Biblical Separation : In Precept

Posted here is the sermon delivered by Bro Sunil Albert at ‘ABC for Teens’ Bible class held in April 2010.

Passage of Reference:

Posted below is the Audio sermon delivered by Bro Sunil Albert for ‘ABC for Teens ‘ Bible class held in April 2010.  The sermon is on the’ Separated
life’ that Believers ought to live on this earth.
Given below is the 1st Audio Sermon, titled: BIBLICAL SEPARATION – In Precept

Audio Sermon

BIBLICAL SEPARATION:

1. In Precept (Doctrine)                     – 1Thes 4:3, 7
2. In Principle (Devotion)                  – 1Peter 1:15-16
3. In Practice (Duty)                           – Col 3:1-5
4. In Priority (Determination)            – Matt 6:33
5. In Prayer (Desire)                           – John 17
6. In Promise (Delight)                      – 2Cor 6:14-18
7. In Power (Done)                             – 2Cor 6:18b

BIBLICAL SEPARATION – IN PRECEPT

(THE DOCTRINAL ASPECT).

The Old Testament words rendered sanctify, or sanctification, imply setting apart to sacred purposes or to consecrate, and have various applications in the Old Testament. We read, for instance,

Of  Holy places, Jeru­salem — the holy city;

Of  Mount Sinai — the holy mount. Or again, the word is used

Of  Persons. It is written of the Lord Jesus that He sanctified Himself, “for their sakes 1 sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth “(Jn. 17. 19). Aaron and his sons and their gar­ments were sanctified (Ex. 28. 41; Lev8:30).

Of  Things also arc said to be sanctified the anointing oil (Ex30:25);

Of  Days, the seventh day (Gen 2: 3); feasts and the year of Jubilee.

From these and other passages of Scripture, it seems clear that the fundamental idea underlying the word “Sanctification” is that of separation or setting apart for God. As a skillfully-cut diamond has one beauty but many facets, so this priceless blessing has several aspects, some of which we shall now consider.

1. Pre-conversion Sanctification. 1Pet1:2 records, “Elect according to (the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Included in this are the activities of the Triune God — the foreknowledge of God the Father, the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The same order is evident in 2 Thes 2:13 — “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” God chose us in His sovereignty, and the Holy Spirit sanctified and separ­ated us to believe the truth. Thus “the sanctification of the Spirit is associated with the choice or election of God; it is a Divine act preceding the acceptance of the gospel by the individual”

2. Positional Sanctification. The New Testament describes believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as saints or sanctified ones, and even to the Church at Corinth, where there was so much to bring discredit upon the name of the Lord, the Apostle wrote ” unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints ”   (1 Cor. 1:2). All believers in the Lord Jesus arc, therefore, saints and because of this, it behooves them to be saintly in their walk and character. The Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that “by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10. 14). This is positional sanctification, our standing before God, which is not determined by our state. Further, Heb3:1 speaks of “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling,” and in 1 Cor. 1: 30-31, Christians are said to be “of him in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sancti­fication and redemption,” that he that glorieth should glory in the Lord. One has written, ” sanctification is that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18; 1Cor 6:11) and to which their sole title is the death of Christ (Eph 5:25, 26; Col1:22; Heb10:10).”

3. Progressive Sanctification. It is God’s will that the believer should pursue earnestly and undeviatingly that “sanctification, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Practical sanctification and holiness of life are essential if we would see God. Many believers see little of God in their circumstances, in their afflictions, in world affairs, in the daily round and common task — because they know little of practical sanctification. Sanctification is not an instantaneous act, but a steady growth in grace as a result of obedience to the Word of God and of following the example of Christ in the power of the Spirit. The believer is sometimes chast­ened that he may be partaker of His holiness (Heb12:10); he is to present his body, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God (Rom12:1); he is to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ day by day (2 Cor.3:17, 18) and reckon himself dead unto sin and alive unto God (Rom6:11). May God grant that in all things we may grow up into Him!

4. Perfect and Prospective Sanctification. ” Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish ” (Eph5:25-27).    “Beloved, now are we the children of God and it is not yet made manifest what we shall he. We know that if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him, for we shall see him even as he is ” (IJn3:2,)

-Bro . Sunil Albert

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