福音的重要信息：成聖（二）
約翰福音十七章14至20節
14我已將你的道賜給他們。世界又恨他們；因為他們不屬世界，正如我不屬世界一樣。
15我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離那惡者（或作：脫離罪惡）。
16他們不屬世界，正如我不屬世界一樣。
17求你用真理使他們成聖；你的道就是真理。
18你怎樣差我到世上，我也照樣差他們到世上。
19我為他們的緣故，自己分別為聖，叫他們也因真理成聖。
20我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，
信息分享
從我們走至盡頭、回轉歸主的那一刻，神便開始在我們身上作工，使我們漸漸地成聖像祂。以下這三個問題值得我們深入思想：
1. 神會使信徒一下子成聖嗎？會/不會
2. 神會使信徒終其一生不斷改變，以致最終成聖嗎？會/不會
3. 如果信徒不合作，神會獨力使信徒成聖嗎？會/不會
你如何回答這些問題？
神怎樣使信徒成聖？
當我們從神的一面來看，便發現三位一體神的每個位格都參與在其中。（明天我們會從我們自己的一面來看。）
1. 父神負責教導和管教。
2. 聖子與我們連結，並為我們留下美好的榜樣。
3. 聖靈也在當中--祂是信徒生命中奇妙的引導者。
在我們漸進的成聖過程中，神用幾個方式來幫助我們。例如，祂話語的教導、住在我們裡面的聖靈不斷的工作。
只有讓聖靈日復一日在我們裡面不斷地工作，我們才能逐漸長成基督的樣式。請參看哥林多後書三章18節，明白聖靈如何幫助我們成聖。
經文反思：
「神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔。」（帖前四3）你是否願意每天讓神隨祂的旨意在你裡面作工呢？
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL: SANCTIFICATION (2)
John 17:14-20
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
Message
From the point of crisis which is our conversion, God wants to begin the process of making us like Himself. Here are three good searching questions to think about:
1. Will God do this all at once? Yes or no?
2. Will God do it all in a believer's lifetime? Yes or no?
3. Will God do it without a believer's cooperation? Yes or no?
How would you answer those questions?
HOW DOES GOD DO IT?
Looking at it from God's side, we see that the whole of the Trinity is involved. (Tomorrow we will look at our side.)
1. The Father is involved in our training and chastening.
2. The Son is involved through our union with Him and the example He has left us.
3. The Holy Spirit is involved - He is the Divine Workman in the life of the believer.
God uses several methods to accomplish our progressive sanctification. For example, He uses His Word and the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
It is by allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in us day by day that we are changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ Himself. Turn to 2 Corinthians 3:18 and read the way in which He does this.
A VERSE FOR TODAY: 'It is God's will that you should be sanctified.' (1 Thessalonians 4:3) Are you allowing God to do what He wants in your life each day?