RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 26 September 2021 – Lesson 4
TOPIC: Sanctification
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God
INTRODUCTION: Sanctification simply means to make holy, pure and separated unto God. It is the second work of grace after salvation. It attacks and removes the root of sin. It is a progressive work of God in man that makes him more and more free from sin and like Christ in his actual life (1Thess.5:23; Rom 8:13). Though often neglected, understanding sanctification is vital for a thriving Christian life
LESSON OUTLINES:
- STAGES OF SANCTIFICATION
- MEANS AND BENEFITS OF SANCTIFICATION
1. STAGES OF SANCTIFICATION
There are three stages of sanctification for believers. The first is Positional Sanctification. At this stage, believers through the Holy Spirit are brought out of darkness into the light and our position before God has been changed forever from being an unbeliever to a believer, from Sin to Holiness and from the old life to a new life (1 John 3:9; 1 Cor. 6:11). No longer dead in trespasses, but are made alive together with Christ (Romans 6:11; Eph. 2:5). It is an initial moral change, a break from the power and love of sin (Romans 8:2).
The next stage is Progressive sanctification. This increases throughout life. It occurs in the process of daily spiritual renewal (Rom.12:2; 1Cor.13:5). As we grow in grace, we are gradually but steadily changing to be more like Christ (John.17:17; 2 Cor. 3:18)
The final stage is Ultimate Sanctification This is completed at death (for our souls) and when the Lord returns (for our bodies). Our sanctification will never be completed in this life because we continue to battle with the flesh. So, when we die as saints, our souls are finally free from the indwelling sin and are made perfect and when the Lord returns to give us our resurrection bodies, then our sanctification will be complete.
2. MEANS AND BENEFITS OF SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification represents a believer’s victory over the flesh (Rom.7:24-25), the world (1 John 5:4) and the devil (James 4:7). Believers are sanctified through the following:
- God (1 Thess. 5:23).
- The Word of God. The truth of God’s word taught, sung, preached, studied, and read is one of the surest means by which the Spirit brings about change in our lives (John 17:17).
- Blood of Jesus (Heb. 9:13-14; 1 John 1:7, 9).
- The Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13).
- Fellowship with brethren. God brings about our change through the gifts and graces of brothers and sisters in Christ (Prov. 27:17; Heb. 10:25).
- Suffering and struggle. Though we do not relish it, suffering and struggles work towards our growth to perfection like Christ (Heb.5:8). Difficulties prompt us to rely on God (Rom.5:3-5; Rom.8:28).
- The Believer’s willingness and readiness to submit to God (Rom.8:13; Phil.2:12-13).
B. The benefits of sanctification are many: A sanctified believer will enjoy the ability to easily resist temptation because there is a renewed hatred for sin and inner lust. Sanctification fosters intimacy with God, increases spiritual strength and stability (Ps. 15:1-5). It also aids ‘clean record’ for believers i.e. the enemies will not have foothold over such (John 14:30). Sanctification helps believers to be humble and submissive to God and to constituted authorities (Jam. 4:6-7).
Other benefits include: Attraction of God’s favour and man (John 7:38). Enjoyment of prayer times and increased faith for answered prayers, having right standing before God (Acts 24:16) and pure intentions of actions and words.
CONCLUSION: Sanctification is an integral part of the Christian growth, every child of God must earnestly desire it.
QUESTIONS
- What are the stages of sanctification?
- What will a Christian benefit from sanctification?
FURTHER READINGS:
Monday: Psalm 15:1-5 (KJV)
1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Tuesday: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (KJV)
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Wednesday: Hebrews 10:19-25 (KJV)
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Thursday: John 17:17-19 (KJV)
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Friday: Ephesians 2:4-10 (KJV)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Saturday: 1 Corinthians 6:9-13 (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Sunday: Romans 7:24-25 (KJV)
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
ASSIGNMENT: List with Bible references, five (5) means of sanctification.
