Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Sanctified in Life

Bryan Schneider · June 14, 2025

Romans 12:1-2

sharonrpc.org/sermons/sanctified-in-life

Summary

Sanctification is God's gracious, progressive work of renewing believers after his image and enabling them increasingly to die to sin and live to righteousness.
Holiness does not earn salvation; good works flow from the new life God has already given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Christian growth involves mortification and vivification: putting sinful deeds to death and putting on the character and conduct of the new person.
The Spirit renews the whole soul (mind, will, and affections) so believers learn to think truthfully, choose obedience, and love what God loves.
God sanctifies his people through union with Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Word, the Lord's Supper, prayer and fellowship, and even suffering.
Believers pursue holiness to glorify God, live out their identity in Christ, reflect their Father, respond to Christ's love, and prepare for glory.

Am I confusing growth in holiness with the grace by which God saves sinners through faith in Christ?
Which specific sin must I put to death rather than excuse, manage, or keep as a private favorite?
What Christlike virtue should replace that sin in my thoughts, words, and actions?
Where does my thinking need to be renewed by Scripture rather than conformed to the world?
What do my recurring choices reveal about the direction of my will?
Are my loves changing so that Christ becomes more precious and sin more hateful to me?
Am I making faithful use of the Word, Lord's Supper, prayer, and fellowship as God-appointed means of growth?
Whom can I ask for honest, loving feedback about evidence of holiness and remaining sin in my life?

Sanctification: God's gracious and gradual work of renewing believers after his image so that they increasingly die to sin and live in righteousness.
Mortification: Putting sinful desires and deeds to death by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Vivification: Putting on the new life of holiness, including love, humility, patience, forgiveness, obedience, and thanksgiving.
Union with Christ: The believer's living bond with Jesus, from whom every true spiritual fruit and growth in holiness comes.
Means of grace: The appointed instruments God uses to nourish faith and holiness, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer.
Affections: The soul's loves, hatreds, and desires, which the Spirit progressively reorders toward Christ and away from sin.
Glorification: The completion of God's saving work when his people are made perfectly holy in his presence.