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New Hampshire Confession of Faith #10

Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

John 17:17 

X. OF SANCTIFICATION

We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means especially the Word of God, self-examination, self denial, watchfulness, and prayer. 

  1. THE GOAL OF SANCTIFICATION
    1. Christlike Character
      1. A misunderstanding of this doctrine has created many denominations, especially those of the Methodist and Pentecostal persuasion.
      2. But this should not hinder our preaching on sanctification. Baptists should not be afraid of sanctification.
      3. We are not expecting only a heavenly home; we are seeking to be more like Christ each day we live for him.
    2. Nearness and Fellowship With God
      1. Since man is not sovereign as God is, he must rely upon God for his strength. This brings us closer to him.
        1. Psalms 73:28 But [it is] good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
        2. Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
      2. We are commanded to the holiness of God
        1. Psalms 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
        2. Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.


  2. THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION
    1. It Is A Process of "setting apart."
      1. Psalms 4:3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
    2. It Is A Process of Purification
      1. 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:
    3. It Is A Process of Enabling
      1. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
    4. It Is A Process of Progress To Higher Privilege, Joy, Love and Fellowship
      1. 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.
      2. The word "renew" is the Greek anakainos and means "to be new again."



  1. THE OBLIGATION OF SANCTIFICATION
    1. Sanctification Is A Duty As Well As A Privilege
      1. As a privilege it can be neglected
        1. 1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
        2. Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];
      2. As a duty we are impressed to know the will of God
        1. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
    2. Sanctification Is Progressive
      1. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
      2. 2 Corinthians 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver [us];
      3. 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.
    3. Sanctification Is Begun In Regeneration
      1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
      2. 2 Peter 3:17-18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.
    4. Sanctification Is Performed In The Heart
      1. Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.
      2. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
      3. This fruit comes from the working of God on the heart by the Spirit of God, not from the person in his actions.


  2. THE DIVINE AGENT IN SANCTIFICATION
    1. Done By The Holy Spirit
      1. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
      2. The Holy Spirit dwells in the believers
        1. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
        2. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
    2. Powered By The Holy Spirit
      1. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
      2. 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
      3. 2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
      4. 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:
    3. Sealed By The Holy Spirit
      1. Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
      2. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.


  3. HUMAN AGENT IN SANCTIFICATION
    1. The Believer Is Not Passive But Active In Daily Sanctification
      1. In original sanctification at the time of salvation, the believer is passive.
      2. But in day-do-day sanctification, the believer is not completely passive.
      3. He is sanctified as he surrenders himself to God's will (Rom. 12:1-2), as he worships, and as he works in the Lord's Kingdom.
    2. The Believer Must Have A Self-examination.
      1. 1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup.
      2. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
    3. The Believer Must Have A Self-denial
      1. Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
    4. The Believer Must Be Watchful
      1. 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
      2. Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
      3. Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
      4. Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
      5. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
      6. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
      7. Why watch? - 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
    5. The Believer Must Pray
      1. Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
      2. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

 

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