1st Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.
This passage of scripture teaches us what is the ultimate goal of the plan of salvation, not only to justify, but rather to sanctify. Justification takes place when, through the efforts of the Holy spirit, and our freedom of choice, we accept Christ's sacrifice for us, to save us from eternal death , and opens up to us the possibility of eternal life, if we endure to the end, by God's grace. However this is only the beginning point in a life long relationship with The Lord Jesus, for the work of cleansing us from all the stains of sin, and from all unrighteousness and ungodly deeds and thoughts, continues on from day to day as long as life shall last.
However, there are many Christians who stop short at the preliminary experience of justification, and do not move on to the sanctification phase, and because of this a nominal religious experience becomes the norm, with very little progress being made in cultivating the active Christian virtues enumerated in the following passage. Let's read:
2nd Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The reason why this particular admonition is so important is because it directly affects the ultimate outcome of our entire religious experience, as it pertains to receiving the gift of immortality when Christ comes again, as is plainly stated in the following verse of the same chapter. Let's read:
2nd Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Many of the Hebrews fell into the snare of a superficial, external form of religion which does not touch the heart, nor changes old habits. Inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil were left to run riot in their lives, while the external rites and ceremonies of religion were rigidly adhered to, and because of this, many of them stopped at the point of justification, and were consequently lost for eternity. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
In our day, Christians are in very grave danger of making similar mistakes, for we are now submerged for the most part in a superficial religious system, which claims Jesus as Lord and Savior, while walking contrary to what He says in His word. When we pick and choose what, and what not to obey in His word, and when we become sticklers for rites, ceremonies, pomp, and circumstance, then we may be sure that the deep, internal cleansing which God desires to bestow, has come to a halt, and when this happens, a pattern of retrogression then sets in, which if left unchecked, will reverse all that has been accomplished for us at Calvary, and will finally pull us down to perdition. That's why we end with a sobering passage of scripture, which should act as a wake up call to all who are sitting on the fence as it pertains to the important work of sanctification. Let's read:
Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
May we utilize the golden opportunity given us to surrender ourselves to God, that this very important aspect of salvation be accomplished in our hearts, through the renewing power of The Holy Spirit from day to day. "Good night" and God bless!