Ep 923 – Sanctification – Romans 6:1-11

Imagine running a race without a finish line in mind. You'd be running with no objective and no hope of ever finishing the race, let alone, of winning it. A race without a finish line is not a race at all, but merely an exercise in futility and, ultimately, frustration. And the Christian life would be the same thing if it did not have a final objective or outcome. As we discuss the doctrine of sanctification, we must never forget that it is directly tied to two other major doctrines and cannot exist without them. One is our salvation. The other, our future glorification. And all three are dependent upon our resurrection. Paul told the believers in Corinth that "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless." And then he added, "if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world." In other words, without our resurrection and glorification as our final goal, our sanctification will be like running in a race with no hope of victory.