Sanctification and Spiritual Growth

Teaching Points (Todd)

1. A person is measured by what God has done for them.
   (Justification and Sanctification are both acts of grace)

2. We are not to fall into the trap of “gradualism”
   Words so much better than “progress” in understanding sanctification, These are words such as, “thrown, launched, caught-up, discovering, etc.”

3. In Christ (not in chronology or human effort) we are a new creation.
   2 Cor 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation”
   The old and new are not describing linear time, they are describing the “in Christ”.

4. Our sanctification consists in fellowship with Jesus. Not in human effort.
   Conversion is ongoing. In waking up to love of Christ we are set in a motion.

5. We are at the same time righteous and sinner. (simul peccator et Justus)

Passages Referenced (Ken)

Mark 10:17-22 (or Luke 18:18-23) and Luke 19:1-10  

While the proximity of Luke's version of the Rich ruler ties it together with the Zacchaeus story I prefer Mark's version because Jesus adds a Commandment at it says, "Jesus looked at him and Jesus loved him".