The Life Side. The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually, but instantly once I enter by faith into the realization that He “became for [me]…sanctification….” Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life.
The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is “Christ in you…” (Colossians 1:27). It is His wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification— imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His Word?
Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ to me. It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy— it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him, and that He now exhibits in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is something altogether different. The perfection of everything is in Jesus Christ, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfect qualities of Jesus are at my disposal. Consequently, I slowly but surely begin to live a life of inexpressible order, soundness, and holiness— “…kept by the power of God…” (1 Peter 1:5).
cdub2 on July 23, 2017 at 9:42 am
My favorite quote is “Sanctification is impartation not imitation”. This is really profound. Sanctification isn’t us trying to be holy; it’s the Holy Spirit filling us.
hsnpoor on July 23, 2016 at 7:56 pm
It always astounds me to see comments still here that I wrote a year ago. A little disconcerting. Here it is a year later and what grabs my attention in 2016 is the beauty of the picture that accompanies today’s devotion! Absolutely stunning!
crossman61 on July 23, 2016 at 9:52 am
Oswald Chambers Is a very deep thinker . Sometimes I have a hard time understanding what he is trying to get through to us . I agree with what you come up with Kim . I especially like your last sentence .( Until our salvation is completed through glorification . ) Our salvation isn’t final till Our Father in Heaven says it is . We can say that we are saved , but in reality none of us really are yet , are we ? we don’t know what kind of trials and tribulations are facing us. This may just be my defense mechanism . But I always try to remember how confident Apostle Peter was . and then he denied Jesus not just once but 3 times . And he was physically in His presence for over 3 years , and witnessed the Miracles He performed . I know we can be weak at times , and then stronger at times . From my own experiences I have been over confident and then God has Humbled me . But I do know I am on that straight and narrow Path. And I know you are as well !! If it were easy anyone could do it . But the sad truth is most will not .
jacyames on July 23, 2015 at 12:53 pm
In our eyes it is a process, in Jesus’s eyes it is finished… He is outside our time and only see the finished work. We must see ourselves, others, circumstances through His eyes not our own. allowing Jesus to flow freely in us and through like a river of living water.
hsnpoor on July 23, 2015 at 12:10 pm
As I look at yesterday’s devotion and compare with today’s, at first glance it was confusing, but I think I’ve worked it out, at least to my satisfaction. Yesterday, sanctification was described as being a process, which is how I’ve always understood it; but today it’s referred to as instantaneous once I enter into faith in Jesus. That seems contradictory, but I believe what is being communicated is that faith in Jesus instantaneously imparts the gift of sanctification, but it beomes a process because WE are in control of how much we will cooperate with the Lord in our sanctification. It’s basically just like salvation in that at the moment of our belief and acceptance of God’s gift of salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ, we are saved; but we continue to be saved through sanctification, until our salvation is completed through glorification.
kalchin9001 on July 26, 2016 at 8:42 am
I agree with you hnspoor, you have helped me to better understand these two writings on sanctification. Chambers writes so deep that I can sometimes take these readings and go over in my mind several interpretations. I have been walking with God for awhile now and want to live every minute of my life by his word. There is so much to learn. A friend gave me this book on these daily devotions, she said it was too religious for her. Chambers has now become my favorite Christian writer. One has to do a lot of work to get to this point of understanding. I so appreciate all of the comments made here. It’s helpful, thank you.