Today we will start in Romans 15:14-16 as we look at the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of a believer. As you read this passage you will see that Paul is concerned that the Gentile Christians live a life that is pleasing to God. In this context he reminds them that they are “sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
The word “sanctify” or “sanctification” is the process by which one is made holy. Though the word may sound strange, it really focuses on separating someone for God’s purposes. The holy person now belongs to God.
This word is related to the word “saint.” When we hear the word, we are tempted to think that it can only refer to a small number of people within the church who do miracles and such. However, throughout the New Testament “saint” is used to describe anyone who has believed on Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. At that moment they are instantaneously given spiritual life and become God’s possession. Thus being holy or set apart has an immediate aspect in which we do nothing but believe on Jesus. God looks upon us and sees us covered by the work of Jesus. We now belong to him. Thus we are holy.
However, there is a progressive side to this. The Holy Spirit continues to work in our life every day to make us more like Jesus. We see this in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
It is clear in the Thessalonians passage that God expects us to be careful how we live. Why? This is the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in us. He is sanctifying us and making us to look like Jesus. Thus if we really trust and love Jesus we should do all we can to cooperate with this process. As much as we may like, God is not going to miraculously do the work of fighting against our flesh ourselves. For every testimony of miraculous deliverance from a specific temptation are umpteen other places where God required that person to battle with the giants in their life. One day we will stand before Jesus and be rewarded for the things done for Him while in this flesh.
Thus this difficult truth: my cooperation will be over the top of the desires of my flesh. Our flesh is hostile to the things of God and when we come to Christ it is over the top of the fears and desires of our flesh. Even after we have embraced faith in Jesus, our flesh can subvert that faith by encasing itself in a shell of "accepted religious duties." Thus sanctification is no small battle and no light matter.
When I wrestle and fight to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in my life it will make changes both internally and externally in my life. This is pictured as the "Crucified Life" in Scripture. We have to die to the desires of our flesh every day in order to continue following Jesus. But, if we fail in a moment we have an advocate who calls us back to himself in repentance. Thus, though we will not perfectly follow Christ's example in every moment, the overall thrust of our life is enabled by the Holy Spirit to be towards Jesus.
Paul simply states that sanctification is God's will for the believer. Please be convinced today that your salvation is wholly based upon the work of Jesus and your faith in Him. However, a true faith in Him will hear the call to "Pick up your cross and follow me." This is not in order to save yourself, but for you to learn to be like Jesus. The Spirit of God only does this in the life of God's Children.
In fact here is a strong statement by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:8, "Therefore, he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit."
We need to ask ourselves the question: In what area is my flesh resisting the Spirit of God? It is a meditative thing that is not meant to result in a shopping list of areas, but rather to focus us on where the frontlines of the battle are currently. Pray for God to help you take those things and put them on the altar in worship to God by sacrificing them (i.e. putting them to death). This can only be done by the cooperation of our desire and God's enabling.
This may not sound fun, but we are not to stop doing this until we see Jesus. Really? Even if I am 80 years old and have been a Christian for 75 of them? Yes, even such a person. Until, like Enoch, you gotten so perfect that God personally takes you up into heaven, your battle on this earth isn't done. But take heart. God promises us that in the day that we stand before Him, we will be like Him and the impossible task will be finished. O give thanks unto the Lord, for His loving kindness is everlasting!