Good Thursday morning. I’m up really early listening to the thunder and the rain.
Romans 6:20-23
20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Short, but sweet message! Sanctification is the process in which a believer is brought closer to the will of God. Luther believed that God works in the justified sinner to mold life and character, but he feared too much emphasis on sanctification would lead believers back to justification by works, as if justification depended on one’s holiness. Even though we aren’t worthy, God who is merciful, blesses us with forgiveness. God’s people are sometimes said to be sanctified because they are set apart for God’s special purposes in the world. Remember, it is an ongoing process. How are you set apart for God’s special purposes in the world?
Blessings on your day,
Pastor Sue