of God's seal is for protection as it was in Ezekiel and Revelation.

Ezekiel 9:3-5
Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it." As I listened, he said to the others, "Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. (NIV)

Revelation 7:3-4, 9
"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel . . . After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (NIV)

2. It is with God's Spirit that we are sealed for redemption. The presence of the Spirit in our hearts seals us as God's children.

Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)

Romans 8:8-9
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (NIV)

II. The Spirit's Ongoing Work of Sanctification.

A. The work of the Holy Spirit is to give us life.

Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (NIV)

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (NIV)

B. Sanctification is a progressive ongoing work, which continues throughout the Christian's life. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to keep us sanctified or set apart. We noted last week that the gift of the Holy Spirit that Peter promised on Pentecost was simply the gift of spiritual life that is promised to all for all time. (Acts 2:38-39)

1. Upon our obedience God sends his Spirit to reside in our hearts. Our obedience is brought about by the teaching of the Holy Spirit through the gospel message, but when we obey that message the Holy Spirit takes up his residence in our hearts and we are begotten of God as the Holy Spirit sets us apart to be saved.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (NIV)

2. The sanctifying work of the Spirit is to complete God's work within us.

Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV)

3. The Holy Spirit contunes to guide us into all truth through the teaching of the apostles. I realize that the following scriptures are spoken to the disciples, but the Holy Spirit continues to do these through the Scriptures.

John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (NIV)

John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV)

C. The Holy Spirit strengthens our inner being as we struggle to do the will of God. Listen to Paul's prayer.

Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV)

2 Timothy 4:17
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. (NIV)

C. The Holy Spirit leads us in sanctification. The Word of God is not given to us to impart facts; it is given to us to impart the life of the Spirit. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit uses to penetrate our hearts to reveal the secrets of our hearts. Holy Spirit sanctifies us as he gives us wisdom.

Romans 8:13-14
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (NIV)

1. God's regenerating power takes place through the Word.

Ephesians 5:25-28
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (NIV)

2. I sincerely believe that the Spirit of God gives us wisdom to understand the application of God's word to our lives as we sincerely seek to know God's will.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (NIV)

D. The Spirit helps us in our weakness. The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf and makes request for our lives that are in keeping with the will of God and that will keep us in the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)

E. The Holy Spirit sanctifies Christians by enabling them to reproduce the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (NIV)

F. The Holy Spirit seeks to continue his work of sanctification by bearing witness with our consciences provided they are trained with a knowledge of the Word of God.

Romans 9:1-2
I speak the truth in Christ-- I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. (NIV)

Romans 8:16
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 1:12
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace. (NIV)

1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (NIV)

I John 3:21
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God (NIV)

Conclusion:

It doesn't matter how powerful the life giving Holy Spirit of God is, He cannot impart life to anyone without their cooperation. We have the power to sear our conscience and resist being filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17-18
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (NIV)

1 Thes 5:22-24
Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. (NIV)