sanctified…preserved…called

Normally we think of “holy,” or  “saints,” but have you ever thought of yourself as beloved – if not, add that to your list of definitions for sanctified.

For sanctification is not only meant to be considered as internal, but also to election – the appointment to service – vessels set apart with design and purpose for sacred use and service.  I think it still implies a separation from the world so that we are considered a distinct and peculiar people – as such we are loved by God the Father.

We owe our preservation wholly to Jesus; and know full well that everlasting life comes only by Him. We would all fall away and perish if it were not for the grace of God keeping us.

We continue our walk in the faith unshaken knowing that this faith of ours can not be preserved unless we continue in union with Christ, by whose  grace alone we can be preserved and called.

We have a place in His heart, and we are in His hands, and are in Him, and united to Him, and we are represented by Him in the covenant of grace; and being in Him, we are preserved by Him,  We need to understand that we are not  preserved from falling   from the corruption of human nature, nor from actual sins and transgression.  However, the law could not execute the sentence of condemnation on us, nor sin damn us, nor Satan.

We are not preserved  from indwelling sin, nor from the temptations, nor from doubts and fears and unbelief, nor from slips and falls into sin; but from the tyranny and dominion of sin, from being devoured by Satan, and from a total and final falling away;  we are preserved in the love of God, and of Christ; in the covenant of grace; in a state of adoption; and in the paths of right living, truth, faith, and holiness.

Called to be saints.

Saints is the same as Christians; to become such we are called to believe in Christ.  We are called out of darkness into light, and from bondage to liberty; and from a dependence on ourselves to the grace and righteousness of Christ; and from society to fellowship with Him; and to eternal glory.

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Have you been instructed as how to live?

This is not something to gloss over or an item on your agenda that you can save for another day – you are expected to have been instructed before you can possibly grow, change, be a leader in the community, making a difference with your strength in knowing and having the character of God.

If there is one good reason to attend church each week it is to receive instructions and to be encouraged to follow through with them.

Life is a journey and you will never be perfect on day one, but starting day two, you can be better than day one etc.

God sets no bounds to the communications of His grace and Spirit to them that are faithful. And as there are no bounds to the graces, so there should be none to the exercise of those graces. No person can ever feel that they love God too much, or that He loves them too much.

The journey is twofold, either internal or external. Our internal walk is by faith, which is the going out of the soul by faith to Christ for every supply of grace. Our external walk is not as it was before conversion, according to the course of this world, but in a holy religious life and conversation; and this requires spiritual life, strength and direction from Christ.

If we can walk, then we can direct our steps and continue in well-doing and progressing and moving forward in our relationship with Christ. Christ, He is the chief and principal way, and so be careful about the other paths which only regard Him, or relate and but do not lead to Him.

We are to walk as Christ Himself walked, after the Spirit, and not after the flesh, according to the rule of the word, which is the standard of faith and practice, with prudence, wisdom, circumspection, and worthy of God, and of that calling wherein we are called: and of such a walk there is a necessity; it “ought”, it must be both on the account of God, it being His will, and for His glory.

The opposite of that would show great ingratitude to Him.  For the love of God is from everlasting, and is free, and sovereign, and does not arise from, or depend upon the holiness and obedience of people; or of making peace with God by such a walk, for peace is only made by the blood of Christ; but of doing those things, and in such a way God approves of.

We in faith, from a principle of love, in the name and strength of Christ, and to the glory of God, are approved of by God, and are acceptable to Him through Christ, and for His sake; and there are many things of this kind, as prayer, praise, acts of  kindness to the poor, and indeed every good work: and inasmuch as we have been taught and instructed how to behave and conduct in our outward walk and conversation, we are entreated and exhorted to go on and abound in the work of the Lord.

To abide in the faith of the gospel is not enough, we must abound in the work of faith. The rule according to which all ought to walk and act, is the commandments given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification, in the renewal of our souls under the influences of the Holy Spirit, and attention to appointed duties, constituted the will of God respecting them. In aspiring after this renewal of the soul which leads to holiness, strict restraint must be put upon the appetites and senses of the body, and on the thoughts and inclinations of the will, which lead to wrong uses of them. The Lord calls none into His family to live unholy lives, but that they may be taught and enabled to walk before Him in holiness. Some make light of the precepts of holiness, because they hear them from other people; but they are God’s commands, and to break them is to despise God.

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