Lusts of the Flesh: The Forgotten Doctrine of Sanctification

The doctrine of sanctification is a central component of Christian theology, yet it seems to have become a long-forgotten creed in what passes itself off as Evangelicalism today. In a world where the emphasis is often placed on individual success and material prosperity, and where controversial topics are often avoided, it's not hard to see how the importance of sanctification and personal transformation may have been lost.

Yet, sanctification is a crucial aspect of Christian theology and should not be overlooked or disregarded. It is the process of becoming holy and set apart for God's purposes, and it is through this process that we are transformed into the image of Jesus. It's the process of becoming holy and set apart for God's purposes. It's the transformation of the person, not just on the surface level, but deep down in their character and behavior. It is a lifelong journey that all believers should take seriously.

But, unfortunately, many churches today are not taking this doctrine seriously, especially when it comes to issues of sexuality and sexual morality.

There is a movement within Evangelicalism to separate sexual orientation from sexual desire and actions, as though they're two different things, however, biblically speaking, it's a distinction without a difference. They're one and the same, and that's just a cop-out for not dealing with the real issue at hand. Homosexuals in the church are saying that they were created that way and that their attraction to the same sex is not something that needs to be repented of, but that's complete nonsense, and it's in direct contradiction to what the Bible teaches us.

Scriptures like Romans 9:20 and 1 Corinthians 1:30 make it crystal clear that through faith in Jesus, we have access to the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption that God offers. And 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, it doesn't get any more straightforward than this, it says that through faith in Jesus, we are washed clean of our sins and made holy. That's the process of sanctification in a nutshell, becoming set apart for God's purposes and being transformed into the image of Jesus.

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "But what about temptations that arise to engage in sinful behavior, isn't that still going to be there?" The short answer is yes, but this needs qualification. First, we need to distinguish between two types of temptation: internal and external.