Jesus, Who of God Is Made Unto Us Wisdom
Sanctification is not just a state, but a personal union with Christ and the Holy Spirit that requires a correct understanding and a willingness to receive Him.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the critical understanding of sanctification not merely as a blessing but as a vital union with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He notes that many believers become disillusioned when they struggle with holiness, often feeling they have failed in their spiritual journey. This leads them to doubt their experiences and revert to old ways, ultimately worsening their spiritual state. Simpson argues that true fulfillment comes from recognizing Christ as a living presence ready to dwell in willing hearts, rather than viewing sanctification as a mere state to achieve.
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More and more we are realizing the supreme importance of getting the right conception of sanctification-not as a blessing but as a personal union with the personal Savior and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thousands of people get stranded after they have embarked on the great voyage of holiness. They find themselves failing and falling and are astonished and perplexed. They conclude that they must have been mistaken in their experience. So they make a new attempt at the same thing and again fall. At last, worn out with their efforts, they conclude that the experience is a delusion, or at least that it was never intended for them.
Then they fall back into the old way, and their last state is worse than their first.
What people need today to satisfy their deep hunger and to give them a permanent and divine experience is to know not sanctification as a state but Christ as a living person who is waiting to enter the heart that is willing to receive Him.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Right Conception of Sanctification
- Sanctification as a personal union with Christ and the Holy Spirit
- The need for a correct understanding of sanctification
Key Quotes
“Thousands of people get stranded after they have embarked on the great voyage of holiness.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- To experience sanctification, you must receive Christ as a living person who is waiting to enter your heart.
- A correct understanding of sanctification is essential for achieving a permanent and divine experience.
- Don't try to achieve sanctification through your own efforts, but rather through a personal union with Christ and the Holy Spirit.