Dear BPCWA worshipper, We learned from messages 1 & 2 how sanctification surely follows a Christian’s salvation. It is both the responsibility of the individual and the work of God within the Christian through the Holy Spirit.

Its effect on our lives. Sanctification has 2 effects on us: 1) An inward change of a contented heart. This allows us to “do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Php 2:14). A murmur is a secret or a solid discontent that makes you grumble and complain, harbouring a discontent and becoming bitter. We know this was the condition of the people of Israel in the wilderness, when they wanted to return to a life which was more pleasurable to their flesh. Discontentment makes us forgetful of the good that God has done for us, and we keep imagining that God is holding back something good from us. Disputing is to debate, argue, and be contentious out of self-centredness and pride about how we want things to be. This results in conflicts. When the recent Australian budget was released to the public, both sides were unhappy because they felt they didn’t get a good deal out of it. Since discontentment is the human response rooted in our hearts, God has to work contentment in our hearts. And we must respond. The continual state of our hearts should be that God’s will is the best possible place to be and that there is nowhere better. This is the blessing of “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1Ti 6:6). As we understand God’s Word, we can respond as Joseph did. Despite all the calamities, Joseph saw God’s Hand working in his life. Many people do not live peaceably with all men and do hurtful things against others instead of praying for their enemies, feeding and giving them drink when needed. But sanctification brings contentment and thankfulness instead. When we have humility, a peaceable nature, and a forgiving heart, it shows that God is at work in us. People get offended because of the “me”. However, our standard must be to love as Christ loved, which is the principle of others over ourselves. Christ could have complained about so many things, but instead we saw His selflessness, humility, and genuine love. 2) The result of an outward change of a blameless life. Sanctification will make us “blameless and harmless” (Php 2:15). We will never be perfectly sinless in this life. However, when we are sanctified, there will be fewer issues that people will find fault in us because we will be quick to repent when we are corrected. We are often discontented when we are in a group. If so, we must correct ourselves and retract our statements. Harmless means without guile. It means we don’t have a facade, hypocrisy, or deceitfulness. That is part of our blamelessness because we are what we say. This will show a clear image of God in our lives in how we carry ourselves. We must mimic our Lord Jesus Christ in the communicable attributes. The only fault Daniel’s enemies could find in him was his devotion to God. When we refuse to compromise, people may take issue with us. That is a good contention to have. Some will still take issue that you read the Bible and obey God without compromise. This is a reflection that you are becoming more like Christ. We must realise that sanctification may bring persecution. When it does, that is our testimony; then we are “the sons of God, without rebuke” and “shine as lights in the world” (Php 2:15).

Its impact on others. Wickedness is darkness, and the light of God shines on the sinfulness of the world. Jesus was the Light, but the world didn’t understand it because they were in darkness. They loved their own deeds, and Christ reproved, rebuked, and exposed their darkness with His light. Darkness delights only in darkness. 1) Sanctification will offend. When you shine, the light is not always accepted. The brighter the light, the more filth is exposed. The word “crooked” is scoliosis, a departure from the straight. God’s way is the strait and narrow path, where everything must be done right and exactly the way God wants. The world is in a downward spiral of depravity. When you are sanctified, today’s world will call you bigoted, traditional, and old-fashioned. The world is trying to make us conform to its standards, but we must cling to sanctification, which protects us from being like the world. When we “shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pe 2:9), we glorify God in this perverse generation. Moreover, God expects us to reprove the “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph 5:11). We do not fellowship with unfruitfulness, but we must evangelise them to the light instead. 2) Shine as lights. Light attracts and draws people to the light. We are to let our light shine before men, so they will glorify the Father. We are reflections of the light of Christ. We don’t have inherent goodness, so our light and sanctification are to glorify God. Our righteousness must draw people to Christ when people around the world see that we are different from them. The better they know you, the more distinct you become. It could be the quiet confidence you have with setbacks, when you trust that the Lord has a plan. Faith is a wonderful blessing that enables us to deal with struggles without murmuring. Through you, others can find the Light of life. Everyone has their area of darkness to shine in, and you will only be effective if you grow in sanctification. If you do not, then you are not much different from the world. When our sanctification isn’t mature, we are only a weak light. If we are not concerned with sanctification, we become ineffective lights. When we murmur, or sow discord, or cause people to sin, we are not being lights to those around us. Jesus called you out of darkness so you will shine for Him. It is time to shake off the works of darkness, wake up, and turn away from every sin that masks Christ’s light. Stop giving in to temptation, strife, envy, and anything that dampens our lights. Be effective witnesses for Christ.

As we have learned from the messages, sanctification is not a doctrine found in dusty libraries in Bible Colleges. A sanctified life is the evidence of salvation, and there is no salvation if it is not accompanied by sanctification, because that work is begun by God inwardly in every believer. While God works in us, we are responsible for responding to Him, yielding to Him, and mortifying our flesh. Let us not be deceived into thinking that everyone will like a sanctified believer. Darkness loves darkness, and light will be rejected because it reproves sin. This, however, should not deter us, because being a light is the very reason why God saved us. I hope that every believer who reads this or watches the videos will know that shining brightly for our Saviour who loved us and died to bring us to His light is not an option.

“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Rom 13:13-14)

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor