In our text this week Paul was not holding back. Like a coach inspiring his players for a difficult second half in a championship game, Paul calls upon Timothy to give everything he has in service to the Lord and to the church.
Flee, pursue, fight, take hold of, keep – the commands come bundled into a cloud of earnestness. The process of becoming more like Jesus and maintaining faithfulness can be, and is expected to be, an exhausting journey. This does not mean, however, that it is a journey that we embark on alone or even which we progress in by our own strength. We may walk the path of self-righteousness, or sit on the bench of spiritual apathy, alone, but we can only step towards the horizon of sanctification in the company of God.
Theologians have long understood that, practically, our holiness consists of two processes: (1) dying to sin, and (2) living righteously in imitation of Jesus (Eph 4:17-24). What has also been recognized, is that, as the Westminster Catechism helpfully states, sanctification is “the work of God’s free grace.” How then is the grace of God working in us as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling? (Phil 2:12)
I recently read an encouraging reminder of how God involves Himself in our sanctification in each Person of the Trinity.(1)
God the Father has, before time began, chosen us for the purpose that our sanctification would be brought to completion. As Christians, our holiness was the decree of God before He even said, “Let there be light.”
Ephesians 1:4 (NASB95)
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
God the Son is also directly involved in our sanctification. Not only does the death of Jesus bring about our justification (Heb 2:9), and secure our glorification (Heb 2:10), but it also produces our sanctification (Heb 2:11).
Hebrews 2:9–11 (NASB95)
9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Finally, the Holy Spirit is the Person of the Trinity most often associated with our daily growth in the Christian life. Living righteously and free from sin is synonymous with walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16) and being filled by the Spirit (Eph 5:18). By His daily work in us, we come to manifest the character of God in victory over the flesh.
Galatians 5:18–25 (NASB95)
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Sanctification is not easy. It will be a war as long as we carry with us the vestiges of our flesh. Only in heaven will holiness become a comfortable and fully natural condition for us. Until then, however, we can take encouragement that our sanctification, just like our justification, is a work of grace being produced in us by the power of the fullness of God Himself.
Galatians 6:8–9 (NASB95)
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.