For this is the will of God, your sanctification. (1 Thess. 4:3 ESV)

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speaks of them as having been saved. Of the Corinthians, however, he says they are being saved. But in Romans, he speaks of those that shall be saved.

Now I’m sure all who are reading this know that Paul is speaking of the impact of God’s grace when we come to Him in faith. We have been saved if we have truly repented, confessed our sin, and by faith trusted ourselves to Christ. And with all believers, we will be saved on the day of His coming, when our salvation is complete, and we enter the glory of heaven itself. But salvation involves more than redemption and glorification. It involves sanctification!

Paul often declares the importance that marks trusting Christ. And he rejoices at that moment when Jesus will come again, and we may take our place in heaven. But he also calls attention to the fact there is a lifetime to be considered between our becoming His, and His coming again,

Note his words to believers in 1Thess 4:3. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” God’s will for each of us is not just “Go to Church on Sunday.” We are each called, in our uniqueness to serve Him. When we turn from the world to Him, the Holy Spirit begins God’s work in us that we may be set apart for His purposes and Glory. This is the beginning of a lifetime journey of spiritually growing and becoming His new creation. Paul defines sanctification like this, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

What is our part in all this? In John 17 Jesus addresses this question in His prayer for those He is sending into the world. He asks the Father saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” But He doesn’t mean just listening to a sermon or reading a bit in the Bible. Sanctification involves listening, as Jesus admonished, “having ears to hear.” It calls for prayer that seeks God’s wisdom, and asks the Spirit to open the eyes of our heart so whatever our circumstance, we may understand, trust Him and in His strength, as His witnesses, mature, worship and live in the joy of His love.

The question: am I living His will?

–Photo by Jason Betz on Unsplash