10th week!
“The word people use for this supposed process of killing the old self is ‘sanctification.’ It is widely believed that sanctification is a lifelong, extended journey of becoming holy. A process of removing sin - progressively having one’s soul purged over an entire lifetime…
The moment you were saved, you were set apart for God. Sanctification is not a process. It is a Person. The bible tells me so!
And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
He is your sanctification. Any system that tries to draw your attention away from the person of Christ and onto your own efforts is antichrist in nature. Your union with God is not an incomplete relationship that comes progressively. Time is not the magic formula that makes you holy. Jesus’ sacrifice made you holy. Christ’s work was enough to purify you, spirit, soul and body…
When Jesus talks about denying yourself and taking up your cross, this is really a passage about ceasing from your own self-efforts and self-driven attempts at spiritual advancement. Let self be smudged totally out of the equation.
Let me ask you a question. If you get to carry your own cross, then whose cross did Jesus die upon?
Did He deserve His cross? I’m sorry … I may have missed something here. … What sin did Jesus commit to deserve His cross? What crime was done to merit such punishment? Oh … wait a minute friend. He didn’t commit a crime … you did! Jesus was carrying your punishment. Any system of religious belief that puts the emphasis on what you need to do for the Lord, rather than what He has done for you, detracts from the Glory of God and spits on the wok of the gospel.
God actually wants to boast in single-handedly saving the world.
Christianity was originally called good news. It used to be a happy message that people wanted to be a part of. The original version of the gospel seemed too good to be true. That’s why it spread like wildfire. Heaven as a free gift. Your sinfulness abolished. Effortless union with God. Amazing benefits! Easy, instant soul purge.”
-John Crowder (Mystical Union)
