Temple Baptist Church - 3-3-2024
Genesis 1:1-4
Introduction:
A. I love the Book of Genesis or Beginnings.
1. “In the beginning God” is the most profound and important statement in the Bible! Without God, man is nothing with no purpose and no hope.
2. The Bible is a “God Book” as our Lord said in both Psalms and Hebrews, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me!” It matters not what man says nor what man thinks. If he contradicts the Bible, he is wrong.
B. There is another “landmark” of the faith that I want to deal with this morning. We have dealt with the landmarks of the Scripture, Sanctuary, Salvation, and Sovereignty, but one of the most important and neglected of all doctrines is that of Biblical Sanctification.
C. The Doctrine of Biblical Sanctification is so important that the Bible mentions it first! In Geneses, chapter 1, we see that God set the precedent of sanctification along with the definition of it. God left no doubt or place for argument.
In verse 4, we find the Doctrine of Sanctification: “and God divided the light from the darkness!” The light of God dispelled the darkness of this world. Here, we find the first Biblical sanctification, is caused by division, which demands separation.
D. In verse one, God created the first heaven, our atmosphere, and the earth. In the beginning, we find that darkness shrouded the earth. “Without form, and void.” Darkness preceded light. The darkness was upon the face of the deep.
E. Darkness was before light but when God introduced light (notice I said introduced and not created), it dispelled the darkness. The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light!” This was not natural light nor was it a man-made light. It was the light of God. In 1 John 1:5, the Bible declares that God is perfect light as He has no darkness at all.
1 Timothy 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
F. In verse 4 of Genesis 1, We find the First Mention of the word “good.” God declared the light to be good with the unsaid truth that darkness was not good as it obscured what God had made to be seen. God divided light from darkness.
G. Thus, we find Biblically that God created sanctification, separation, and division.
1. I know that this introduction is a little long, but we need to understand that God will not compromise, and it is He that brings division which brings about separation.
2. God loves sinners and hates sin. God loves good and He hates bad. Period!
3. Today, sanctification and division have been given a bad name by both worldly lost and religious lost. But too often by God’s children as they try to co-exist in peace with the world.
4. This cannot be done without compromise and the world does not compromise. The world’s take on sanctification is that doctrine is bad because it divides while love is good because it unifies.
5. The question now needs to be asked, “What does doctrine divide and what does love unify?” Doctrine divides Godly from ungodly while a love without truth unifies the ungodly against the godly.
H. Sanctification is Separation! The word means to be set aside from something for a purpose. Sanctification is Division! God created both sanctification and division and in the end analysis, said that it was very good!
1. I feel that I need to make a point that the world does not like and that is compromise. The world teaches that both side in conflict need to give somewhat. We hear a lot about arbitration which is compromise.
2. Do not think for one second that God will compromise in order to bring about a peaceful solution!
Matthew 10:34-35 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
3. By the same token, God does not want His children to compromise what the Bible is clear on.
J. Sanctification which brings division which brings separation is a Landmark that God, through the Bible has set! It is not the believer who set the precedent, it is God, and the Bible is clear upon the subject. Now, let us look at sanctification for a few minutes.
1. Salvation’s Sanctification. This is something that God does! There are three distinct areas of sanctification in the life of every believer:
a. It is Positional Sanctification - 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
At the moment of salvation, the believer is set apart from the world positionally through Jesus Christ. He is the believer’s sanctification. We are baptized into Christ who is both perfect and eternal and therefore remain secure!
b. It is Perpetual or Permanent Sanctification - 1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2. Personal or Practical Sanctification. Something that we do! Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
a. The Believer is the separate from the world. 1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
When we are saved, we remain just a sinner saved by the grace of God. As we mature in the Lord and grow in our faith, we are being constantly changed by both the Spirit of God who indwells us and the Word of God that teaches and guides us.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
b. The Believer is to be the light of the world. Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
3. Doctrinal Sanctification. Something that we do! Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
a. We are to preach sound doctrine. Sound means something that is not weakened or flawed. 2 Timothy 4:2-3 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
b. We are to practice sound doctrine. We are to remain doctrinally sound and separated. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
4. Ecclesiastical Sanctification. Something that we do! 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
a. Denominationalism lends itself to unbiblical unions. Our church is not to be yoked in any manner with other churches that are liberal or apostate. You are who you hold hands with spiritually.
b. One may think they are straight but if they are supporting or affiliated with liberal churches, they are liberal! That’s why Bible churches were independent and autonomous!
Conclusion: Sanctification or Separation or Division of a right kind is an act of God! The believer MUST love the sinner but not the sin and this requires (by God) Biblical Sanctification!
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