Sanctification is a big scary word that's thrown around a lot in Christian circles. Sanctification basically means that we are being made more holy. Romans 12:2 says "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." Sanctification is this process of being transformed, that we are changed from one state to another. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength." So how are we transformed? Well we have to do it in community! This involves total honesty and transparency with those who we call our friends. In this article I will do three things. First, I will unpack 1st John 1:5-10 as a call to live in transparency. Second, I will unpack James 5:15-16 as an encouragement of redemption from sin. Third, I will briefly look at nine ways Jesus helps to transform and make us happier people.
We are called to Live in Light: 1 John 1:5-10
"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
Jesus is the only man who has never sinned. In Jesus there was no darkness, no sin or falsehood, and no corruption. Jesus died so that we could be made new and share in His holiness. John 1 talks about Jesus being light, the light that existed before everything. Because of His death we are able to have fellowship with Him as we remain in the light. But what does remaining in the light mean? It involves confession. To live in darkness is a metaphor for hiding, just as Adam & Eve hid from God after they sinned. If we live in union with God there is an expectation that we live in the same way Jesus did: transparent and in the light. If we claim that we have no sin by hiding, the end of this passage is very clear that this behavior makes God a liar. Christ died for our sin, so if we claim to never sin why did Christ die? Everyone sins, just like everyone poops, but being human is learning to be honest about that. Now this is not to say that we can just keep sinning and confessing all we want. There must be sanctification. The passage says that Chist "cleanses us from all sin" this is not so we can go back and sin again, but so that we are equipped to live in holiness and He gets the Glory. Remaining in sin and living for Christ is counterintuitive, the two do not intermingle. You either love Christ and hate sin. Or love Sin and hate Christ.
We are Invited into a community of healing: James 5:15-16
"And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, He will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Some may think "I cannot be healed, I have been stuck in my sin for too long," but that is directly contrary to the hope communicated in this passage. Yes, we are called to complete holiness--which for some may seem totally unachievable--but because of Christ and His work, it absolutely is. The radical nature of grace is that apart from and work of our own God commits to making us holy. If we are sick, hurt, broken, depressed, lusting, drinking, do we hide...no! This passage encourages us to confess to our family in Christ. This encouragement comes with a promise, that we would be healed, and by the process of confession brought back into community. God is able to begin to Sanctify us as we live in the light. When we admit our brokenness, we acknowledge our need for the work of God, and He can transform us.
9 Ways God Transforms Us
(1) He transforms our complaints by turning them into thankfulness.
(2) When we normally spend time limiting beliefs He instead builds faith into us.
(3) He turns habits of blaming others into habits of forgiveness.
(4) He defeats our negative self talk and gives us reasons to live in security.
(5) Instead of being consumed dwelling on the past He gives us reasons to hope for the future.
(6) When we are resistant to change He helps us to trust in His plan.
(7) When we have a desire to impress others He helps us to value His opinion.
(8) He replaces the need to always be right with an understanding of true humility.
(9) Gives us peace by replacing our need for others approval with confidence about our salvation.
To live as a Christian, we are called to non-conformity to the way of the world. We do this by admitting our need for God and being transformed by His work.
