ready, set, grow!

If you read yesterday's post and thought to yourself, "Ok, but what about the Christian life?", then this is the post for you. The phrase, "snow-covered dung" is a bit rattling if you've never heard it before, and I talked about it to point out our position in Christ - fully justified, yet still sinner.

Fine, but don't we grow in our Christian life? What about sanctification? Isn't there some kind of change that takes place?

Yes. But I want to stress the point that sanctification (the Christian life) flows out of, and is motivated by our justification (declaration of "not guilty"). Interested in reading more? I highly recommend this article:

Gospel Driven Sanctification by Jerry Bridges

Here is the section on sanctification from the Westminster Confession of Faith:

Chapter XIII
Of Sanctification
I. They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

II. This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man; yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part; whence arises a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.

III. In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail; yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome; and so, the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.