Sanctification is sometimes understood as the progress that the Christian goes through after conversation until death in which the Christian grows in Christlikenss. We like to fit sanctification into our nice ordo salutis (some latin phrase for “the order of salvation”) between justification and glorification.

But another way of understanding sanctification is the working out of holiness within our lives. Sanctification refers to your holy nature before God throughout the redemptive drama and throughout the believer’s life. Hence sanctification can be divided into five categories: (1) Determined Sanctification; (2) Provisional Sanctification; (3) Positional Sanctification; (4) Progressive Sanctification; (5) Eschatological Sanctification.

Determined Sanctification

Your sanctification and your holiness were determined by God before the foundation of the world.… Continue reading

Psalm 118 reminds me of my youth pastor days. I’d never been river rafting and thought it would be a great opportunity to hang out with students on a father/son rafting trip in the Kern River. Our adventure began on a “less perilous” portion of the river, but we gradually made it to the “Tombstone and Sock ‘em Dog rapids.” (Good video if the sound is off). As our confidence increased it was time to “man-up” to “Thunder Run.” By day’s end our trusty guide was no longer available so I was “volunteered” to guide the raft through “Thunder Run,” Oorah!… Continue reading

As ‘Mericans we love our individualism. Historically we like it when we get to do what we want when we want to do it (which has lead to some bad foreign policy decisions over last couple hundred years admittedly). I mean our country was founded on a spirit of rebellion not submission after all. Some of you non-Americans are nodding your head. But as humans we like getting our way and we like being in control. This why when it comes to God we so often struggle with seeing Him as sovereign because the natural implication is that we are not in control.… Continue reading