Sanctification
Yesterday we dealt with the issues of justification. Today we will focus on sanctification. Romans 6 is all about sanctification.
Sanctification is the activity of God, which liberates the Christian from the power of sin. Justification imputes the righteousness of God to man. Sanctification imparts the righteousness of God through man.
Concerning our justification, we were joined to the Person and work of Christ so that we participated in the death of Christ for our sins. He died in our place as our substitute. But concerning our sanctification, Christ died to sin. In Christ’s work of justification, He delivered us from the penalty of sin; but in the death of Christ was also accomplished our sanctification, whereby He delivered us from the power of sin.
Romans 6:1-4(NIV) What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
&:8-9 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
Based on our position in Christ, Paul clarifies that we cannot continue in our sin. Romans 6:12-13(AMP) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts and passions. Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God.
We are now living in Christ, and our focus is on Christ, His will, His desires and not our own will.
The attitudes for Sanctification
- The first attitude – consider yourself dead to sin. Recon yourself.
Romans 6:11(AMP) Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.
We are united in the likeness of Christ, Romans 6: 5(NIV) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Our old sinful self has been crucified, Romans 6:6(NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
We should no longer be slaves to sin, Romans 6:6b-7(NIV) so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Christ’s single death to sin resulted in the death of sin and the end of death itself, Romans 6:8-10(NIV) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives he lives to God.
The ongoing activity of Christ, the life he lives he lives to God gives us the model of eternal purpose and the assurance of a living Saviour who ever lives to fulfil the plan of God of us, Romans 6:11(NIV) In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
- The second attitude, Yield
The definition of yield, according to the Merriam-Webster, is “to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another: hand over possession of. : to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit. : to relinquish one’s possession of (something, such as a position of advantage or point of superiority) yield precedence.”
Romans 6:12-14(AMP) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts and passions. Do not go on offering members of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness. But offer yourselves to God [in a decisive act] as those alive [raised] from the dead [to a new life], and your members [all of your abilities—sanctified, set apart] as instruments of righteousness [yielded] to God. For sin will no longer be a master over you, since you are not under Law [as slaves], but under [unmerited] grace [as recipients of God’s favor and mercy].
- The third attitude, Serve
We don’t serve sin anymore, but we serve Christ, Romans 6:15-16(AMP) What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we are not under Law, but under [God’s] grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either [slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (right standing with God)?
Because the believer has a new relationship with God, he likewise has a new relationship with sin. We are now not slaves to sin anymore but to Christ. Our position has changed from sinners to Believers. Children of God, through Jesus.
Romans 6:17-18(AMP) But thank God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose].
Our practices have changed.
Now the Believer, who is no longer enslaved to the flesh and has the Holy Spirit and a new regenerated life, can break the chains of sinful habits and live righteously. Not only are we justified, but also the process of sanctification has started.
Romans 6:19-22(AMP) I am speaking in [familiar] human terms because of your natural limitations [your spiritual immaturity]. For just as you presented your bodily members as slaves to impurity and to [moral] lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now offer your members [your abilities, your talents] as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification [that is, being set apart for God’s purpose]. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness [you had no desire to conform to God’s will]. So what benefit did you get at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None!] For the outcome of those things is death! But now since you have been set free from sin and have become [willing] slaves to God, you have your benefit, resulting in sanctification [being made holy and set apart for God’s purpose], and the outcome [of this] is eternal life.
We now enter the promise; we enter our final destiny. An eternal life with Christ, Romans 6:23(AMP) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I conclude with J.C Ryle: “In justification the word to be addressed to man is believe — only believe; in sanctification the word must be ‘watch, pray, and fight.”