I have been thinking about the text Matthew 7:13-14 as it relates to the believer. Many times I think of this text in light of the unbeliever and the challenge of stepping through the door of the narrow gate. But this week I have been considering it from the view of the believer and in turn progressive sanctification.
The doctrine of Sanctification tells us that at the moment of salvation we are considered holy and righteous before God. If we were to die and stand before God Christ would be there as our mediator and intercessor to declare us righteous and holy by his blood. This is part of the miraculous events that occur when a person steps from death to life, from darkness to light. From seeking salvation by every means to trusting Christ for that salvation. However, we know when we make this step from dark to light that it's not the only step of faith we are required to take; it's the first step of many steps. As Louie Giglio (or was it Erwin McManus) says- the confession of Jesus as Lord is the first yes of many yeses that will take place. There is a sanctification process that begins at salvation that will take place until glorification- the day we die and are united with God or when Christ comes again.
Many times we confuse or resist sanctification because we consider it legalism. We see a mature person in the faith, we see all that they do that we could never do and we see all that they don't do, have omitted from their life, that we are so wrapped up in we can't imagine life without and we just can't imagine our life ever looking like that. Other times the expectation of the mature believer is cast upon the new believer or the new believer. It's a burden that is not biblical and not fair, it's a shame it's common place in many churches.
The part of sanctification I think that confuses us and the part of it I believe we're tempted to manipulate is this. In almost every area of life the older we become, the longer we've been with something and the further we progress the MORE we do and the more we're trusted with, the more we're responsible over. However, in sanctification the longer we're following Christ, the longer we continue to tell him yes the less we're going to be concerned with. Sanctification brings about a peace in life that simply boils down to telling Christ "YES."
That's the essence of sanctification. When the calling gets stronger we say yes, when he tells us to venture out in faith we say yes. When we're called to surrender this or that the response is yes. We live life with and open hand and an open heart; hearing the voice of God and saying yes.

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