The Doctrine of Sanctification and...Disney

I lead a Bible Study.  As you probably know if you've read my "Be The Revival" series.

Today, we studies the Doctrine of Sanctification.

A little heavy for a Ladies Bible Study, especially one geared toward people who have not been churched their whole lives, you say?

First of all..."Ladies"...does not have to mean "Light".  I'm so sick of pastel pink bibles with flowers on them and little commentaries next to verses that challenge us to apply said scripture to praying for our husbands while ironing.

We are ladies with brains...BRING IT!!!

(that editorial comment was for free...sorry...)

Secondly, I couldn't get around it.  We are studying the Names of God and one of them is "God Who Sanctifies", or Jehovah Mekaddishkem.

Sanctification is defined as that word that every Christian pretends like they understand and that all ministers say from the pulpit while daring people with their eyes to be the brave one to raise a hand and ask what the heck it actually means.

Sanctification is ALSO the process by which God makes US more like HIM.

This takes place in a 3-step process.

So...BY POPULAR DEMAND...namely, one lady who said I should post.

Yankee Peach boils the Doctrine of Sanctification down to the plot of Princess Diaries!!!!

1.  Positional (or Initial) Sanctification

This is Mia.  She lived a normal life.  Very rough around the edges.  She realizes that she is actually royalty.  That moment in your life when you are like, "Me?  Jesus died on the cross for ME???? Shut up!"  That Positional Sanctification!

You don't have to change anything about yourself to accept God's free gift of salvation.  You don't have to quit smoking.  You don't have to get un-gay.  You don't have to quit cussing swears.  You don't have to clean up your act.  You just believe it and accept it.  Let God take over.  TA-DAAAAA!  You are now transferred into God's family! Now, Mia could have decided to NOT act like a princess...it wouldn't change who she was.  That's why this step is called "Positional".  She may choose not to act like royalty, but it would not change her position.  That's Eternal Security and a talking point for another blog post and a different Disney Movie...maybe...Little Mermaid???

2.  Progressive Sanctification

Now that you've accepted that gift and become a part of God's family, heir to His immense resources and inheritance...its time to stop living beneath your status!  God begins grooming you into His likeness.  See?  Mia is still in her normal clothes, kind of half living her normal life, but she's cleaning up nice.  Let's say that guy in black is the Holy Spirit.  You inherit him, too, when you join God's family.  He's there, whispering in your ear, reminding you who you are, slowly...every so slowly...giving you the truths and tools you need to be like Christ.  Anytime the Bible mentions "walk" in the New Testament, its usually referring to this process.  And it IS a process.  You don't become a Christian and then are amazing overnight.  You don't even realize what's happening.  One day, a year from now, you'll look back and see how you've matured.

3.  Ultimate Sanctificaiton

But, one day!!!....

We WILL be truly holy.  When we are in heaven!  Our good things we do don't get us into heaven...that ticket was paid at the cross and realized the moment we accept it as our own.  But we slowly allow God to take over...the end goal being that perfection we will see only in heaven.

Sanctification.

Not a list of rules shoved in your face.

A change of desire over time.

Hope this helps:)