I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6
What point would there be if scientists found a cure for cancer, in which the cancer itself was removed, but the symptoms of the cancer were not taken away with its removal? You’d be free from the disease in name, but still suffer its pain and limitations. That would be no cure at all!
Charles Spurgeon, a great preacher of old, spoke about the impossibility of salvation without sanctification. He said, “Had it been possible for you to have salvation without sanctification, it would have been a curse to you instead of a blessing. If such a thing were possible, I cannot conceive of a more lamentable condition than for a man to have the happiness of salvation without the holiness of it; happily, it is not possible. If you could be saved from the consequences of sin, but not from the sin itself and its power and pollution, it would be no blessing to you.”
Spurgeon’s point is clear: salvation does more than free us from the penalty of sin – it delivers us from its grip. Imagine being forgiven but still trapped in the misery of sin’s habits, guilt and shame. That would be no blessing, it would be a burden! True salvation includes sanctification – the process where God transforms us to become more like Jesus. He declares us righteous and empowers us to live differently, with new desires and a heart that seeks to please Him.
Thankfully, God doesn’t offer a half-hearted salvation. When He saves you, He begins a work in you that He promises to complete (Philippians 1:6). Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, He breaks the power of sin, cleanses its toxic pollution, and helps you grow in holiness. This is the beauty of God’s grace! His grace rescues you from hell and changes you from the inside-out, enabling you to live the life Jesus promised in John 10:10: “The thief comes only to still and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
So today, ask yourself: Am I cooperating with God’s work of sanctification? Am I letting Him shape my thoughts, actions, and desires? Don’t settle for a shallow faith that only seeks forgiveness. Embrace the full blessing of salvation – a life transformed by God’s power and love.
Former Blackout Artist 