22 lines
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22 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">January 11</div></div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030"><h2>The Inability of the Law to Sanctify</h2>
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<div class="block"><p><i>This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so <b>foolish</b>? Having <b>begun</b> in the <b>Spirit</b>, are you <b>now</b> being made <b>perfect</b> by the <b>flesh</b>?</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',3,'2-3');">Galatians 3:2-3</a>)</div>
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<p>The first question here in <a onClick="return mV('Gal',3,'1-');">Galatians 3</a> again brings to mind issues of <b>justification</b>. <i>"Did you <b>receive</b> the <b>Spirit</b> by the <b>works</b> of the <b>law</b>, or by the <b>hearing</b> of <b>faith</b>?"</i> We received the Holy Spirit of God to dwell in our lives when we were born again, when we became children of God. This is also when the Lord declared us justified, righteous in His sight.</p><p><b>How</b> did the <b>Spirit</b> come to <b>indwell</b> us? Was it by our <b>performance</b>, attempting to live up to the <b>law</b> of God? <b>No</b>, it was <i>"by the <b>hearing</b> of <b>faith</b>."</i> We heard the good news that Christ died for our sins. We heard the truth that Jesus could forgive us of our unrighteousness. <b>Faith</b> was stirred in our hearts as we considered that grand message. In simple, humble faith, we asked the Lord Jesus to come into our lives, to be our personal Savior. <i>"But as many as <b>received Him</b>, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who <b>believe</b> in <b>His name</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',1,12);">John 1:12</a>).</p><p>The next two questions in our text apply this same biblical reasoning to <b>sanctification</b>. <i>"Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you <b>now</b> being made <b>perfect</b> by the <b>flesh</b>?"</i> To think that we can <b>advance</b> the <b>process</b> of <b>sanctification</b> (that is, progressive transformation unto Christlikeness) by our own <b>human resources</b> (that is, by the flesh) is <b>foolishness</b>.</p><p>What a staggering thought! Just as we could <b>never</b> secure <b>justification</b> by our own <b>best efforts</b>, so it is true that we can <b>never</b> increase personal <b>sanctification</b> by our own <b>best efforts</b>. Yes, "<i>The just shall <b>live by faith</b>,"</i> initially and continually!</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, I praise Your holy name for justifying me by faith in Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that such a blessing did not depend upon my personal ability or merit. My heart is both convicted and encouraged that sanctification is by faith as well. I am convicted, because I have often thought and acted as though I could effect more practical righteousness by my own resources. I am encouraged that there is a way that actually works, and it depends upon trusting in You. O Lord, please remind me of this glorious, gracious provision day by day, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/01/0110.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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