C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 : LESSON 8: TOPIC – BELIEVERS’ SANCTIFICATION THROUGH CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK

C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

THEME: UNDERSTANDING OUR APOSTOLIC FOUNDATION

EPHESIANS 2:20

JULY – DECEMBER 2023

UNIT ONE: THE TRIUNE GOD COMES TO REDEEM US

3RD SEPTEMBER 2023

LESSON 8

TOPIC: BELIEVERS SANCTIFICATION THROUGH CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK

MEMORY SCRIPTURE

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

The Cross of Jesus yields His holy blood and light by which we are regularly made holy in our Christian journey to heaven. Hallelujah!

BRIEF COMMENT:

Sanctification is part of the process of salvation and explicit work of grace, subsequent to justification, made accessible to the believers through Jesus’ blood. The experience is not for sinners or the unrepentant, but for those who through grace are being saved and made holy. It is the working transformation of the heart of believers that isn’t one-off, but progressive like the human growth process. This is what Paul had in mind in Philippians 3:12-14 (cf. 1 Thess. 5:23). No one gets sanctified once and for all. It takes a decisive, deliberate and determined effort stirred by the holy Spirit geared towards daily growth in the found new life.

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS

Mon, Aug. 28: Chosen For Salvation And Sanctification (2 Thess. 2:13)

Tue. Aug. 29: Consecration Is God’s Will (1 Thess. 4:3)

Wed. Aug. 30: Convey Your Vessel In Sanctification (1 Thess. 4:4)

Thur. Aug. 31: Christ Prays For Our Sanctification (Jn. 17:17)

Fri. Sept. 1: Christ Sanctifies Himself For Our Sake (Jn. 17:19)

Sat. Sept. 2: Cleansed By The Word (Eph. 5:26)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS:

1. Sanctification is the will of God and we must pursue it, teach it and practise it.

2. To live a sanctified or holy life is God’s command to fulfil His eternal purpose through, and in us. Any believer who takes sanctification with levity cannot stay blameless (justified), thus will be ready to face the consequence of disobeying this ordinance as given by God Himself.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 20:7-8

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: AIM: To stress that sanctification establishes a progressive growth pattern in the Christian journey.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

i. show that sanctification deals with man’s immoral nature and need for moral restoration so as to begin to exhibit characteristics consistent in Him;

ii. show that sanctification results from the supernatural presence and power of the Holy Spirit’s working in believers’ life; and

iii. show that sanctification is faith working by love not merited but appropriated by faith.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: ROMANS 15:16; 1 CORINTHIANS 6:11; PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13; EPHESIANS 4:20-24; 5:26-27; 1 JOHN 1:6-7; 3:2-3

Thank God for the grace to finish the previous lesson. Today, we are discussing the second part of our 4th tenet. Last week, we discussed the concept of the believers being justified by the finished work of Christ. By now, we should have better understood that.

Sanctification is to be set apart for holy use, separation from sin and defilement, and dedication to God. It is to cleanse, purify and make holy so as to become blameless (1 Thess. 5:23). There are several instances of sanctification in both the OT and NT.

Sanctification and holiness are to be pursued as an essential aspect of the believer’s life (Heb. 12:14). This makes a topic like this very necessary, aside the fact that it is an important article of faith in our great Mission. May God’s purpose for allowing this study be fulfilled in our lives, homes, churches, careers, vocations and endeavours, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION:

This is one-week lesson with two divisions: I and II. It alerts us to the forms it takes to perfectly become sanctified. Positional sanctification is foundational, with progressive sanctification building on to future perfection. This sanctification is accomplished by God, but requires believer’s cooperation. We must fight against sin, express gratitude to God and offer ourselves fully to Him, so as to become the Christian’ that Christ can be proud of. It also considers the essential role of the Holy Spirit, Word of God, suffering, and self-denial experience in believer’s life. The process develops as the believer yields to the Spirit and allows the new nature to control his life.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. THE PHASES OF SANCTIFICATION

II. THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION

LESSON EXPOSITION

I. THE PHASES OF SANCTIFICATION (1 Cor. 6:11; Php. 2:12-13; Eph.4:20- 24; 1 Jn. 3:2-3) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).

a) Sanctification is in 3 phases.

b) 1 Cor. 6:11: The first is Provisional Sanctification – an instantaneous act of God’s saving grace, which takes place at the moment of our conversion. Our regeneration is the beginning of sanctification.

c) 1 Cor. 6:11 talks in past tense. Paul often addressed recipients of his letters as saints, i.e., the sanctified at conversion (Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 1:1-3; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2). However, we are not yet made perfect in all things.

d) Php. 2:12-13: Second is Progressive Sanctification – the process by which we become more like Jesus by the day. It involves putting off the corrupt old conduct in us and being renewed in the Spirit of our minds to conform to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29; 12:1-2; Eph.4:20ff).

e) This is God’s will for us (1 Thess.4:3-7;5:23), walking worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1), as vessels of honour (2 Tim. 2:21), presentable without fault, stain or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27; Jude 24; cf. Php. 3:12).

f) 1Jn. 3:2-3 imply the 3rd phase-Perfect (Absolute) Sanctification that would happen when Jesus comes- full realisation of sanctification when sin would be no more.

e) There are no shortcuts to sanctification. A lack of biblical injunction and knowledge will always retard a believer’s growth.

II. THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION (Rom. 15:16; Eph. 5:26-27; 1 Jn. 1:6-7) And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth (Jn. 17:19).

a) Our parts in sanctification are abhoring, doing away with sin and praying for strength to live a holy life. How?

* 1Jn. 1:6-7: Jesus blood cleanses (Heb. 9:13; 10:4-14; 13:11-12; 1 Pet. 1:2).

* Rom. 15:16: We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:1-2).

* Eph. 5:26-27: God’s Word sanctifies us – the divine water (the Truth) that washes us clean (Jn. 17:15-17; 1 Thess. 2:13).

b) For sanctification to work, some things must be put in place:

* Heb. 12:10-11: Chastisement brings sanctification.

* Rom. 6:19: Yielding to God. Christ sanctifies us as we unreservedly yield ourselves to Him, holding nothing away from Him.

* 2 Cor. 7:1: By God’s grace, we must deliberately remove all filthiness, daily obeying His Word, His Spirit (cf. Jn. 15:3; 17:17) and trusting His judgements (Heb. 12:10).

* Cultivating a life of communion with Him in prayer (Lk. 11:1; Php. 4:6; 1 Thess. 5:17; 2 Pet. 3:18).

• Living in the light of His coming (cf. Jas. 5:7-9; 2 Pet. 3:11-14).

e) There is no such thing in this life as perfect as being sanctified, but the procedures depend upon the truth of the Scripture in revealing sin as an impediment to holiness.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. Since Jesus still had to sanctify Himself despite being God-incarnate, His disciples must sanctify themselves in Him.

2. Sanctification entails the entirety of the Christian life, from the moment of spiritual birth to entrance into glory. Never drop out of the school of sanctification.

QUESTIONS

1. Sanctification is the will of God but what are the phases you should follow to become sanctified?

2. What are the involvements of being sanctified?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:

• Refer to division I above.

* God has always been interested in our sanctification, but it comes in different phases.

* God’s part has been excellently and successfully carried out; we must do our own part, leaning on the finished work of Christ and His provisions in the Holy Spirit.

* Christ Jesus is the Source of believers sanctification.

* Regeneration is the beginning of believers sanctification.

ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2:

* Refer to division II of the lesson.

* It begins with God, through Christ Jesus, with enablement by the Holy Spirit. Total conversion of our soul; forsaking sin and Satan.

* Giving our absolute concerns and care to the desires of God Who owns us

* Daily and consistent growth in spirit through the study and obedience to the Word of God.

* Esteeming discipline that will help to live and meet the required standard of God.

LIFE APPLICATION:

Sanctification is related to Christ and is part of the covenant of grace that He that is inherent in His Person. As a result, it is a process of growth and guarantees on our behalf as our surety. It is not only His work, but also the grace maturation that necessitates cooperation with the Spirit of God in the life of a believer. The holy disposition does not come from man, nor does it come from regeneration. A starving child cannot grow, nor can a person progress to sanctification if left to his own devices. Although, sanctification is solely associated with the implanted life, it does not germinate in the absence of a constant shower of grace.

CONCLUSION:

Glory be to God that we have concluded the eighth lesson. Let us not forget the lessons God has passed across to us. Sanctification is God’s beautiful transforming work in the life of His people turning them holy. Its transforming presence and power of the Holy Spirit are offered as a gift to anyone who therefore desires and pursues it (Lk. 11:13).

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