What is God’s purpose in calling us?
It is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm 8:
5 Yet what honor you have given to men, created only a little lower than Elohim, crowned with glory and magnificence.
6 You have delegated to them rulership over all you have made, with everything under their authority, placing earth itself under the feet of Your image-bearers. TPT
OUR SPIRIT (which is the energy source or power source of our lives) is saved at our new birth (Ephesians 2:8–9). This is called “justification.” This means freedom from the penalty of sin. (Past)
OUR SOUL (which is made up of our own natural thoughts, emotions, and desires) is in the process of being saved through the “sanctification process” that we are all in now (James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:8–9). This means freedom from the power of sin. (Present)
OUR BODIES will be saved in the future at the resurrection, which is called “glorification.” This means freedom from the presence of sin. (Future)
In other words, “salvation” in the broad sense—spirit, soul and body—is a lifelong process.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5:
16 Let joy be your continual feast.
17 Make your life a prayer.
18 And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.
20 And don’t be one who scorns (despise) prophecies,
21 but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right.
22 Avoid every appearance of evil.
23 Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely Holy. And may your entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.
24 The One who calls you by name is trustworthy and will thoroughly complete His work in you.
The actual saving of our soul is dependent upon our constant choice to “put off” our sin and self and “put on” Christ.
Also, Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 2:
12 My Beloved ones, just like you’ve always listened to everything I’ve taught you in the past, I’m asking you now to keep following my instructions as though I were right there with you. Now you must continue to make this new life fully manifested as you live in the Holy Awe of God—which brings you trembling into His Presence.
13 God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases Him.
Our soulish man represents our own natural thoughts, emotions, and desires that are usually opposite to God’s will. Transforming these to Godly thoughts, emotions, and desires is what the sanctification process is all about.
Our body, which will be redeemed at the Rapture. This is called “glorification.”
Justification means a new spirit; sanctification means a transformed soul; and, glorification means a new body.
Sanctification (learning to actually live and partake of Christ’s Life) is what will make us those faithful and obedient overcomers who will rule and reign there with Christ. Christ is the One who will accomplish this transformation in our lives by the power of His Holy Spirit. But we are the ones who must choose to let Him do so moment-by-moment.
The word sanctification simply means “separated unto God.” It means to become clean, Holy, and righteous in all we think, say, and do.
“Positional” sanctification happens when we first accept Christ (Hebrews 10:10); whereas “experiential” sanctification happens when we choose, moment by moment, to be cleansed by the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is simply the process by which God conforms us back into His image, which was lost when Adam and Eve sinned. It’s the means God uses to make us partakers of His Life so that we can become those overcomers who inherit the Millennial Kingdom. This will depend upon the willingness of the believer to die to self and to be alive unto God. Our writings focus on this aspect of the process!