The Doctrine of Suffering - The Anatomy of Spiritual Growth – Part 4
July 18, 2010
OUTLINE:
The Spiritual Life
The spiritual life produces a mature believer.
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
The Anchor
Moving “from faith to faith” requires a spiritual vector that is anchored to something immovable - TLJC/Cross.
“may receive”
from lambano - means to take or receive into one’s possession; (note: remember that God’s promises existed before you’re able to possess them)
Progressive Sanctification
Those who have been called MAY possess God’s promises, but only IF they remain PVTD.
Owning vs. Possessing
At salvation, we are rightful owners of many promises from God, but we do not “possess” them all at that time. We must move “to faith”, be set apart experientially, grow to spiritual maturity, in order to become intimated.
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
DPG
Success in the spiritual life means we humbly stick to the simple idea that God has provided, by grace, each of us a plan for our lives, with the purpose of facilitating spiritual growth.
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
The Energy
The spiritual energy to function inside of the DPG is by means of God the Holy Spirit working with BD.
1Th 2:13
…the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
Objectifying Bible Doctrine
One of the worse things anyone (believer or unbeliever) can do in this life is objectify the Truth as something less than divine power.
Objectify (definition)
to degrade to the status of a mere object
Objectifying Bible Doctrine
Objectifying Bible doctrine is a movement away from Biblical humility. Objectification seeks to establish obedience of BD to man, rather than man to BD.
Counterfeit Sanctification
Arrogance seeks to set man apart (sanctify) for the sake of mankind, using whatever perverted levers are available, including the objectification of BD.
Doctrinal Adjustment
Requires humility towards BD, obedience to it, authority-orientation to it. You cannot objectify BD and grow - it must be the authority in your life!
Remaining Powerless
To alienate the HS is to relegate you to window shopping only!
Loss of Spiritual Energy
- “grieving the Spirit”: characterized by one or more sinful thoughts/actions; temporary condition
- “quenching the Spirit”: characterized by an evil system of thinking; lifestyle ramifications
Regaining Power
- Rebound Repentance: remedy to grieving the Spirit
- Maturity Repentance: remedy to an evil lifestyle
The Energy
The spiritual energy to function inside of the DPG is by means of God the Holy Spirit working with BD.
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
Time
A construct designed by God for the finite mind, maintained through divine patience, and the means by which God’s decree for mankind is progressively wrought.
Progressive Sanctification
We are unable to consume the working object of our faith (BD) all at once…learning takes time and therefore “possession” takes time (ala Heb 9:15).
“conformed”
from suschematizo - means to be molded after something, to be conformed to something, or to be guided.
“transformed”
from metamorphoo - means to be transformed in thought, to change your thinking from human viewpoint to divine viewpoint. The customary present tense denotes something habitual (over time).
Something Old, Something New
Being transformed implies something new (ala new life) flourishing whereas being conformed implies something existing being modified.
Moving “from faith to faith”
- An anchor (TLJC/Cross)
- An operating envelope (DPG)
- Energy to pursue the end goal (BD + HS)
- Time (Life)
Experiential Sanctification
The 10 Things To Remember
Experiential Sanctification is:
#1: Deliverance from the sovereignty of sin