In this week’s teaching, we examine Chapter 2 of Devoted to God, titled “All of Me.” Sinclair Ferguson unfolds the gospel logic of sanctification through Romans 12:1–2.

Sanctification, Ferguson argues, is not rooted in personal discipline or moral effort, but in the mercies of God. God has acted in Christ, and we are joined to Christ. God’s saving work always precedes our response. His grace is the power that leads to our growth in holiness.

The chapter highlights four foundational principles.

First, sanctification flows from the gospel, guarding us from a performance-based spirituality that mirrors the errors of the Pharisees.

Second, sanctification is embodied—our holiness is expressed through what we do with our bodies, offered daily as living sacrifices to God.

Third, sanctification requires the renewal of the mind, as Scripture reshapes our thinking and desires in an ongoing, Spirit-driven process.

Finally, sanctification reveals the goodness of God’s will, transforming our perception of obedience from burden to joy as we are conformed to the image of Christ.

This gospel-centered vision reminds us that sanctification is the work of the Triune God. The three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, continue to shape believers for glory. As God works in us by His Spirit and through His means he is teaching us what it truly means to be devoted to God with our whole selves.

The Canons of Dort remind us that perseverance is not grounded in our spiritual strength, but in Christ’s preserving power. When some depart from the faith, John does not tell believers to look inward for hidden signs or elite knowledge. Instead, he directs us outward—to Christ, who continues his priestly work by interceding for his people. True assurance does not come from the quality of our faith, but from the faithfulness of our Savior, who prays that our faith will not fail

This week we explore Ferguson’s teaching through the lens of 1 Peter 1:1-7. We seek to answer the question, “What does it truly mean to be holy?”

Ferguson defines holiness as being entirely God’s possession. This means that all we do and possess belongs to Him. This impacts every thought and consideration.

We consider Peter the stumbling disciple. He saw Christ’s beauty. We discover that our preservation and holiness rest solely in Christ. This teaching unpacks six essential foundations of sanctification:

The Purpose of God and the Trinity - Our holiness is rooted in God's loving election, not our own actions

The Commandment to Be Holy - God calls us to holiness because of His own holy nature and love

Exiles with the Savior - We now belong to heaven, bought not with silver or gold but with Christ's blood

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit - The Spirit transforms us into new creatures, enabling us to grow in holiness

The Function of Trials - God uses suffering to refine and strengthen us, making us more like Christ

The Glory to Come - Our future hope transforms how we live today, as holiness is cultivated for eternity

Discover how the entire Trinity works in concert to bring about our sanctification and prepare us for the age to come.

Introduction

So often we think that once we are Christians, our lives will get easier. We need to realize that the Christian life isn't always easy sailing. We will taste the pain and struggles of this age. Afterall, this world is under sin’s curse even as Christ’s redemption stands firm.

We need to see perseverance as our conscious pushing forward in this world. We must remember that it is God who preserves us through His power. However, perseverance is our conscious focus on our eternal inheritance secured in Christ.

Peter is uniquely qualified to teach that we persevere through God’s preserving power. Peter struggled to persevere during Christ’s trial. However, he met with Christ and received his assurance that Christ will preserve him to the end.

Saved by God's Power

Our assurance comes from Christ, not our own worthiness or our faith in itself. We must look to Christ as our anchor and redeemer rather than constantly trying to prove ourselves worthy through works.

Yes, as we take hold of Christ by faith, we are assured that the person of Christ is our redeemer. We proceed in His power. It is in his power that we move forward and conform to Christ.

Preserved in God's Strength

God guards both our inheritance in heaven and us through His power. Despite facing trials and persecution, believers are protected by God's strength, not their own. Our faith and hope must be in God Himself. We do not hope in our faith, but we hope in God. This is not my opinion, but this is Peter’s glorious reminder in 1 Peter 1:21.

Persevering Through Fire

Trials are God's way of refining our faith like gold, weaning us off worldly reliance, and teaching us to depend on Him. These difficulties aren't accidental but purposeful, purifying our faith and burning away what we trust apart from Christ.

Conclusion

Our victory is certain. This is not because of our competence or strength. We are assured that Christ guards and preserves us as our shield and defender.

Let us continue to look with eyes of faith to our invisible Savior. He guarded Peter until the end. He guards our inheritance. He will guard you. Walk forward in that confidence, offering ourselves as a living sacrifice unto him.

The Book of Esther shows how God works even in silence. From King Xerxes’ pride to Esther’s rise, the story reveals His providence through unexpected heroes. Even in exile, God protects His people, fulfilling His promises through the seemingly weak. This week we consider divine sovereignty, human ambition, and faithful courage in the face of uncertainty.

Confused about sanctification? You're not alone. For centuries, Christians have wrestled with what it really means to grow in holiness. Even 175 years after the Reformation, Walter Marshall had to write The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification because believers were still struggling with this fundamental question.

The problem is our deep tendency toward self-reliance instead of resting in God's provision and power. We swing between two dangerous extremes: either we treat holiness as something we achieve through sheer effort. This turns the gospel into Christian self-help.

The other problem is that we work so hard that we get discouraged. We are tempted to give up, and we say, "I'm already righteous in Christ, so why bother trying?"

Neither view captures the biblical picture. The Heidelberg Catechism (Q&A 114) reminds us that even the holiest person in this life has only a small beginning of obedience. Yet with earnest purpose, we begin to live not only a few commands, but all the commands. When we understand that we are united to Christ, then we press on.

We need to remember that we'll never reach perfection in this life. However, we do not give up, but we press forward in humble dependence on the Lord who sanctifies us.

Here's the truth many have lost sight of: sanctification is a mystery. It's God's work in us by His Spirit (1 Timothy 3:16). Our obedience begins with faith. We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith, it's impossible to please God. Faith is the instrument that takes hold of Christ and His benefits. Even our good desires are His gift. When we pursue holiness apart from Christ, it becomes a project of the flesh rather than the joy of communion with our Savior. Sanctification is the byproduct of that union.

Sanctification does involve self-denial, but with joy. We deny what harms us so we can delight in what is good and ultimately enjoy God Himself. Like the psalmist in Psalm 139, we should pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart," welcoming His refining hand.

In this series, we'll walk through Sinclair Ferguson's Devoted to God, exploring the biblical mystery of how God transforms His people. Join us as we rediscover what it means to grow in holiness. This is not by our grinning and bearing it, but in the joy of humble dependence on the God who sanctifies us.

Introduction

We can hear the slogan“Once Saved Always Saved!” as a summary of the Christian life. This sounds like you go through life on easy cruis control as a mindless muppet. The Canons of Dort, Reformed Theology, clarifies that believers can fall into serious sin, and God may allow us to experience the consequences. However, the assurance remains that God will ultimately bring His people out of darkness.

We consider Psalm 32. This is David’s reflection of his falling into sin. David fell, was restored, and now he teaches us the wisdom of perseverance.

The Joy of Forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-5)

David begins with a celebration of God’s forgiveness. There is blessing in knowing our sins are forgiven and covered by God. Yet he also describes the agony of unconfessed sin: bones wasting away, groaning all day long, feeling God's heavy hand pressing upon him. David is describing the soul rot of unconfessed sin before the Lord.

When David finally acknowledges his sin comprehensively, then he sees the joy that God forgives immediately. The lesson is clear: trying to hide sin or thinking it will bring satisfaction only leads to misery. The Spirit continues pressing on believers even in their darkest moments, pushing sin to the surface. True relief comes through confession and finding mercy in Christ.

The Only Hope (Psalm 32:6-7)

David shifts to instruction for the godly. We might feel like the waters will destroy us. However, as we continue to offer prayers to God we see that God is our hiding place. , He is our shelter in the darkest valleys. Even when believers feel abandoned or alone, God remains present. He hears our prayers and is our shield and defender.

The Canons of Dort remind us of the church's vital role here: through the preaching of the gospel, the Spirit renews believers to repentance. We never outgrow our need for the gospel message. Each week, we need to hear again that we are new creatures in Christ, that our Savior is at work, and that not all is lost. God works in His timing through His Word, accomplishing His purposes even in those we might consider "lost causes."

The Lasting Lesson (Psalm 32:8-9)

David instructs believers not to be like horses or mules. These are stubborn animals that need bits and bridles to control them. The warning is against testing the boundaries of God's grace. Christian liberty means understanding biblical boundaries and, in wisdom, sometimes setting additional boundaries for our own protection and God's glory. The example of Eve in the Garden shows both the danger of adding to God's commands. She puts words in God’s mouth that he never said. She should have said they had the wisdom not to touch the tree. We need to remember that God does not deny us good things. True wisdom calls us to see that God is calling us to good. We do not just die in our sanctification, but we live in the Spirit.

God does not call us to fasting, but to the eternal feast of the Lamb.

Conclusion

David's instruction flows from lived experience: he pursued sin thinking it would bring joy, and tried to cover it up by his silence. He suffered miserably under God's discipline. He confessed his sin to God and found restoration.

Now, on the other side, he teaches others the wise path. He learned the wisdom to live within God’s boundaries and not test grace's boundaries. The beauty of the Canons of Dort is its pastoral realism: believers may fall into serious sin and experience dark seasons, but God remains faithful. He will not forsake His people. Through the ongoing preaching of the gospel and the work of the Spirit, God renews, restores, and preserves those who are His until they reach their eternal home.

Let us not be a people who seek to be the dumb animals who need constant restraint. Let us live by the Spirit for Christ’s glory. Let us persevere in God’s preserving power.