Is Sanctification God's Effort Or Our Effort? (from Desiring God)

Michael Johnson at Desiring God (desiringgod.org) made this short post yesterday:

Philippians 2:12-13—

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Jonathan Edwards writes,

In efficacious grace we are not merely passive, nor yet does God do some and we do the rest. But God does all, and we do all. God produces all, we act all. For that is what produces, viz. [namely] our own acts. God is the only proper author and fountain; we only are the proper actors. We are in different respects, wholly passive and wholly active.     (The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 2, p. 557)

John Piper writes,

…it is a good fight because we are not left to our own strength in the fight. If we were, as Martin Luther says, "Our striving would be losing." In other words, when a child of God fights for joy in God, God himself is the one behind that struggle, giving the will and the power to defeat the enemy of joy (Philippians 2:12-13). We are not left to ourselves to sustain the joy of faith. God fights for us and in us. Therefore the fight of faith is a good fight.

God's work in us does not eliminate our work; it enables it. We work because he is the one at work in us. Therefore, the fight for joy is possible because God is fighting for us and through us. All our efforts are owing to his deeper work in and through our willing and working.   (When I Don't Desire God, pp. 38, 41)

From http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/is-sanctification-gods-effort-or-our-effort--2

Growing In Repentance and Faith

Repentance and Faith are not one-time events at conversion. We must continue and grow and be stretched through continual repentance of sin and faith in Christ as God shapes us to look like Christ (Romans 8:29).

I think it's easier for us to relate to the repentance part of this. We understand that we are continually being shown one layer of sin at a time by the Lord; we repent and are cleansed, and then another layer is revealed to us. 1 John 1:9 - we confess our sin, he is merciful and just to forgive us and cleanse us.

Perhaps it is more difficult to see that we also must grow in faith. Hebrews 10 shows us the difference between 'drawing near' to God in faith, and 'shrinking back' or drifting from God through lack of faith.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”                Hebrews 10:19-25

BECAUSE of Jesus and his work for us on the cross, the shedding of his blood for our sins, and his resurrection, exaltation and continued high priestly ministry for us in heaven - we should have CONFIDENCE (not self-confiedence but Christ-confidence), DRAWING NEAR to God through him, HOLDING FAST the confession (speak it) of our hope WITHOUT WAVERING. why? "for he who promised is faithful." As we ourselves stand firm in faith we stir up the brothers. This describes a life of drawing near in faith. GROWTH in faith. Stretching in faith.

Then Hebrews 10 takes this up again a few verses later:

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:35-39

We are admonished not to throw away our confidence. We are reminded of the reward and told that we have need of endurance (of faith). Then the author quotes Habakkuk's call to live by faith (not a one-time action but a lifestyle that perseveres in believig God even in the midst of severe trials, according to the context of Habakkuk). This is all contrasted with shrinking back. God has no pleasure in those who shrink back (give up, do not persevere in faith), as Hebrews 11 also points out that without faith it is impossible to please God (v6).

Abraham is an example of one who grew in his faith rather than shrinking back. In Romans 4, Paul sets Abraham forth as THE example of faith. Here is the description:

“In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:18-21

Application

1. Is there an area in your life right now were God wants to grow your repentance?
2. Is there an area in your life where God wants to grow your faith? Step out, stretch, learn to trust God in new areas.

Grow in repentance and faith and give glory to God!

How to Live for God

Christians, churches and ministries usually have a lot to say about how to become a Christian. But what next? How does the Christian live for God? Usually all we are taught on this subject is a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps," "try harder" message. The message we hear seems to be, "You were saved by faith. Now live for God by trying. You can do it!" Sermons abound giving us 7 steps to victorious living, 4 principles to overcoming sin, etc. This all amounts to saying we come to Christ by faith, but live for God by law.

But the gospel is for the BELIEVER also! Yes, we are justified by faith. But we are also sanctified by faith! The same gospel that saves the sinner, sanctifies the saint (Terry Simpson). But what does this mean practically? How do you live for God? You live for God by...dying.

Victoria Osteen has a new book called Love Your Life (pictured above). But what does Jesus say? "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:25, ESV). Jesus' call is not a call to fulfill self, but to deny self (Luke 9:23) and take up our cross. Taking up our cross does not refer to drearily accepting difficult situations. Taking up our cross means believing the gospel!

The gospel tells us that Christ died for us. If he has died for us, then the benefit goes to our account. For example, if I payed your house payment for you next month it would be credited to your account, not mine. I don't have a debt with your bank, you do! Jesus did not have a debt with God (he never sinned); we did. Jesus died for us. This means that WE are accounted as dead. Dead to sin (Romans 6:1-14). This is not speculation; this is TRUE for the believer. It is true that we are dead to sin, because Jesus died for us. So we must believe this report God has given us and count ourselves dead to sin because of the gospel. This is taking up our cross.

The flip side of this is the resurrection. Since we died with Christ, we also are raised with him to new life! It is no longer us, but Christ (Galatians 2:20)! Our flesh hates this message. It wants to live. Our flesh is sneaky and deceptive. It will even do good things; even serve the Lord (temporarily) if we will only let it live! It will pretend to obey God. Then when our guard is down: BAM! Back to the sin which so easily entangles. The flesh cannot be improved (That which is born of the flesh is flesh," John 3:6, ESV). God has only one answer for the flesh: it must die. It must be crucified. This was accomplished spiritually when Christ died for us at the cross; it is realized practically and experientially day by day as we believe the gospel, yield to Christ and count ourselve dead to sin and alive to God (Col 3:1-14).

How do you live for God? Try harder?? That only results in failure and frustration. We CAN'T live for God. The only thing God accepts is Jesus. Jesus can live for God (and has... and does daily through us as we yield). Paul was so upset with the Galatians because they started out in faith and then went to the flesh: "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Gal 3:3, ESV). They were adding the Jewish law to faith in Christ. We may not add the Jewish law, but we add our own laws ("I'll memorize the New Testament...THEN I'll be holy.")

How do we live for God? We can't. God's answer is the gospel. We died in Christ and we believe that and walk in it daily. We can walk in victory over sin and glorious obedience to God through faith in Christ and him crucified...the same way we were justified! Praise God! It is all him, from start to finish. Salvation is of the Lord.