What is the effect Christianity is intended to have upon a person who becomes a Christian, seeks to live as a Christian?

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2 I Thessalonians 5:23-25 May God himself, the God of peace, sanc4fy you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. The Greatest Commandment Matthew 22:36-39 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

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4 What is the effect Christianity is intended to have upon a person who becomes a Christian, seeks to live as a Christian? John Eldredge

5 In fact, the assumption of the New Testament is that you cannot become whole without becoming holy; nor can you become holy without becoming whole. The two go hand in hand. John Eldredge

6 I Thessalonians 5:23-25 Amplified And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].

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8 Sanctify = being set apart to a sacred purpose or for God s use

9 When you are born again, you belong to God,

10 When you are born again, you belong to God, And He belongs to you.

11 Hebrews 12:5-6 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, My son, do not make light of the Lord s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

12 Romans 7:17-8:2 Message But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can t do it. I decide to do good, but I don t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don t result in actions. (cont)

13 Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God s commands, but it s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I ve tried everything and nothing helps. I m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn t that the real question? (cont)

14 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ s being-here-forus no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

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17 I Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

18 The test is simple: Does the conviction or the sorrow cause us to run to God?

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20 John 7:37-38 Amplified Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [con;nuously] springs and rivers of living water.

21 Repent quickly Father, forgive me. I m sorry. I ask your forgiveness for [fill in the blank: this envy, that comment, the lust, my cowardice]. Oh, forgive me, Father.

22 Renounce it.

23 Ephesians 4:26-27 Amplified When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].

24 And Father, I renounce this. I renounce [the envy, comment, lust, cowardice]. I renounce choosing this; I renounce giving it a place in my heart and soul. I renounce every claim I ve given to the enemy through my sin. I reject this, in Jesus name. I banish this from me. I am dead to sin, and alive to God.

25 Cleansing and Renewal

26 I John 1:9 Amplified If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

27 Father, cleanse me with the blood of Jesus; wash me right here from all of this. I plead the blood of Christ over this sin. Wash me clean; renew me. Oh, Father, sanctify me through and through right here, in this. I ask you for your holiness here, in this.

28 Holiness is ours, if we ask for it, seek it, pursue it.

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