Moments of Eternal Glory (4): The Spirit's Role in Sanctification
The Father—the Orchestrator, the Caller…
The Son, the one who has become our sanctification…. The Spirit, too, gently
comes alongside of us, transforming each of our moments into moments of eternal
glory. Each day, each quotidian moment of sipping tea or typing an email, is
limned with glory through his work, transforming us into the image of Christ.
The Spirit brings into effect the work of
the Son and the plan of the Father during this age. Indeed, many verses speak
of the work of Christ and the Father in conjunction or “through” the Spirit (2 Thes. 2:13; Acts 1:2; Acts 16:6; Acts
21:4; Rom. 5:5; 1 Cor. 2:10; 1 Cor. 12:8; Gal. 5:5; Eph. 2:18; Eph. 3:16; Phil.
1:19; Heb. 9:14).
When faith falters, it is the Spirit who
sustains trust in the finished work of Christ and enables belief in the gospel,
so that the blessings it offers may be continually enjoyed by us, God’s people. There have been many moments where I felt I could not hang on; doubt dug
deep and gouged out my eyes. The Spirit was there, keeping my feet, opening my
eyes.
When I falter, I slip in the mud, but the
Spirit has washed me deeper than any mud can cling (1 Cor. 6:11; Titus 3:5; 2 Cor. 5:17). A new nature, cleansed,
pure… this is where my ability to pursue holiness springs from. He restores the
very image of the True Human, Christ himself (2 Cor. 3:17-18). The mars, the blemishes will fall
off in light of the glory he is working in my life. The Spirit communicates the
benefits of Christ—when I feel abandoned, dirty, sinful, the Spirit clamors,
cries out, bangs against the walls of my emotions—“You are the child of God!
You are justified!” (Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-6). And deep speaks to deep.
The Spirit empowers the life of the
believer walking in and being filled with the Spirit and assists in the
mortification of sins (Gal. 5:17; Rom. 6:6-14; Rom. 8:1-27). There are those gross mud-worms of sin that I somehow
find attractive still, and cling to. There are times I feel it is impossible to
let go. But the Spirit gets down, stoops down, and begins scrubbing at those
fears, soothing the wounds, showing what those worms truly are—and offers
treasures that are far greater that I can only wonder at, gems that sparkle.
The Spirit works through the means of grace
through the Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 2:11-22; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Jude 20). He provides delight in the
law of God, he is the spark of supernatural unity. Each of these plays a role
in my growth in holiness. What a great, deep, filled, vast treasure chest he
uses to robe me in holiness for my coming King!
And when the mud-flings of doubt and
darkness set in, I know he is my seal. The signet ring of the Father and Son,
the promise (2 Cor. 1:22; 2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; Eph. 4:30). This assurance is a firm base from which I can venture off into
the journey of holiness; without it, my many falls would have overcome me.
He teaches (Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16:13; 1 Jn. 2:27). What a privilege! I do not sit
outside the golden temple and the halls of learning, but have a personal
teacher. All truth, all grace, what is Christ’s is made known to me. What
profundities! I feel I lack in light and wisdom and truth so many times—but he
cries out, “Look to me! I will teach you. I will speak. Listen, listen. Shhhh….
Calm your fears. Listen and learn. I am with you, myself.”
He also intercedes—for my faith, my
holiness, the groans I cannot express (Rm. 8:26-27). Today, especially, I have deep pit
yearnings words are not adequate for, those faulty, frail things. He knows. And
he cries out for me, to the God who is for me, through the blood of the Son who
is for me. Thus, through mud and darkness and doubt and the dredges of life and
the doldrums of the daily, the Spirit is limning each moment with glory.
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