Soteriology
Last week the concluding emphasis was on sanctification viewed as Christians becoming in experience what we are already in God’s sight. God counts us as righteous, having accredited Christ’s perfect righteousness to us, while also counting our sinfulness as perfectly covered by Christ’s sacrifice.
Thinking about the doctrine of sanctification is as good a place as any to remind ourselves that good theology is not merely theoretical but also must be experiential. Heavenly truths must show up at street level in shoe leather. How we behave must correspond with what we say we believe. Therefore, when it comes to a truth like sanctification we must give attention not only to “what is” (theology believed) but also to “how to” (theology practiced).
In attempting to do this, two key terms come to mind — “impetus” and “enablement.” Where do we find the impetus for this kind of progression in Christian living, and what are the means God has provided for us to achieve such a goal?
When we think of the impetus for growing in righteousness or holiness of life, we are thinking about what happens within us that fosters the “want to” in pursuing spiritual growth. What fuels a desire to please God through obedience and purity? What prompts a Christian to desire to be a vessel “sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim. 2:21)?
The primary impetus for growing in likeness to Christ is what we may term “reciprocal love.” First John 4:19 expresses this quite succinctly: “We love Him because He first loved us.” Just as love prompted God to send His Son to be our Savior, so our love in return becomes the highest and most sustaining motivation for us to desire to become more and more what God wants us to be. Before we can seriously address the “way to” such a life, we may have to beg God for the “want to” or impetus for this life.
When the impetus happens within us, we then turn to what God provides for us as enablement for growth in likeness to Christ. Thinking about how to experience progress takes us to some of the very basic disciplines we already know. For example, God has given us the Bible. Abiding in that Word through regular reading and quiet meditation is an essential provision from God for our spiritual development over time.
God also has provided the Spirit of truth. Second Thessalonians 2:13 brings together the provision of the Word of truth and Spirit of truth with the promise, “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” As part of the inspiration for leading a godly life we have the example of Christ. Of this example 1 Peter 2:21 states, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.”
If these provisions were not enough, God also has given us further assistance and encouragement through Christian fellowship. The importance of this fellowship lies behind the admonition of Hebrews 10:24–25: “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” The enablement for Christian growth has core provisions — the Bible, the Holy Spirit, the example of Jesus and church fellowship.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Jerry Batson is a retired Alabama Baptist pastor who also has served as associate dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and professor of several schools of religion during his career.
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