1 Timothy 2:15

Justification: Happens when we are saved. God’s righteousness is imputed to us. In other words, when God now looks at us, he sees Jesus, a perfect person

Sanctification: Literally means to set apart for special use or purpose--- that is to make holy. Growth in grace should continue throughout every person who has accepted Christ. I think that getting married makes us holier because we again have to die to ourselves and become like Christ. Getting a dog, makes you sanctified because you have to suffer and die to yourselves. And certainly, having a baby makes you holier by daily dying to your own self and putting another person’s needs before your own. There is nothing wrong with being single. In fact, people that are single have more time to devote to spreading the Gospel.

Glorification: I believe this does not completely happen till be receive our glorified bodies after Christ returns. The Baptist Faith and Message defines it has the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

My point of this post is that children make us more like Jesus. They teach us to die to ourselves. However, our society says we have to do things for ourselves, and we do not want anything that is hard or to have anything that might make us suffer even a little. Isn’t through great sorrow comes the greatest joy you could ever know? Is it not he will of God for us to suffer? We today have really gotten so “me” centered that no one dare want you to have more than 2.5 kids. Isn’t the heart of the Gospel to die to self and depend on God for everything?

1 Timothy 2:15, “But women will be saved (or restored) through childbearing---if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety.”

Maybe Mark Driscoll (http://www.marshillchurch.org/) is right that Paul here is talking about us being becoming more like Jesus when we give birth to a child and raise them up in the admonition of the Lord. Having children is part of the sanctification process for women. What do you think? Do you think he is talking about Eve, and Christ coming through the seed of Adam and Eve?

Happy 2nd Birthday Millie Boo!

Well, today, is our dog’s second Birthday. I thought I would write about it, because it is only by God’s grace that she is still alive. She ate rat poison that was left in the church parsonage and had to have a complete blood transfusion last June (2006). The doctor told me that she had a 50/50 shot of living. He definitely told me this when I was 6 months pregnant, and very emotional after the big move and the sudden death of my grandmother. This was a time in my life when I was depressed, and my relationship with Jesus was not even a relationship. I am glad Millie Boo almost died because I have never prayed that hard or that much. God does get all the glory for saving her life.

I am thankful for Millie Boo because:

1. She sanctifies us daily, and has brought us closer to the Lord during her near death experience. She teaches us how to die to ourselves, and depend on God for strength.
2. She makes Jackson smile daily, even laugh
3. She relaxes me by licking my feet daily
4. She teaches both me and Charlie patience. She is a high maintenance dog because she requires a lot of time and attention (all dogs really need a walk daily, so think about that before you get a cute little one)
5. She always has a loud, friendly welcome!