The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "Abounding in Obedience."
God’s ultimate purpose for every believer is conformity to the likeness of Christ. Paul writes: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Rom 8:29). “Image” does not refer to physical appearance, of course. As The NIV Study Bible clearly states: “Predestination here is to moral conformity to the likeness of his Son” (note on Rom 8:29). Unlike justification, that is, being declared righteous in God’s sight, the conformity about which Paul writes here doesn’t occur the moment people believe. Put differently, unlike with justification, the realization of God’s purpose doesn’t occur instantaneously. It’s the result of a lifelong process that results in believers having a relationship to God like that of the resurrected Jesus.
The process believers go through to become like Jesus goes by a number of familiar terms. If the process is thought of in terms of development, the term often used is spiritual formation. If the process is thought of in terms of training, the term often used is discipleship. If the process is thought of in terms of holiness, the term often used is sanctification. All three terms refer to one and the same process. One commentator links this process to sanctification using these words: “Paul presents two aspects of this conformity. By a sharing in the suffering of Christ (Phil 3:10) that is based on having the mind of Christ (Phil 2:5-8), the believer is gradually being made into his likeness. This is the essence of sanctification.” And he pegs the end of the sanctification process to resurrection when Jesus returns, going on to say: “Its second and final aspect is conformity of the body to that of the risen Lord, to be realized at the resurrection (Phil 3:21), which is the culmination of a growth in likeness to Christ based on the Spirit’s work in the believer (2 Cor 3:18)” (Everett F. Harrison, “Romans,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 10, 98, italics added).
Unlike with justification, sanctification is a cooperative effort. While the Holy Spirit is the one who sanctifies believers, believers are the ones who engage in the behaviors that the Sprit uses to sanctify them. These behaviors are commonly referred to as spiritual disciplines. The 10 Central Practices are examples of spiritual disciplines. “Richard Foster divides the disciplines into inward, outward and corporate. Inward disciplines are practiced in the privacy of our intimate walk with Jesus [e.g., Prayer]. Outward disciplines affect how we interface with the world [e.g., Evangelism]. And corporate disciplines are practiced with others [e.g., Biblical Community]. Dallas Willard distinguishes between disciplines of engagement and disciplines of abstinence. Disciplines of engagement connect us to the needs of others and the call to be God’s heart and hands in this world [e.g., Compassion] . . . Disciplines of abstinence detach us from hurry, clutter and busyness, and open us to being with God alone [e.g., solitude and silence]” (Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, 19-20). In any case, while each of the Central Practices, or disciplines, is worthwhile in itself—compassion benefits the one who receives it—each of them is also worthwhile because the Holy Spirit uses each one to transform, disciple, or sanctify Christ’s followers.
Christians who are disciplined and committed to the practice of spiritual disciplines give the Holy Spirit more to work with than Christians who don’t. And as is to be expected, they will find themselves farther along in the process of becoming like Jesus than those who don’t. Salvation by grace doesn’t preclude the need for works—certainly as far as sanctification is concerned! Putting God and his priority for your life first—namely, conformity to the likeness of Christ—makes perfect sense in light of what Scripture teaches. To the Thessalonians, Paul writes: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified” (1Th 4:3). And that requires single-minded cooperation with the Spirit.
Central Message of the Text:
Try even harder to live your life in order to please God by obeying the instructions given you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Family Talk:
Remember the opening race of Cars where Lightning McQueen limps over the finish line? That’s me. I have a disease called Spring Fever and I’m barely making it across the end-of-school finish line. It’s ridiculously contagious, which means my kids have it, too. We’re on the home stretch of the fifth six-week period and Spring Break is around the corner. There’s a very dim light at the end of the tunnel but I see it and I’m so ready to be done. I’m tired of checking grades and reminding kids of due dates for projects, reports or tests. I don’t want to fight the “get out of bed” battle one more day. I’ve reached into my parenting toolbox and dusted off the “Finish Strong” speech but there’s no life behind my words. We’re reminded in this week’s passage not only to keep going strong but to do our very best. Did you catch that? Our very best. Friends, this is a booster shot from God. This is Paul on the sidelines cheering us on as we limp across the finish line. We can stop grumbling and complaining. We can be patient. We can be encouraging. We can be loving. We can do hard things because His strength shines through our weakness. In order to live to please God, we need to be laser-focused on Him. Are you starting your morning in prayer? How often are you reading His Word? Do you have a friend you can turn to for accountability? We’re in this together. Let’s change our focus and enjoy this season, thanking God for the amazing gift of parenting our sweet and special kids.