1st Thessalonians Series

Our Purpose

A Time For Concentration on Our Sanctification

Our Anchoring Verse

“For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification.”

- I Thessalonians 4:7

Last Sunday, the sermon centered on building a working biblical definition of sanctification. The two different levels of which sanctification is taking place are at the church level (Highland’s local body) and on a personal level (between the Holy Spirit and our own heart).

Defining Sanctification (Church Level)

Sanctification is a people being “called out”.

(I Thessalonians 1:1; Colossians 1:13):

“Called out” means that, though we reside in the world, we no longer belong to the world; we belong to the Kingdom of God. As our hearts now belong to the Lord, those who have been “called out” know their purpose in their place in time to be serving the Lord.

As a people belonging to the Kingdom of God, our evidences are ( I Thessalonians 1:3):

1. Work of Faith

2. Labor of Love

3. Endurance of Hope

Defining Sanctification (Personal Level)

“As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” (I Th 1:7-10).

As a person who belongs to the Lord, our evidence is: (I Thessalonians 1:9):

Knowing salvation that comes through Christ alone, we find such delight in Him that the lure of idols no longer appeals to us. In comparison, we see the false-hope of idols and we turn our affection to the living and eternal hope of Jesus - for that turning is our worship. As we personally turn toward Him, then our “work of faith”, “labor of love” and “endurance of hope” ring out, as an example to all believers in every place our faith in God has gone out - for His glory!

Highland, I am grateful for you,

Rob