Sanctification

We must remember that all of us, no matter how long we have been Christians, may become fools. Satan will try to cast a spell over us. We may know the gospel in our heads and actually live on the basis of works, and thus, as Luther said, we must relearn the gospel daily. Let’s calm our hearts with the promise of God’s forgiveness in Christ Jesus, with the grace that is so freely and lovingly granted to us.

The following message by Michael Reeves was given at the Serious Joy: The 36th Bethlehem Conference for Pastors: “I Will Build My Church: Christ’s Promises for his People.”

God intends that we become conformed to the image of Jesus. Why? So that Jesus will have many brothers. And what does that conformity look like? It’s relational through and through.

The following messages are from the 2023 Union Gathering.

Yes, the Father has eternally loved his only begotten Son. But what makes the gospel such good news for us is that the Father has graced us with every spiritual blessing—chief of which is our adoption as sons to himself—“in the Beloved” (1:7). The gospel transforms obedience.

You will weep and worship. And as you relish your union with him—you will be changed. For you are in the Son. You will climb and not be able to reach his heights, you will dive and not be able to reach his depths. And just when you think you have traversed to the ends of him, you will see some yet unknown land in the distance, and he will bid you come, “Deeper.”

Mike Reeves delves into Jonathan Edwards for insight about what it means that God is holy and that we are called to holiness. 

Dane Ortlund asks how Christians grow in holiness in conversation with Herman Bavinck, G. C. Berkouwer, and Jonathan Edwards.

Martin Luther's 1520 explanation of the place of good works in the Christian life. 

Dane Ortlund channels Jonathan Edwards to prove to us that being sanctified isn't joyless duty but beautiful transformation.