Many Christians don’t understand God’s process of rescuing and restoring us. As a result, they are confused, sometimes angry or frustrated with God. If that’s you, you need to know this.
“In fact, I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate.”
Paul in Romans 7:15 CEV
1. God’s Plan – to Rescue & Restore you –
3 Sanctifications – God’s process for restoring you to be sons and daughters of God requires us “to be made holy and set apart for God’s purpose” Sanctification.
3 Parts of us sanctified in different ways at different times
o Our spirits – immediate and complete when we are born again, our spirits are made holy, made perfect. Regenerated.
Born again – spirit regenerated, New nature. Our sin is removed. Jesus paid the price for our sin. When God looks at us he sees Jesus’ perfection. This is the Christian concept of grace and forgiveness. God allowed Jesus to die so we don’t have to.
o Our souls (minds, wills, and emotions) – process that happens over time, no shortcuts. This is the battle we fight daily. It is our souls that fight against our spirits (self – thoughts, desires, emotions).
who will you love – self, Satan, or Jesus?
o Our bodies- God sanctifies our bodies when we get to heaven by giving us new bodies
2. The battle to make our souls (minds, wills, and emotions) fully God’s is how we learn to love and overcome self, satan, and sin.
o Through desire for God – love is a choice (e.g. chose my wife, choose her again and again) Choose to love God more than myself, evil, and things of the world.
Obedience to God – learning to trust God with everything – even things I don’t understand.