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This fall we’re talking about SANCTIFICATION = how God works to change you, a sinner, and make you more holy in your heart and in your actions.
[Review] 1) Sanctification is NOT freedom to live however you want.
2) Sanctification is not by the Law.
3) Sanctification is by the gracious power of the Holy Spirit.
4) But that doesn’t mean you do nothing because sanctification is also by faith.
We’re going to read about Jesus freeing a guy from demon possession to see what we are to believe about our sanctification, how we are to exercise our faith in sanctification.
Let’s read this story that comes from Mark 5
What’s wrong with this guy? What is this guy’s problem?
He’s possessed by demons. So yes, demons and the devil (they’re all ‘fallen angels’ who used to be good and then turned bad) - they are real but we’re going to hear today why we don’t have to be afraid of demons.
He’s possessed by demons but this man has an even bigger problem than demons. What could his biggest problem be?
His sin!
What is the power demons have over this guy? What is the power the devil has over the world? What does the devil and all the other demons do to people?
The devil and all his little devil demons TEMPT people to sin. Then once someone sins they ACCUSE that person of their sin night and day and that that person deserves death and condemnation for their sin. And the sad part is the devil is right. Sinners deserve condemnation.
So this guy’s big problem is the same as everyone’s big problem - the problem behind the problem, the problem behind his demon possession is his SIN.
Should we pity him? Why?
He lives in a graveyard surrounded by death - he’s a dead man walking. He’s alone because everyone is scared of him. And he’s also in pain. He spends his nights crying. He’s also in physical pain. He cuts himself with stones.
What’s his name and why is that the saddest thing ever?
He’s not possessed by one demon, as awful and terrifying as that would be. It’s not like that cartoon stuff, “I’ve got an angel on this shoulder and a devil on the other shoulder and I don’t know who to listen to.” “Legion” is the term for a big, conquering Roman military force numbering 6,000 troops. So when this man tells Jesus his name is Legion he’s telling Jesus, “I am one person under the oppression of an entire army. I’m occupied territory. I’m all alone being crushed under the boot of an occupying force.”
The question is not, what can this man do. The question is…what can Jesus do? Remember David vs Goliath. Remember Jonathan and his armor bearer vs a garrison of Philistines? How does this compare?
[Miracle] Jesus is confronted with an army of supernatural beings (any one of these demons could take out an army of Philistines).
And who is afraid of who?
Jesus doesn’t beg the demons to leave the man. The demons beg Jesus to ALLOW them to go into these nearby pigs. And with a word Jesus miraculously exorcises thousands of demons out of this man, “You have MY PERMISSION, now run.” And, still part of the miracle, the pigs are ironically driven mad and rush into the sea and die. It’s a picture of Jesus judging and condemning evil.
If this possessed man is a picture of what sin does to mankind - then this miracle of restoring this man is a picture of what Jesus does when he frees us from the dominant occupying power of evil and sin.
[Gospel] How easy was it for Jesus to save this guy? Did it cost Jesus anything to save this man?
It looked like nothing for Jesus to cast these demons out. BUT to beat these demons Jesus had to beat this man’s sin.
How much will it cost Jesus to beat this man’s sin?
To overcome his sin Jesus had to die.
If you go to the end of the Gospel of Mark - just like Legion you see Jesus stripped naked; and just like Legion you see Jesus cut = tortured and then nailed to a cross; and just like Legion you see Jesus outside the city among the tombs, crucified; and just like Legion you see Jesus written off by all his friends and not only his friends but by God himself.
What is this? Jesus has taken Legion’s place. The way Jesus overcomes the power of Legion’s sin and all of our sin is to become our substitute. And Jesus did it because this guy was worth it to Jesus. And so are you.
[Definitive Sanctification] Is sin in charge of the Christian?
When you become a Christian sin is no longer in charge of you. You belong to Jesus now and the Holy Spirit rules you.
Is sin completely destroyed in the Christian yet?
Not yet. Sin is not in charge of us anymore but there is still sin in us. The POWER of sin is broken in us but sin is still PRESENT. You probably know how hard it is to stop wanting to go your own way and go God’s way. But that is what we are called to believe - to believe that sin is no longer your master, Jesus is. You are not dead in sin. You are alive in Jesus Christ. That’s DEFINITELY true. That’s why they call this ‘definitive sanctification.’
Because God’s Spirit lives in us, we are given the power to say no to sin and yes to trusting Jesus and loving God and loving others. And when we fail and we sin we know we can turn to Jesus again for forgiveness and help because we belong to him and he will always help us.
AND one day Jesus will return and end sin and death forever.
Kevin DeYoung, The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, Chapter 63, Send Us to the Pigs!, Mark 5 326-329.