Help toward our Sanctification (2) 01/30/2022

And let's turn to our New Testament reading which is today Galatians chapter 4.

Galatians chapter 4 I Mean that the

heir as long as he is a child is no different from a slave though He is the owner of everything.

But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father in.

The same way we also when we were children were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

But when the fullness of time had come God sent forth his son.

Born of woman born under the law to redeem those who are under the law so that we might

receive adoption as sons and Because we are sons God has sent the

spirit of his son into our hearts crying Abba father.

So you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son than an heir through God.

Formerly when you did not know God you were enslaved to those that by nature are not God's.

But now that you have come to know God or rather to be known by God How can you turn back again to the weak and

worthless elementary principles of the world?

Whose slaves you want to become once more?

You observe days and months and seasons and years.

I am afraid that I may have labored over you in vain.

Brothers I entreat you become as I am.

For I also have become as you are.

You did me no wrong.

You know.

It was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first and though my condition was a trial to

you.

You did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God as Christ Jesus.

What then has become of your blessedness?

For I testify to you that if possible you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

They make much of you but for no good purpose.

They want to shut you out that you may make much of them.

It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose and not only when I am present with you.

My little children for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in

you.

I Wish I could be present with you now and change my tone for I am perplexed about you.

Tell me you who desire to be under the law.

Do you not listen to the law?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons one a slave woman and one by a free woman.

But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

Now this bay now this may be interpreted allegorically these women are two covenants.

One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery.

She is Hagar now.

Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia.

She corresponds to the present Jerusalem for she is in slavery with her children.

But the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother for it is written.

Rejoice O barren one who does not bear break forth and cry aloud you who are not in labor.

For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who

has a husband now you brothers.

Like Isaac are children of promise.

But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born

according to the Spirit.

So also it is now.

But what does the scripture say?

Cast out the slave woman and her son for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the

free woman.

So brothers we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Let's pray.

Our father we do.

Thank you that we are children of promise and that you have promised us a great inheritance

in Christ Jesus and Lord this inheritance is what we should be looking forward to that one

day when we will be like you Fully able to rejoice and praise your great and awesome name

without sin in your presence.

And Lord, we thank you for these wonderful truths.

And we pray that this morning as we worship you now That you would help us to see the truth of the word help

us to think of the promises that are available to us.

In Christ, there is no condemnation.

And Lord, we pray that we would live in light of this truth.

Lord, we ask that you would help us now as we open up your word and as we hear the preaching of it.

We pray for Lars that you would strengthen and encourage him.

We pray that his voice would be loud that we would hear your truth and that we would apply it in the power of the Spirit.

Thank you Lord in Jesus name. Amen.

The temperature of the sanctuary was a little cooler this morning and So the heats turned up

actually those fans up there pushing the warm air down from the ceiling.

So they're actually helping the heat believe it or not.

So sorry for the discomfort that you may be experiencing.

We had our annual meeting last week and at that time We

had wanted to give recognition To two

men and their wives bill we're recently Took a leave of absence from being a deacon he'd been a

deacon for 20 years here and then Dave Sammy of some months ago did did the same and

Dave Sammy has been here all his life.

I don't know.

He'd been serving for decades here and we're just appreciative of their service

and Wanted to on behalf of the congregation Acknowledge that and thank you and we have a

card gift certificate for you men, and we have flowers for Jennifer and for

Ethel as well and So thank you for your service.

Well, we'll begin reading this morning the words the Apostle Paul in two of his letters

First Corinthians 130 and 31 read but of him You

are in Christ Jesus who became for us wisdom from God and

righteousness and then I emboldened italicized and sanctification

and redemption that as it is written he who glory let him glory

in the Lord and Then here are the first words of 1st, Timothy 316

Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.

In these few words, we read that Jesus Christ is a source of our sanctification as believers

Just as he was the source of our justification Righteousness through faith alone in him.

We also see that there is a mystery even great mystery in the matter of our sanctification

Are becoming godly and Today we will attempt to unravel this

mystery for us so that we may better understand the manner in which the Lord sanctifies his people

and so last Lord's Day we began to address this subject help toward our sanctification.

And my hope is that we can complete the treatment today.

It's intended to be brief Rather concise I hope.

Obviously, we're not considering the matter exhaustively back in the winter of 2003.

I did a little research even into the summer 2004 we gave 26 Sundays to address

the subject of sanctification and so those are available and can be

accessed if you cared to.

But our desire for us in this two -week study is to set forth some principles that may help us in

Pursuing this important lifelong calling to do the will of God.

We read in 1st Thessalonians 4 3 for this is the will of God your sanctification.

This is God's will for you as a Christian.

Now last week we described sanctification in the two distinct ways we find in the scriptures.

Upon our initial coming to Christ for salvation God sanctified each of us positionally in

Christ.

God thereafter regarded and treated every one of us in Christ to be holy ones or saints and every one of us

are Have this same standing before God.

Positionally he sanctified us set us apart but from that initial coming to

Christ unto our Departure from this world God is in the process of sanctifying us

practically in Christ.

We are growing in Christian maturity.

Gradually increasingly becoming conformed to the image of Jesus Christ as the scriptures declare.

For whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.

That he might be that his Christ might be the firstborn among many brethren.

The Lord sanctifies his people through his grace that he imparts to them.

Grace and sanctification may be understood as God giving us both the desire and the ability to do God's

will we're in need of grace the desire to do so and the ability to do so.

A Good definition of sanctifying grace may be seen in Paul's words.

Therefore my beloved as you've always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God.

Here it is who works in you both to will and to do and to do for his good

pleasure.

Desire and ability he gives grace.

But Christians have held and promoted different teachings on how the world and how the Lord imparts grace to his people.

We address this last Lord's Day.

We spoke of the four major views.

These include the Wesleyan way of sanctification the Pentecostal way of sanctification the Keswick

way of sanctification and Then the reformed way of sanctification.

The reformed way of understanding the teaching of the Holy Scriptures has been the dominant view of Protestants for many

centuries.

And it had served them.

Well, and of course we espouse that view of sanctification in our own

church.

Before we move on from this basic understanding of sanctification. It's important that we clarify What

it is that we're to strive for in our effort to be sanctified before and by our God.

What is the goal?

What is our desire?

What desire should we have with view to our sanctification.

Or for what end are we to seek the grace of God to enable us?

To achieve our desired end.

Well, there have been differences of opinion historically among Protestants as to what it is.

We're to strive to achieve and to become.

In fact We may consider and analyze these differences in the manner the professing Christians have regarded

God's law.

And.

Its relation to their sanctification.

And so let's consider the role of the law of God in our sanctification.

There are essentially three views of the law of God that have been held and promoted by Christians.

First There have been those who have advocated Abandoning the law of God altogether as a rule of life for the believer.

These people have been generally referred to as antinomians.

Secondly there are those who have advocated a view of God's law that has been historically called neo

-nomism.

Probably a new term to most of us.

And then thirdly the historic reformed understanding is that believers are to conform their lives to the moral

law of God by and under Jesus Christ.

And so let's consider each of these positions first.

Antinomianism.

Antinomianism is the belief that Christians are in no way under the authority or rule of the law of God

set forth in the scriptures.

Anti means against.

Nomianism is based on the Greek word for law, which is namas.

An Antinomian is against the law of God.

He believes that the Word of God teaches Christians are not only delivered from the penalty of the law

but they are also free from the law as the moral standard for the believers life.

As one wrote an antinomian is thus someone who says

that it is not essential for Christians to use the law as a rule of conduct for daily life.

Antinomians believe that Christians are not bound to obey the law because they think that

all Old Testament law was abolished in the New Testament.

I Would say this is the predominant view of

evangelicals in today's world.

There are verses that antinomians commonly cite that seem on the surface perhaps

To support their claim.

I included several here Romans 7 6 but now we have been delivered from the law

having died to what we were held by.

So that we should serve in the newness of the spirit not in the oldness of the letter

Romans 8 2 for the law the spirit of life in Christ.

Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Galatians 3 24 and 25.

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ.

That.

We might be justified by faith, but after faith is come we're no longer under a tutor.

In other words, no, we're no longer under the law.

Antinomians would say we're no not under the law in any way whatsoever.

We of course understand that we're no longer under the law as a covenant

and then Romans 7.

Or do you not know brethren?

For I speak to those who know the law that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives.

For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives.

But if the husband dies, she's released from the law of her husband.

So then if while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress.

But if her husband dies, she's free from that law so that she's no adulteress though.

She is married another man.

Therefore my brethren You also have become dead to the law through the body of

Christ that you may be married to another.

To him who was raised from the dead that we should bear fruit to God.

Those verses seem to say and teach.

We're not under the law whatsoever.

That would be a misunderstanding.

Again, Paul is talking about we're not under the law as a covenant.

Antinomian teaching is very common among Evangelicals.

It is this teaching that has contributed most to nominal Christianity.

In my opinion Christians in name only.

They reason that when Christ died he paid fully for the sins of all his people.

Therefore the law can no longer condemn them and the authority of the law is no longer

valid to direct them.

That's the point.

They believe that all works done with view to the law of God are works of legalism.

They would accuse us of being legalistic.

That's a wrong charge.

We would argue.

They teach that the Christian is to seek to be conformed to Jesus Christ.

Apart from the law.

They jettison all authority of the law of God as the standard for Christian conduct and in doing so

they fall short of scriptural teaching.

Ji Packer Wrote of the attitude and belief of antinomians

men went to Antinomians troubled about their sins and all the advice they receive was to be

troubled about them no longer.

For Christ had taken them away.

Where the Puritan had said put sin out of your life the antinomian said

put them out of your mind.

Look at the law.

This is what the Puritan says.

Look at the law.

Consider your guilt.

Learn to hate sin and fear it and let it go said the Puritan.

On the other hand the Arminian look away from the law.

Forget your sins and guilt.

Look away from yourself and stop worrying.

That's what the antinomian says and so that's One

way of understanding the relationship of the law of God to the believer according to many.

There's a second understanding and that is neo -nomism.

There were some who had attempted to refute and correct the teaching of antinomians.

I'm talking about Puritans now.

But they went too far to the other extreme.

They became legalistic in their teaching.

The major proponent of neo -nomism was Richard Baxter and In some what in some

things that he wrote it was absolutely excellent.

He probably wrote the best book available on The nature of the pastoral ministry.

The reformed pastor is the title of it.

But this matter that he taught about neo -nomism was error.

Neo -nomism taught that the gospel of the New Testament was a new law that replaced the law of

the Old Testament.

This doctrine is reflected in the term neo -nomism in which neo means new and

Non nomism again is the Greek word for law.

Baxter taught that antinomian ism was rooted in gross ignorance and led to gross wickedness.

He was certainly right in this charge.

But his correction was equally bad.

He denied the biblical and classic reformed teaching of the sinners.

Justification by God through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

He taught that the good works produced through faith by the believer.

Would along with the righteousness of Christ be the ground for the sinners justification

on the day of judgment.

Now we believe that works will be judged on the day of judgment, but they're evidence that we're true Christians.

He believed those works were actually the ground or the basis of people's salvation on the day of

judgment.

He was in terrible error in this teaching.

Neo -nomians paved the way back to Roman Catholicism.

Because this is essentially how Rome teaches that salvation is attained through good works that

merit God's favor.

And that of course is heresy.

There has been a remergence of this doctrinal error of neo -nomism in the past generation.

It's taught in most seminaries and virtually every scholarly book written respecting Paul's epistles.

It's called under a new name the new perspective of Paul.

His chief proponent has been NT right a New Testament scholar from England.

Its influence has waned somewhat in the last couple decades.

The proponents of this teaching have backed away from some of their earlier outlandish

claims but it's still error and it's quite influential among seminary trained men in

pulpits and teaching positions across our.

Land.

The third way of Understanding the law and his role with the Christian is the

reformed understanding of God's law in the gospel.

The Puritans in the 17th and 18th centuries addressed and corrected the air of antinomian ism

and neo -nomism.

They taught that God has established his law as his moral standard for all his people and.

One of these Puritans was Walter Marshall Who wrote a classic book on

this subject.

The gospel mystery of sanctification?

He wrote these were.

Or Joel Rick.

Joel Beakey wrote this about Marshall.

Against the antinomians Marshall went on to state that we must keep the law.

To do that.

We must learn how and what will help us Marshall said.

The need is especially urgent because of our radical inability to keep the law due to our original sin and

Because of our position before God as lawbreakers.

Marshall therefore argued that sanctification whereby our hearts and lives are conformed to the law

is a grace of God communicated to us by means.

That means is Holy Scripture.

We must sit at Jesus's feet to learn from him the way of holiness Marshall said.

Let's work through this a little bit first by emphasizing the law and

gospel distinction.

A Very important matter in interpreting the Holy Scriptures is

to understand the law and gospel distinction that permeates all the Bible.

Even though we speak of the law of God as the abiding rule of life for the believer in Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless, we recognize there is a difference and we acknowledge the need to always

emphasize the distinction between the principles of law and grace or law in the

gospel.

Some have argued this is the single greatest theological issue in the Bible.

Theodore Beza Who followed John Calvin wrote?

Ignorance of the distinction between law and gospel is one of the principal sources

of all the abuses which corrupt and still corrupt Christianity.

Martin Luther wrote of this distinction.

This difference between law and gospel is a height of knowledge in Christendom.

Every person and all persons who assume or glory in the name of Christian should know and be

able to state this difference.

If this ability is lacking One cannot tell a Christian from a heathen or a Jew

Of such supreme importance as this Differentation.

This is why st. Paul so strongly insists on a clean -cut and proper differentiating

of these two Doctrines will not read John Murray's comments, but you can at a later time.

So let's consider the distinctives.

First what are the distinctives of the law of God top of page 5?

The law of God is the will of God for his creatures.

It is the revelation of his righteous demands of the Creator toward his creatures.

When God created man, he had imprinted his law upon their souls.

He wrote his law upon the heart of every human being in the world.

This is taught in Paul's description of Gentiles who had never been exposed to the real revealed will of God

in the written word.

But nevertheless God's law is upon their hearts.

For when Gentiles who do not have the law by nature do what the law requires.

They are a law to themselves.

Even though they do not have the law.

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts.

While their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or excuse them.

The law of God is both a revelation of God's will in the form of Commandments as Well as a

principle by which God relates to his creatures.

God relates to people either according to his law According to grace that is the

gospel of his son.

When God relates to a man based upon his law God condemns that man as guilty and Deserving of his

eternal unending punishment that all lawbreakers deserve.

But when God relates to a man according to his grace, there's mercy extended to him the

forgiveness of sins the gift of righteousness and the certain inheritance of Everlasting

life and so these two ways result in two different destinies.

How then do we understand the law of God and the principles.

First the law of God makes commands and demands upon people.

Second the law of God promotes approval and blessing upon the conformity to his demands.

Third the law of God pronounces a judgment of condemnation upon every infraction of its

precept for the law of God exposes and convicts people of sin.

And.

Five the law of God excites and incites sin to greater and more violent

transgression.

But in contrast to the law of God, what are the distinctives of the gospel or the grace of God in the

gospel?

The gospel is very different in nature and substance from the law of God.

We might understand these distinctives one way in the gospel alongside the law of God one once wrote

in one of his early writings Calvin defended this evangelical distinction between law and

gospel.

All this will readily be understood by describing the law and describing the gospel and then comparing them and.

Therefore the gospel is the message the salvation bringing proclamation concerning Christ.

That he was sent by God the Father to procure or obtain eternal life.

The law is contained in precepts.

It threatens it burdens and it promises no goodwill.

The gospel acts without threats.

It does not drive one on by precepts, but rather teaches us about the supreme goodwill of God

toward us.

Let whoever therefore is desirous of having a plain and honest understanding of the gospel Test

everything by the above descriptions of the law in the gospel.

Those who do not follow this method of treatment will never be adequately versed in the philosophy

of Christ.

Obviously because of my voice being strained I'm gonna have to trim this down.

I would encourage you to read the words of William Perkins later on.

And also the words of Michael Horton down farther on page 6 the historic

reform.

Heidelberg Catechism.

Originally drafted by Zacharias your Sinas in his commentary on this catechism.

Your Sinas open comments setting forth the most basic Christian truths and under the second

heading.

He entitled what are the parts of the doctrine of the church and what do they differ from each other?

He wrote the following.

The doctrine of the church consists of two parts the law and the gospel in which we have it

Comprehended the sum and substance of the sacred scriptures.

The law is called the Decalogue which is another name for the Ten Commandments and the gospel is the

doctrine according to Christ the Mediator and the free remission of sins through faith.

This division of the doctrine of the church is established by these plain and forcible arguments.

We will not read those.

Down at the bottom of page 7 toward the bottom at the heart of match air and Christendom is the

danger and Proneness to blur and confuse these two principles.

It is common to fail to understand the distinctions between the law and the gospel.

Confusing the principles and failing to keep them as clear and separate principles in our faith and

practice.

Spurgeon wrote of the danger of failing to distinguish between law and gospel in

the churches in the middle of the 19th century.

There is no point upon which men make greater mistakes than upon the relation which exists between

the law and the gospel.

Some men put the law instead of the gospel.

Others put the gospel instead of the law.

Some modify the law in the gospel and preach neither law nor gospel and Others entirely

abrogate the law by bringing in the gospel.

Many there are who think that the law is the gospel who teach that men by good works of benevolence

honesty righteousness Sobriety may be saved.

Such men do error do err.

On the other hand Many teaches the gospel is a law that it is certain commands in it by

obedience to which men are meritoriously saved.

He's hitting on neonamism in that statement such men are from the truth and understand it not

a Certain class maintain that the law and gospel are mixed and that partly by observance of the law and

partly by God's grace men are Saved.

These men understand not the truth and are false teachers.

Again, we'll not read Michael Horton's words, but I would encourage you to read them later.

And so having considered the law and gospel distinction.

Let's next consider at the bottom of page 8 the abiding authority of the moral law of

God.

The most common assertion of those in the reform camp is that the law of God and the Holy Scriptures

is comprised of three categories of laws.

These include the moral law civil law and ceremonial laws.

The moral law are God's righteous standards that are a reflection of his only own Holy character

and these laws are found throughout the entire Bible.

The moral law is summarized in the Ten Commandments in both the Old Testament and the two great

commandments taught by the Lord Jesus in the New Testament.

The Lord Jesus taught that we're to love the Lord our God with all our being we're to love our neighbors as ourselves.

That's the moral law.

The civil law are those laws by which God governed Israel.

Well, it existed as a national theocratic nation.

In other words, these laws were enforced during the period of the Mosaic Covenant with Israel from Mount Sinai

until the cross of Christ.

Old Testament laws that regulated Jewish ethnic identity.

Exclusivity.

Governmental policies and civil Legislation were only binding upon Israel as it

existed as a separate national entity.

The ceremonial law were all laws that regulated the outward form of religious worship and practice

that ultimately pointed to Jesus.

Christ.

The authority to command and direct the people of God according to the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament ceased

with the death Resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ.

Reform belief and practice distinguished between the abiding moral law and The

temporary authority of the civil and ceremonial laws of the Old Testament.

Nevertheless, it is held that all of God's law Contains abiding principles which are

to be understood believed and followed as they are interpreted through the lens of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament teaches the abiding role and authority of the law of God for Christians.

This however is denied by antinomians.

They say we're not under the law whatsoever.

We can cite many verses that speak to this will only mention a few the words of our Lord Jesus

himself in the Sermon on the Mount.

Do not think I came to destroy the law of the prophets.

In other words instead of decide I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

I assuredly I say to you till heaven and earth pass away.

That hasn't happened yet.

Not one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men.

So that's the antinomian Shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but

whoever does and teaches them Teaches the commandments the law of God he shall be called

great in the kingdom of heaven.

The Lord Jesus Affirmed the abiding authority of his law God's moral

law.

The Apostle Paul also taught the abiding authority of the law of God for Christians.

It might not seem to be so on a casual reading of Paul's epistles.

But this is due to Paul commonly refuting legalism which is an abuse of the law of God in its

corruption of both God's Justification of the believer through faith alone and the sanctification of the

believer by his grace.

But that Paul viewed the moral laws and abiding standard for righteous living is evidence in his words.

The last verse of Romans chapter 7 Paul wrote this is Paul the Christian.

So then with my mind I myself serve the law of God.

That is completely contrary to the antinomian but with the flesh of the law of sin and

in the next chapter Romans chapter 8 Paul stated it was God's purpose in Christ to

have his law realized in the life of Christians through the power of the Holy Spirit.

For the law the Spirit of life in Christ.

Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

In other words, the law can no longer condemn.

For what the law could not do couldn't make people holy couldn't sanctify people in that it was weak through

the flesh.

God did.

By sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin.

He condemned sin in the flesh.

Why that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do

not walk according to the flesh?

But according to the Spirit Christians keep the law of God we see in verse 4 for

those who live according to the flesh Set their minds on the things of the flesh.

But those who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death.

But to be spiritually minded is life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God.

It is not subject to the law of God.

The non -christian is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be.

But so then those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The whole matter is that we're in the Spirit.

We have the Holy Spirit.

We're living according to the law righteousness of the law of God and therefore we please God

as Paul declared in verse 9.

You are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Christians are law keepers not perfect, but it is their standard for the way they live.

Paul stated the Christians are in the Spirit keep the righteous requirements of the law.

It's clear that the law of God has abiding force as the revealed standard of the righteousness of God as.

The Christian lives according to the Spirit his life attains to this righteous standard of the law.

Only he is able to do so.

For the non -christian is not subject to the law of God nor can be.

But the Christian will be subject to the law of God for he walks according to the Spirit.

Paul stated that the law of God always governed his life as a Christian.

2nd Corinthians 9.

Paul wrote that he was always under the law of God under Christ.

For though I am free from all men I've made myself a servant to all that I might win them more

to the Jews I became as a Jew that I might win Jews to those who are under the law as under the law.

That I might win those who are under the law to those who are without law as without law.

But he wanted to qualify.

Clarify himself not being without law toward God but under law toward Christ.

That I might win those who are without law.

Paul always regarded himself to be under the authority of the law toward Christ.

That's his statement in that verse.

Because Christians are justified through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

The law of God can no longer condemn them.

But because Christians are under law toward Christ.

They are enabled by the Holy Spirit to show forth the righteousness of God's law in their lives.

This is how Jesus Christ lived on earth.

He conformed his life to the law of God and in so doing he wrought a life of righteousness.

That is imputed to his people through faith alone.

But as we become increasingly sanctified by God, we become more like Jesus Christ.

Our lives reflect the righteousness of the moral law of God.

I might say that everything that we've said to this point is introduction.

It's this last matter that I wanted to emphasize for us.

So very important and I think would be of help to us.

There are many Christians who perceive that they fail in their desire and effort to be sanctified before the Lord.

In their conversion the Lord put in their hearts the longing to be holy.

They have a desire to live righteously so as to please the Lord.

They also have learned from the scriptures the incredible responsibility and accountability.

That they have before the Lord to see their sanctification realized in their lives.

They know and believe the scriptures that they are to pursue peace with all people in holiness without which no

one will see the Lord.

But rather than experiencing the grace of God producing holiness in their lives.

They might identify more readily with the Apostle Paul when he wrote of himself.

For I know that in me that is in my flesh.

Nothing good dwells for the will is present with me.

The desire is there.

I want to the will is present with me, but how to perform what is good.

I do not find.

And I think a lot of Christians reformed Christians fall into that camp.

Earlier, we mentioned Walter Marshall.

Who had written his classic book on sanctification entitled the gospel mystery of sanctification?

His title was based on first Timothy 316 which reads and without controversy.

Great is the mystery of godliness.

For years as a reformed pastor.

He had sought to expose and correct the wrong teaching of the antinomians.

Who taught that the law of God has no authority over Christians?

He also refuted the neonomism of Richard Baxter saying that was wrong.

Also Who taught that keeping the law was the ground or the basis of the

sinner's justification or salvation?

But Marshall came to admit that even as he rejected and corrected these false teachings regarding

sanctification He himself fell far short of what he desired and what he saw to

be the scriptural teaching.

Regarding the holiness to which Christians were to experience in his life.

And so even while pastoring he had these struggles like many Christians struggle

Joe Beeky wrote of Marshall struggles.

Joe Beeky and his heritage reform publishing house.

Has.

Reprinted this classic book and Joe Beeky wrote a rather lengthy introduction and

in this introduction He wrote about Marshall.

During this time Marshall experienced profound spiritual distress.

For years, he sought after holiness and peace.

He read Richard Baxter Extensively and then questioned Baxter who

that Marshall had taken who said that Marshall had taken him to.

Legalistically that was wrong on the part of Mark Baxter.

He went to Thomas Goodwin next.

He's a good one Next telling him about the sins that heavily weighed on his conscience.

Got a good ones response was that Marshall had forgotten to mention the greatest sin of all of

Not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins and the sanctifying of his

nature.

I should have emboldened that and italicized that and the sanctifying of his nature.

Marshall began to focus more on studying and preaching Christ.

He realized that he had been trying to make his own righteousness the basis of his dealings with God as

well as the ground of his peace.

Consequently, he had not submitted himself to the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ when he focused

on Christ.

He found holiness Peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost.

The gospel mystery of sanctification was the fruit of such experiences in this book.

He gave to posterity the lessons He learned over many years about how to find and enjoy

union with Jesus Christ.

I Might say that in his book.

The chapters are called directions direction 1 2 all the way down through deck direction 14.

And I included in the last two pages of your notes.

Basically, I wrote out these directions.

These are the chapters and the themes of each chapter in Marshall's book the gospel of

mystery according to sit of sanctification in which he sets these matters out.

The point is this the great need of many believers today.

Even reformed believers is to understand that their sanctified Sanctification is attained

only through Jesus Christ.

Yes, it is conformity to the law of God.

But that conformity can only be produced in Christians through looking to Christ alone to

sanctify his people.

In our sanctification, we are conformed to the law of God, but only when we look at God's law through Jesus

Christ.

The verse we cited states this truth but of him you are in Christ Jesus who became

for us wisdom from God and Righteousness and sanctification and redemption that as

it is written he who glories let him glory in the Lord.

Just as Jesus Christ is alone the source of our justification.

That is our imputed righteousness before God.

So he alone is the source of our sanctification.

He's imparted righteousness to us by God as Paul had expressed himself in

2nd Corinthians 9 21.

As Christians, we are not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ.

This is a key I believe to the Christian sanctification.

We too often look to the law of God and the standards of the law of God and we asked for God's help

to Pray and whatnot to help us do those things.

But we must look to Jesus Christ and trust him to sanctify us.

He's the one who sanctifies you.

You don't sanctify yourself.

We've got to look to Jesus Christ.

Joe Beakey rightly wrote that all aspects of our Christian life must be viewed in our inseparable

union with Jesus Christ.

This is pivotal critical.

Union with Christ is the foundation of our entire spiritual life.

Union with Christ became such an important doctrine to Paul that he mentioned it on nearly every page of his epistles.

He uses such phrases as in Christ and in the Lord 164 times in his

epistles 16 times in Ephesians alone.

In Ephesians 1 Paul tells us that union with Christ is a vast all embracing truth for his people

a truth that runs from eternity past to eternity future and spans all the time

between.

Jason I'm going to ask you to come and pray here shortly.

Union with Christ is all embracing because it encompasses all divine blessings in Christ.

In Ephesians 1 3 Paul declares how all embracing this really is.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who's blessed us with all spiritual blessings

that include sanctification in heavenly places in Christ.

Paul is not saying that all blessings are made available to us in such a way that Christ only parcels them out.

Piecemeal with a little wisdom here and a bit of strength there.

Rather Paul stresses that Christ gives us himself.

He is our wisdom.

He is our strength.

He is our compassion and he is our Sanctification.

The secret of the Christian life is to more intimately know the Christ to whom the believer is bound forever.

If we're true Christians We know that every spiritual blessing that he possesses he will share with us

because we are by grace united with him.

And that's why it's important never to separate the benefits of Christ from his person.

Although the law of God is binding upon us as the moral standard of our lives.

We're only able to conform to that righteousness as we look to Jesus Christ.

Whose righteousness is imputed to us as we seek Christ more fully and see in him.

See and and see him in faith more clearly.

The Spirit of God will transform us into his image.

2nd Corinthians 3 18.

And so may our Lord move each of us to seek him Christ more earnestly.

As we look to him solely for every blessing that he has promised us.

May he sanctify us wholly as we look to Jesus Christ in faith.

Amen.

God help us.

After.

Jason, thank you.

Let's close in prayer.

Heavenly Father we do.

Thank you for the great and abundant riches that we have in Christ Jesus.

That our salvation our Sanctification everything we have is because of him and his work

his nature his character and what he's accomplished.

We pray Lord that we would pursue Christ that we would go to the scriptures and that we would meditate upon Your

works that we would meditate upon your words.

We pray Lord that you would teach us who you are and what you've done.

And we thank you for this Lord.

We thank you that you've given us the spirit to help us navigate the difficulties of life.

We just pray Lord that we would pursue you with all of our hearts.

Help us not to become legalist Lord, but help us to trust in the finished work of Christ and help us to walk in

this truth.

We thank you for this time this morning, and we pray that your word would just Sink deep into our hearts and

it would just flourish as we strive to obey you.

Thank you Lord in Jesus name. Amen.