Sanctification

One of the enjoyable things about growing up in the Niagara Region is having an abundance of fruits and vegetables. We all can appreciate a fresh peach in the summertime, as well as apples and pears in the fall. But one thing we may not always realize is that bearing the best fruit requires more than just good soil, water and sunshine. Much pruning is needed in order for the plants to grow strong and send energy into the fruit. This way, come harvest time, there will be much good fruit.

The same is true spiritually. We read this in the passage of John 15 - “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2). In biblical language, this ‘pruning’ process is called sanctification. The term sanctification refers to the process undertaken by the Holy Spirit to purify us from our sin and make us holy before the Lord. It differs from justification in that justification is a one-time transaction where we repent of our sins, Jesus Christ washes us in His blood, and we are saved. Sanctification, on the other hand, is a lifelong process of growth in godliness and becoming more and more like Jesus. This process involves pruning. In some cases, much pruning is needed.

How does the Holy Spirit do this? One of the tools the Spirit uses very often is His inspired Word. Hebrews 4 and 2 Corinthians 3 are two passages that lay out the end goal of this work. Hebrews 4 speaks of the eternal rest to come, which we are to be diligent about entering (vs 11). We are also called to become more like the Lord, as we see especially in the last verse of 2 Cor. 3: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” The Spirit is pleased to use His Word to prune us, whether through personal or family devotions, various Bible studies, and every Sunday where we gather to be under the preaching of the Word so that we may be transformed and bear much fruit.

The various trials that we face along our journey to the Celestial City are also means of sanctification, often painful. These can be things of varying weight. From the death of a loved one or a cancer diagnosis to more ‘insignificant’ things like a traffic jam or smashing your finger at work, these trials are meant to draw us closer to God and to make us more and more holy. Remember the example of Job, how, after all he endured, he was able to confess, “‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”’ Later on, James urges us to find joy in trials, knowing that “the testing of your faith produces patience.’’ The Lord allows what we call ‘bad things’ to happen to us so that He may fill us with His Spirit and prepare us to dwell with Him eternally.

Just as the stones in the temple were hewn off-site and fit perfectly together, so we are being pruned in this life to prepare us for the next. Sanctification is not an easy process, and yet it is absolutely a crucial part of the Christian walk. The author of Hebrews urges us to “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 4:12). Again, from John 15, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” How can we expect to bear fruit if we are not

in the vine? How can we expect to bear good fruit unless the Spirit of the Lord is at work cleaning up the mess we have created for ourselves? True conversion is not just a ‘get out of jail free card’ acquired when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Jesus cannot be your Saviour if you will not call Him “Lord” (Romans 10:9). Submit to Him in repentance and faith! It leads to a lifetime of service and growth to become more and more like Him. The Spirit is at work doing this, and yet it is something that we should not ignore, or worse, reject. If we are in the vine, the Spirit will prune us so that we bear more fruit. This may hurt. We may not like being sanctified at times, as it may involve pain and sorrow as well as giving up the sin which we so naturally love. And yet the Lord provides strength to bear through this process and comforts us with the knowledge that there will be fruit, and one day, after all the pruning is done, there will be a harvest where we will be glorified and reign with our Saviour forever and ever.

Next time you drive by an orchard or prune a tomato plant in your own backyard, remember. The Lord is a good gardener who is pruning you for the purpose of holiness and to one day enter into the joy of His rest.

By: Cole Slingerland