福音的重要信息：成圣（二）
约翰福音十七章14至20节
14我已将你的道赐给他们。世界又恨他们；因为他们不属世界，正如我不属世界一样。
15我不求你叫他们离开世界，只求你保守他们脱离那恶者（或作：脱离罪恶）。
16他们不属世界，正如我不属世界一样。
17求你用真理使他们成圣；你的道就是真理。
18你怎样差我到世上，我也照样差他们到世上。
19我为他们的缘故，自己分别为圣，叫他们也因真理成圣。
20我不但为这些人祈求，也为那些因他们的话信我的人祈求，
信息分享
从我们走至尽头、回转归主的那一刻，神便开始在我们身上作工，使我们渐渐地成圣像祂。以下这三个问题值得我们深入思想：
1. 神会使信徒一下子成圣吗？会/不会
2. 神会使信徒终其一生不断改变，以致最终成圣吗？会/不会
3. 如果信徒不合作，神会独力使信徒成圣吗？会/不会
你如何回答这些问题？
神怎样使信徒成圣？
当我们从神的一面来看，便发现三位一体神的每个位格都参与在其中。（明天我们会从我们自己的一面来看。）
1. 父神负责教导和管教。
2. 圣子与我们连结，并为我们留下美好的榜样。
3. 圣灵也在当中--祂是信徒生命中奇妙的引导者。
在我们渐进的成圣过程中，神用几个方式来帮助我们。例如，祂话语的教导、住在我们里面的圣灵不断的工作。
只有让圣灵日复一日在我们里面不断地工作，我们才能逐渐长成基督的样式。请参看哥林多后书三章18节，明白圣灵如何帮助我们成圣。
经文反思：
「神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁。」（帖前四3）你是否愿意每天让神随祂的旨意在你里面作工呢？
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?