God the Holy Spirit, Mentor's Guide, MG14

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G O D T H E H O L Y S P I R I T

C. Key theological principles concerning sanctification

1. Sanctification depends on Christ’s work at Calvary but it is applied to each believer personally by the work of the Holy Spirit.

a. What Christ did for us at the cross is the basis of what the Holy Spirit continues to do in us now. Faith in Christ is the source of both justification and sanctification.

(1) Heb. 10.14

(2) Rom. 3.24

b. When we place our faith in Christ it is the Holy Spirit who comes to us to make us like him. The Spirit is the part of the Godhead that causes us to actually be transformed into righteous people.

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(1) 1 Cor. 6.9-11 (cf. 1 Thess. 4. 7-8)

(2) Rom. 15.16

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2. The Spirit’s work always produces hatred of sin and increasing holiness of life. No Christian should come to accept sin as normal or inevitable.

a. The Scriptures command holiness of life (Exod. 19.6; John 5.14; 1 Pet. 1.15-16). God would not command what was not possible or what he did not expect.

b. The Scriptures promise holiness of life as a part of God’s salvation (Deut. 30.6, Ezek. 36.25-27, Matt. 5.6; 1 Thess. 5.23-24). God would not promise something he does not intend to do.