The Futility of Self-Sanctification
“THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” (ROM. 5:1)
If we misunderstand the fullness of our justification by faith, we will inevitably turn to self-effort to achieve sanctification. Romans 7 describes this struggle in vivid terms: a believer, fully desiring holiness, yet continually failing as long as he depends on himself to live the Christian life. The discovery that self-effort cannot produce godliness is painful, yet essential—it is the breaking point that leads us to fully rely on Christ within.
Paul’s words in Romans 7 resonate with any believer who has labored under the weight of legalism. The harder one tries to do good in their own strength, the more they find themselves failing. It is as if they are stuck in quicksand—the more they struggle to free themselves, the deeper they sink. The only solution is to stop striving, to rest in the truth that sanctification is not achieved by human effort but by faith in Christ's indwelling life.
Just as we were justified by faith apart from works, so too we are sanctified by faith apart from self-effort. The old man was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6), but the flesh—the ingrained patterns of self-dependence formed in our former way of life—remains and must be denied daily (Luke 9:23). The flesh cannot be reformed, improved, or disciplined into holiness (Romans 8:7-8). Rather than striving to make the flesh better, we are called to walk by the Spirit, yielding fully to the life of Christ within, so that He expresses His holiness through us (Galatians 5:16, 2 Corinthians 3:18).
“THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND INHERITANCE AMONG THEM WHICH ARE SANCTIFIED BY FAITH” (ACTS 26:18).
Prayer of Confidence
Father, we rejoice in the peace that comes from knowing we are fully justified in Christ. Thank You that our sanctification is not a work we achieve, but a reality we receive by faith. We rest in Your sufficiency, knowing that Christ is our life, our holiness, and our sanctification. Today, we yield to Him, confident that He is living through us. Amen.
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✍️ Devotional Credit: Abide Above