The early Church was trained by Jesus Christ Himself, to take the firsthand information that He had taught them for three and a half years, and disseminate it starting with the Jews and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. An interesting reality, however, is that they themselves had not “fully completed” their own personal training yet either! They too needed to have their own personal discipleship to be strengthened through the ongoing application of the Word of God and the progress and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us examine today some of the components of “The Progress Of Actual Sanctification” (The byproduct of Discipleship)
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 51:1 – 13 (KJV)
Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psa 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
New Testament Scripture Reading: John 16:12- 16 (KJV)
Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) The Bible is a catalog of the love and grace of God toward fallen mankind that reveals the mercy of God in dealing with fallen sinners by showing grace and maintaining preservation of the fallen human family for the purpose of maintaining His promises to man and He has done this against man’s depravity.
2) David was anointed to be King of Israel from a child, and he went a very long time before he was actually “on the throne”, and some of his worst behavior happened in his adult life, but he was called “a man after God’s own heart” indicating that being the blessed and chosen of God in and of itself is not enough to cause “perfect and righteous behavior” due to the aggressive nature of the human soul which is infected with sin!
3) Jesus Christ teaches us in John sixteen the importance of the indwelling Holy Spirit in continuing the progressive work of Salvation, which the Holy Spirit continues as we go through our lives, having been saved “unto good works” as we mature in the knowledge of the Word and His Son Jesus Christ!