The word "sanctification" has always intrigued me. Even as a teen I was asking questions about the meaning of the word. Definitions such as "set apart," "sold out for Christ," "a holy and pure life," "total surrender," seemed to help wrap my mind around it (sort of), yet it was still vague. What exactly does a sanctified life look like? This past June I got my answer.
I had the privilege of being a student of Dr. Chris Bounds while taking classes at IWU a few years ago while finishing my degree. I was thrilled when I heard that Dr. Bounds was to give the first of three sessions on the topic of "holiness" (3 sessions included: Personal, Corporate, and Global Holiness) offered during the General Conference of the Wesleyan Church that Dennis and I attended in June.
My heart stirred when I heard Dr. Bounds say this: The end of sanctification is not the freedom from sin. The end is love...set free to love God with all heart, soul and strength. Free to love God and others. We have the internal resources through the indwelling Holy Spirit to do so.
Obviously, God deals with the sin issues in our lives, but to know the end result of a sanctified life is love... that draws me to my faith of Christianity all the more. And, wouldn't that make sense since we have a God who loves the whole world?
1 comment:
This is a poignant posting! So very good and so very true. Such writing shows your gift. Hope you had a wonderful anniversary!
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