1 Corinthians 1:30-31
"But of Him you are in Christ, who became for us wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- that as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord"."
Like a worm eating away at the petals of a rose, sin eats away at our hearts and lives. The worm rips and tears away the beauty that the rose was made to display, and if not taken care of, it leads to the death of a rose that had so much potential. That worm is the beginning of destruction and sin always brings destructive results in our lives!
When Christ saves us and enters our hearts, we are no longer encapsulated by that worm. We no longer have to live enslaved to our sin, letting it eat away at us bit by bit. We are now slaves to Christ, which is where true freedom lies! We are sanctified, and the outcome is eternal life. (Romans 6:22). Sanctified means being made holy in your heart and life- and this can only be done by the Holy Spirit. We are sanctified from our sin! We have a new status and a new destiny! Christ cleanses and restores our rose to the beauty we were always meant to display.
But it doesn't stop there. Sanctification is graciously given to us at salvation, but it is meant to be continued through a consistent purification process, that continues until we see Jesus face to face (1 Peter 1:2). The Holy Spirit constantly cleanses our roses, resulting in our obedience to Him. But that's not its sole purpose. Our sanctification, and our life's purpose above all else is to glorify Jesus Christ: our Lord, our Father, our Creator. For "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord"!
So...is your rose showing signs of sanctification? Is your rose glorying in Christ for all the world to see? Or are you infested with worms? Let Christ enter your heart and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, because He is the one and only cure!
Resources:
MacArthur Study Bible
ESV Study Bible
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