RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS MANUAL LESSON FIVE (5): THE SANCTIFIED LIFE

LESSON FIVE (5): THE SANCTIFIED LIFE [SUNDAY OCTOBER 1ST, 2017]

MEMORY VERSE: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." – 1 Thessalonians 5:23

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 17:9-23

INTRODUCTION:

In the Old Testament, sanctification frequently denotes the ceremonial or ritual consecration of any person or thing to God. Thus, the Hebrews as a people were holy unto the Lord, through the covenant with its rites and atoning sacrifices (Exodus 31:13). Sanctification is the second work of grace after salvation that every believer must experience. The understanding of the concept, process and practice of sanctification shall be dealt with in this lesson with the help of the Holy Spirit.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Sanctification: concept and process

2. Practices and benefits of sanctification

SANCTIFICATION: CONCEPT AND PROCESS

To sanctify means to make holy, or to set apart for God (Genesis 2:3; Exodus 19:23). In a doctrinal sense, sanctification is the making, truly and perfectly, holy what was before defiled and sinful. It is a progressive work of divine grace upon the soul justified by the love of Christ. The believer is gradually cleansed from the corruption of his nature (John 15:3), and is at length presented “unspotted before the throne of God with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). The Holy Spirit performs this work in connection with the providence and word of God (John 14:26; 17:17; 2Thessalonians 2:13; 1Peter 1:2). Every Christian should seek to be holy even as God is holy (1Peter 1:15-16). The ultimate sanctification of every believer in Christ is a covenant mercy purchased on the cross. He, who saves us from the penalty of sin, also saves us from its power and to prepare for Heaven every willing and yielding believer.

PRACTICES AND BENEFITS OF SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Romans 6:13; 2Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1John 4:7; 1Corinthians 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1Corinthians 6:11; 2Thessalonians 2:13). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it secures union to Christ (Galatians 2:20), and brings the believer into living contact with the truth (John 8:32).

The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ.

CONCLUSION:

Are you sanctified? Are you ready for sanctification? Can you pay the price? We pray that you answer these questions correctly. The choice is yours.

QUESTIONS

1. What is sanctification?
2. How can it be experienced?