God's Grand Plan – Dr. Charles Stanley
It's amazing but true that God's grand plan for your life is far
greater than you can imagine. In fact, this earth-bound existence has us so
preoccupied with the demands of life that most of us give little thought to
what it will mean to be completely sanctified.
In the Christian life, sanctification is a three-stage process.
At the moment of salvation, God sets us apart for Himself. Then throughout the
rest of our earthly life, He works to transform us into the image of His Son.
One day, however, there will be a glorious culmination to our sanctification.
Presently, we all struggle with sin, but when we die, our spirits and souls
will ascend to heaven and be completely sinless. Then we'll see our Savior face
to face and experience unimaginable joy. No longer will we struggle with the
pride of life or the lusts of the flesh and the eyes (1 John 2:16).
However, as great as this will be, it's not yet the final step.
Some day in the future, Jesus will descend from heaven, bringing with Him the
souls of those who have died in Christ. They will be united with their
resurrected bodies, and believers who are still alive on the earth will be
changed (1 Thess. 4:14-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-54). Then sanctification will be
complete--spirit, soul, and body.
This is not a fairy tale, but the believer appointed destiny.
God Himself promises to bring it to pass. We'll walk in His presence, spotless
and without blame, for all eternity. Knowing this, how will you live today? The
promise of salvation isn’t meant just to give hope, but to spur us on to holy
living.
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