The issue addressed here is sanctification. Let me say this – Sanctification is of equal importance with justification. Although they are two different things, they go together. They cannot be separated. Wherever you find justification, you also have sanctification. In justification we are declared to be holy. In sanctification we are actually made holy.

What was going on at Galatia? The judaizers were saying, "Yes, you're saved by Christ. But you are made a complete creation, a better christian by your obedience. You become a whole christian that way." That is the damning doctrine of legalism in its most subtle form!

If you believe that by your personal obedience, (your baptism, Bible reading, church going, prayer, avoidance of sin, actively seeking to obey the commandments of God, etc.), you can gain, keep, or improve God's favor toward you, you have missed Christ altogether. This may be hard to understand, but it is still true – In God's work of sanctification there is a sense in which we are passive and a sense in which we are active. We are passive in the sense that he sanctifies us. It is wholly a work of grace! We are active in the sense that we actively seek to obey him and do those thIngs that are pleasing in his sight. We do so because we love him, not to improve our standing! if you do what you do to improve your standing, you nave fallen into the error of the Galatians.

"Are ye so foolish?" We all have to say with shame, "Yes, many times I have been." But understand this about yourself This attitude is of the flesh and not of God. To know that your sanctification is not dependent upon you is a great blessing. It takes you out from under the spirit of bondage. Knowing that we are loved and accepted unconditionally in Christ inspires us to Give ourselves unconditionally to him.

No, we cannot be made perfect by the flesh. We are already perfect in Christ. "Ye are complete in him" (Col. 2:10). Christ is both our sanctification and our motive to pursue sanctification (Heb. 12:14).