God’s Will—Our Sanctification

“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification . . .” 1 Thess. 4:1-3. From this we understand that God wants something far greater than just to pardon us. His will for us is that we should make progress in being pleasing to Him. “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Rom. 5:10. His will is that we should come to a completely new life and be transformed into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ, and make progress in His virtues and wisdom. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Gal. 5:16-17.

Those who want to do God’s will become aware of their own self-will and the desires of their flesh. By the leading and power of the Spirit, we can receive grace to do God’s will. “. . . but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:2. God’s will is always what is good and acceptable and perfect—that which can enlighten our path. Self-will has its root in sin and in the flesh and it darkens our path. But even when we have a renewed mind, there will be conflict. Our own self-will is strong. But when I bow myself, then God’s will can accomplish its purpose through me, as it did with Jesus. Isa. 53:10. We must not draw back from the sufferings and from God’s dealings with us according to His will. Here we need to bow ourselves under His mighty hand. In this process, it is vital that we know the commandments and words that have been given to us, and that we keep them in a noble and good heart so that we can bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. Through sanctification by walking in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and with Jesus, and His blood cleanses us from all sin. V. 7. In this new mind, we do the best we can, but we still have to acknowledge in God’s light, that something clings to us that is not well pleasing. Perhaps there is still some coldness or hardness where there should be a fervent, heartfelt love. We sense our need that things should be better so that fellowship can be strengthened. We sense the need and longing for a greater fullness of Christ’s blessing in our lives and ministries.

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was that they would be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that they might walk worthy of the Lord in all things, bearing fruit and increasing in all good works, through the knowledge of God. Col. 1:9-10. That prayer should also be in our hearts. If we are to be filled, there must be empty vessels: a longing to understand what the Lord’s will is. That longing is in those who have laid hold of a new mind. Their longing is to be like the Master, who says: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matt. 11:29. He Himself had to walk in humility and meekness during His time on earth in order for the work of salvation to succeed, according to the will of God. But what about us? If the work of salvation is to succeed in us, we must learn from Him! The way that He walked on is in the lowly places: the new and living way through His flesh. He has left footsteps there for us to follow.

Our hope, through the gospel, is that we may be presented holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight, if indeed we continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast. Col. 1:22-23. It is now that we are alive. Now we can make ourselves ready to meet our Bridegroom. Now we can make use of our short time on earth and partake in sanctification according to God’s will, and make even more progress in partaking of His life and virtues, to the glory of God.