In his sermon on 'Of Sanctification' from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, Eric Bechler explores the concept of sanctification as a work of God's free grace. He distinguishes between definitive sanctification, which breaks the reign of sin, and progressive sanctification, which is an ongoing process of growing in holiness. Despite the ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit, the sermon assures believers that, through the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, they will ultimately overcome sin. Essential characteristics of growing in grace include perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after a heavenly life, and practicing evangelical obedience to Christ's commands. The sermon emphasizes that while Christians may experience setbacks and struggles, they are encouraged to pursue holiness and support one another in their faith journey, with the assurance that God's work within them will continue until the day of Jesus Christ.

Our reading this morning from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 comes from chapter 13 of sanctification, paragraph 3. This is our last paragraph here. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome, and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting in holiness in the fear of God, pressing after in heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ, his head and King in his word hath prescribed them. This will be our final week that we look at chapter 13 on sanctification. We begin today with the answer to question 35 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and to live unto righteousness. Recall the word sanctification means to set apart or to consecrate or to make holy. When you think of holiness, we have to look at not how it relates to itself or to others, but how it relates only to God. God is true holiness.

He is the standard. Lewis Berkoff states, the idea of holiness is never that moral goodness considered in itself, but always that of ethical goodness seen in relation to God. God declares himself to be the standard of holiness when he says that since he is holy, we also should be holy. This takes us back to sanctification being the work of God's free grace. Remember that sanctification happens both at a single point in time and as an ongoing work.

We described this as definitive sanctification and progressive sanctification. Definitive sanctification, again, changes our nature. It breaks the reign of sin, but does not free us from sinning. When the Holy Spirit regenerates us and gives us a new heart, our will is transformed. And now we are inclined towards godly things, whereas before we had no inclination towards God.

Now we want to draw closer to God, now we want to obey His commands. Because of this change, this new direction, we find ourselves in constant conflict, in a lifelong struggle that is not complete until we're glorified with Christ. Our paragraph this morning emphasizes that we, through God's grace, will win the lifetime struggle with sin. Although we will lose some battles, even many battles, ultimately we will win the war. Praise God.

Let's begin by looking at our own condition. What is the condition of a saved person, a believer, someone who's been effectually called and justified? Is he sinless? Is he perfect? Now, the Bible tells us that if we say we have no sin, we're deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us and even more we're making God out to be a liar.

In 1st John 1 10 if we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us. In truth there remains in us a corruption, a remnant of sin in every part. Whether or not we want to fight against indwelling sin or resist temptations, Peter tells us that our sinful desires, our fleshly lusts, will war against us. First Peter 2, 11, dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Our paragraph today begins by pointing this out with a phrase, in which war.

This war is the battle between the flesh and the spirit, between grace and sin. In Romans 7, 22 through 23, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. This warfare is between the law of sin and the law of God, as Paul talked about. Sometimes we may lose a battle. Sometimes the remaining corruption that's within us may much prevail, meaning we might lose many battles.

Paul tells us of his own struggles in his letters to the Romans and to the Galatians in Romans 7, 19. For the good that I would, I do not. But the evil which I would not, that I do. And to the Galatians in 5, 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh.

And these are contrary, the one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you should. We have other examples from scripture. Think of Noah after the flood getting drunk. What about Moses in frustration striking the rock? What about David in Bathsheba?

Here we have lust, adultery, murder, and even a cover-up. And what about Peter denying Christ three times after his boastfulness. Remaining corruption prevailed in these examples, yet repentance followed. However, the regenerate part doth overcome through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying spirit of Christ. We should be comforted by the thought that no matter the struggles, no matter the lost battles, final victory is certain.

The regenerate part does overcome. Scripture tells us 1st John 5, 4, for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. From Romans 6, 14, for sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace. Dr. Sproul comments, although there are low moments when it seems the old man has the upper hand and is prevailing, the constant supply of the weapons that we need for triumph are given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Because of this supply and because the Holy Spirit's actions within us, it is most certain that the regenerate nature will ultimately overcome. We speak then of the process of growing in grace. This growth towards spiritual maturity is driven by the sanctifying spirit of Christ so that the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The saints grow in grace. This describes progressive sanctification. These words come from 2 Peter 3.18, but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen." So what are some of the characteristics of growing in grace? Our paragraph highlights three characteristics, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after a heavenly life, and in doing this in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as head and King in his word hath prescribed them. First let's look at perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This phrase comes directly from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians where he says, having therefore these promises, and these promises are that God would dwell in us, walk with us, and that he would be our God, and that he would be to us a father.

Dearly beloved, let us, his people, cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Jeffrey Smith states, It is a fear of God that is joined to trust in our Father's love and care for us in Christ, which at the same time counts as our Father's frown as our greatest dread, and his smile as our greatest joy. We pursue holiness without and within not to impress men, but because we fear God who sees and knows every thought and intent of the heart and because we desire to honor and to please him who loved us and gave his son to redeem us. When I read these words I thought about things I would say to my kids and trying to teach them about obeying God. As you decide and choose how you behave, what you say, how you act, you can think in terms of does that bring a smile on God's face or does that bring a tear to his eye?

I think these are really good pictures even for adults to consider when we're faced with how to respond, to know that God is always watching. Will you put a smile on his face or bring a tear to his eye? Chad Van Dixhorne reminds us that Christian brothers and sisters need to encourage one another to walk in the fear of God. And as we do so, let us be earnest in our dependence on the Word and the Spirit. For it is through humble dependence on God's power that the strongholds of sin are brought down and holiness is brought to completion.

The second characteristic here is pressing after a heavenly life. Again, this gives us a picture of progressive sanctification, the pursuing of a heavenly life here on earth, pursuing holiness. As Matthew tells us in the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6 10, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. And finally, doing all this in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as head and king in His word hath prescribed them. Again, Jeffrey Smith comments, what is evangelical obedience?

This is common language found in the Puritans, but is a concept rarely heard of today. What does it mean? The term evangelical obedience includes several important ideas. It is obedience growing out of a faith in the gospel as opposed to a legal obedience that is seeking to obtain salvation as a reward for our efforts. It is obedience that arises from a regenerate heart and is therefore marked by a sincere desire to honor and glorify God in our Savior Jesus Christ.

And finally it is an obedience that though it is not perfect is also satisfied, is not satisfied with anything less than obedience to all that Christ commands. In this last paragraph of the three of this chapter, it teaches that in spite of all of the ups and downs and conflict of the Christian life and in spite of the fact that a Christian may backslide for a time and that remaining corruption may prevail yet every true Christian ultimately over the course of his life will make progress in sanctification by means of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in his heart. Holiness will continue to be perfected in a climate of godly fear. He will continue to press after a heavenly life and over time he will grow in evangelical obedience to all the commands of Christ as he becomes aware of them And some will make greater progress than others, but all of God's true people will ultimately be found in the way of pursuing that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. We all are in different places in our faith walk.

We have different backgrounds, we have different experiences, we live in different circumstances, we've had different victories, as well as different setbacks. As we grow closer in our relationships with one another in this congregation, and as we interact with other Christians, we need to have love and patience and gentleness when we look at other people's choices. If it concerns a sin, Matthew 18 tells us how to proceed. We should Go to our brother and sister in private and talk about it with them. If you're not sure that this is particularly a sin but you're troubled, it's still a good practice to go privately with your brother or sister and talk about it.

Don't let it fester. Don't let it become food for gossip. We should engage our brothers and sisters in Christ with love and with gentleness. I'll end with two passages from scripture. The first is Hebrews 12, 1 and 2.

Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight in the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Philippians 1, 6, being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Don't despair if you're having difficulties or setbacks. Life can be messy. Keep your eyes on Christ and fight the good fight.

Finish strong. And remember, to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as also I overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne. Amen.