Below is an excerpt from an article by David Powlison entitled, How Does Sanctification Work? Put another way, how do we turn from our sexual sins and turn towards God.
God’s will is your sanctification.
That’s how Paul summarized matters for the Thessalonian church (1 Thess 4:3a). And handling frayed relationships is not the only area where God’s will for us is clear. As Paul continued in this letter, he specifically identified God’s gracious will for us regarding sexual purity in the midst of an immoral world (4:3b–7). When it comes to the object of your sexual desires and who you sleep with, questions of right or wrong are always on the table. Here’s another example. Our loving Father pointedly wills that we learn to live with no complaining about the present, no regrets about the past, and no worrying about the future. This is a high, hard calling! We fail. But our failures, honestly acknowledged, open a wide door into mercies new every morning. And Christ freely commits to teaching us the secret of contentment amid a world filled with stressors. Most of us are in the remedial class, but any progress in the direction of such significant wisdom is worth more than silver, gold, and jewels. “Nothing you desire can compare,” as Proverbs 3:14–15 puts it.
God wills to cure us of all the wrongs we have been discussing: immoralities, hostilities, complaints, regrets, anxieties and a hundred other ugly things. Christ is forgiving, and Christ is working to make your life beautiful. When you see him face to face, you will be like the Savior we have trusted.Sanctification is Christ working to make your life beautiful. Think about this beautiful life when you are tempted to do something ugly in yours.
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