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bearing, Christianity, fruit, glorify, God, Holy Spirit, how, Life, new birth, progressive, Regeneration, religion, Sanctification
Using an image from agriculture, the Christian life might be described this way:
First, the seed of the new birth is planted in the soil of the believer at regeneration. The Spirit comes to infuse His character in us, and thus the basis is laid whereby God can be glorified in us. Second, with proper nourishment and cultivation the seed sprouts, flowers, and begins to bear fruit. Finally, through constant growth the plant reaches maturity and bears ripe, wholesome fruit. If this stage can be likened to our final maturity that will be brought about in glorification, the second stage can be a metaphor for the believer’s growth in Christ or his spiritual progress in greater degrees of conformity to Christ. This is the doctrine of progressive sanctification or the gradual separation of the saint from those things that are out of conformity to the character of God and growth into greater degrees of conformity to Him. If the purpose of the believer is the glory of God alone, and it is, then progressive sanctification should be of paramount importance to us.
- John D. Hannah, How Do We Glorify God?
Related Post:
What? it’s not about “relationships”, your best life now, or “missionality”? Huh? What kind of “Love Language” is this? Is this really good “chicken soup for the Christian soul”?
Hehe, tongue in cheek of course.
Thanks for the post.
Amen and amen! Hence my distaste for Piper’s “Christian hedonism”, which perverts this “chief aim of man” and turns it on its head – making our enjoyment of God the chief aim rather than a by product thereof. Would that the first answer to the Westminster Shorter was cut short – “The chief aim of man is to glorify God, period.”
I wonder how much confusion would be cleared up if Christians came to a solid understanding of the difference between justification and sanctification? And the fact that both are the work of Christ and His Spirit, and not of our own making.
“Bunches”.
This reminds me of a video that I have and it is called “God of Wonders” and it is put out by Eternal Productions. It is an awesome video about the glory of God. It will heighten your awe of our Creator God!
Amen, Linda – kinda like this short video: http://vimeo.com/4500373