Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Steeplechase runner Tangquy Pepiot learned the hard way about finishing a race well. In a competition in 2015 he was well ahead of the other runners entering the final home stretch. About thirty meters from the finish he began waving his arms for the crowd to cheer his impending victory. But as he slowed to soak in the adulation, another runner, Meron Simon, caught up and passed Pepiot at the finish line. Pepiot lost by .10 seconds.

We’ve seen the importance of basing our identity on being saved in Christ. But being justified isn’t the end of our story; it is not the finish line of our spiritual race. For the rest of the week we’ll examine what it means to know that we are also sanctified in Christ.

The opening verses of our reading today provide us with the simplest understanding of sanctification. It is the work of God to make us holy (v. 2). Being justified in Christ allows us to be in a relationship with God, and being sanctified in Christ transforms our lives to look more like Jesus.

We cannot save or justify ourselves, and we also cannot sanctify ourselves. Sanctification is not about our own striving to impress God. Rather, it is the work of God’s grace in our lives (v. 4). This grace includes blessing us with spiritual gifts that we are to use to serve others and glorify God. This marvelous, divine process of God giving us gifts that we in turn use for Him will produce holiness in our lives (vv. 5–7).

Ultimately all the credit for our sanctification belongs to God. He is faithful. He calls us into fellowship. And He keeps us strong to finish our race well. Jesus secures the victory of our holiness (v. 8).

APPLY THE WORD

Are you feeling weary in your spiritual race? Does the call to holiness feel like a burden? Your sanctification is rooted in God’s grace to you. Take time to thank the Lord for His gifts, and then ask how you can use those gifts to serve Him. Our holiness results not from our effort but from our response to what Jesus is already doing in our lives.

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