Skip to main content

The Grand Tour: Repentance, Justification, and Sanctification

Eventually, in life, we will all wonder if there is more to life than what we do, what we see, and what we feel. Even after we accept Jesus into our heart, we will still feel a longing. We don't believe that accepting Jesus is the final step. Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is only the beginning of our faith. The Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives.

John Wesley used the illustration of a house to describe this work.

When you're beginning to feel that there has to be more to life than this, you take a look at the house. Then, you’re moved to take a risk and step up on the porch of repentance. There you find new life. After that, you walk into the living room through the front door of justification. Justification is when God makes right what we never can; God, through Christ, makes things right.

Wesley ended by saying that sanctification is the exploration of the rest of the house.

How sad would it be to live your entire life in the living room? That would be like staying in Kindergarten for your entire life. We understand that conversion isn’t the end. There’s a continuing work. Through the Holy Spirit, we know there is more work to do. Every day brings the opportunity to bring of ourselves under the lordship of Jesus. Our goal is to become more like Jesus, and to let him work in us and through us.



If you're interested in hearing our Sunday morning teachings, here's the link to our YouTube channel.

Blessings,
AK

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Midweek Meditation, episode 1

Good evening church! The Coronavirus and social distancing make it impossible for us to meet this week, but we can still chat. So instead of our weekly Bible study in person, let's try this. Follow this link and create an account at Udemy. This course is free if you enroll by tomorrow, March 19th.  Watch the 3 minute course Overview video with Jennifer Loop. She'll explain how this course is put together. . Then view the 3 minute Introduction to the Letter by N.T. Wright.  Bishop Wright mentions Philippians as one of the prison letters. The prison letters are Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Do you have a favorite letter of Paul? I love the little book of Philemon. It's a personal letter, short, and tells a beautiful story. I think the whole of Paul's theology can be seen there--Reconciliation is the heart of what it means to be part of the family of Jesus. What about you? Do you have a favorite letter by Paul? Is there some question...

A Light for All

Epiphany is when we remember the magi's visit to see baby Jesus. Epiphany means "manifestation." This day is a celebration--not because of the gifts given to baby Jesus--but because of what God has done through Jesus. Through Jesus, the divine glory has been made manifest. Through Jesus, God's glory has been made known to all. What this really means is that now the world finally gets to see what God is truly like. In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where  is the child who has been born king of the Jews?" . . . they set out; and there ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. (Matthew 2:1-2a, 9) If you're an artistic type who's interested in Christian art, light is the traditional symbol for Epiphany. . . . the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land o...

From Anxiety to Hope

In the early winter of AD 28, an extraordinary rumor spread across the shores of Galilee. A new prophet is on the scene. God had been silent for so long. Believers had longed for a new word from God. The last prophet to speak about the Messiah lived nearly 400 years ago. Some thought prophecy was dead. Others hoped it would be revived. Many longed for a movement which would bring them a new kind of freedom. Then John appears. Crowds come to hear this voice in the wilderness. It may helpful to remember the Exodus story: When Israel left Egypt, they were ed through the Red Sea, through the wilderness of Sinai, and, finally, through the Jordan into the promised land. People were desperate for a new exodus, a new freedom. Then John appears. He tells people to turn their lives around. He calls for people to change their hearts and lives. He's not calling for a one-time event. Instead, this is a radical change of life. John is preparing the road for the Lord to return. He...