Sanctified by Grace and Faith

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Both redemption and sanctification (Holiness) flow to us from the cross in the person of the indwelling “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”

But distinctively, Grace and faith are the great characteristic features of the present age of “the dispensation of the grace of God.”

Today, not only is salvation declared to be “by grace, through faith” alone, but also there is the work of the sanctifying Spirit operating in the believer “by grace, through faith.”

The “Spirit of the Lord” does not take possession of us and cause us to do what is right, but He indwells and produces His righteousness in each believer (I Cor. 6:19). His indwelling life is provides us needed guidance and the strength to withstand the temptation of the Adversary and to discern the wiles of the Devil. We thereby may avail ourselves of this great provision of “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” by faith in the finished work of Christ’s cross. There, Jesus defeated and disempowered our Adversary. The Devil’s only remaining device is the “lie”; Jesus said the Devil is “the father of it.”

“Ye (Pharisees) are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

The Spirit, Who first imparted Christ’s resurrection life to us will also impart strength to withstand temptation and overcome sin. In our inability to even pray as we ought, “the Spirit… helpeth our infirmities” and “maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:26). In our weakness we are “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16) and God will “quicken (enliven our) mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in us” (Rom. 8:11).

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the (sinful) flesh, to live after the flesh” (Rom 8:12).

The implication from the above passage is that while we are all tempted by the lies of the mind and impulses of “the flesh,” we are debtors to the Spirit who dwells within us and provides overcoming power.

The question, in times of temptation, is generally whether we truly desire to overcome, for we may overcome in any given caseby grace, through faith.

Today, in the present economy that is based upon God’s pure ‘grace,’ it’s not true that it isn’t possible for the believer to sin, for we do sin on occasion and thankfully those sins are already forgiven. But, it is blessedly true that in any situation it is possible for a believer to not sin, for the Spirit is always close at hand to help. For it is the Spirit of “Christ in you” that is our only hope of His glorious expression in our daily living. (Colossians 1:27).

Portionas Adapted from Cornelius Stam, by Arthur J Licursi