Progressive Sanctification (Part 1)

First, the initial New Birth, conversion, born again experience of genuine acceptance of Christ as personal Lord and Savior is an immediate positional sanctification (John 3:1-21). One is immediately adopted, or grafted into the Body of Christ (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8). There is also Perfected Sanctification which no human will see this side of Heaven as it is the completed end state of the believer, the manifested Hope of the Promise of Perfected Union in Heaven with the Father, Son, and Spirit (Revelation 21:1-4, Ezekiel 37:27). It is the in-between time, the journey of the believer’s faith life, the building and deepening of the intimate relationship with Abba. Progressive sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit brings revelation and transformation (Romans 8:18). This is done from Glory to Glory (Romans 8:18, Isaiah 40:5, Colossians 3:1-4). This means as the Spirit brings those things to light, we choose to submit to the conviction of the Spirit, confess our weakness and sin, and commit to allow God’s will in Christ Jesus to reign (Ephesians 5:13, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Job 12:22). It is the increased discontent with the areas that do not line up with the Word and the will of God that in turn, increase our desire for righteousness (Galatians 5:17-21, 1 John 2:16, Romans 7). This also causes a passionate hatred for the flesh weaknesses, the sinful nature we suffer with in the natural state (Romans 7:24-25).

This is the progressive nature of the work of the Spirit that produces willing obedience, which is the journey of the righteous person seeking Christ and the heart of God. The closer one draws to God the less one is interested in yielding to the flesh desires, the more mature in faith, depth in trust (Galatians 5:16). It is more the condition of the inner man in response to following through and acting upon the urgings of the Spirit. It is the Spirit that continues to whisper the way and direction to go (John 14:18-24, 16:12-15). However, it is the Word of God pirit that continues to whisper the way and direction to go. However, it is the Wong upon the urgings of the Spirit. Ithat is the guidepost that allows us to know Who God is, His character, Love, Intent, Master Plan, and one’s place in it (John 1:1-14, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Word is also the yardstick, the foundation, the baseline, guide, objective, purpose, goal, and the blueprint that brings Truth.