In "sanctifying grace", God calls us to holy living. Holy living is following Jesus to be like Jesus. Read 2 Timothy 1 and 2:19. John Wesley presented an organized theology of grace showing that God’s gift of grace meets us from birth to death and beyond. "Prevenient grace" is the grace gift of God’s work before we put our faith in Jesus. "Justifying grace" makes us right with God when we put our faith in Jesus Christ and proclaim him as Lord of our lives. Sanctifying grace is the gift of the Holy Spirit, transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. The Apostle Paul covers all three ideas in his letter to Timothy. Paul was a prisoner in Rome. Timothy was helping lead the church in Ephesus. For Paul, sanctifying grace meant to turn away from sin and turn toward Jesus. We seek holiness. We reject evil. We seek love and compassion. We reject hatred and callousness towards people. In order to be a grace-filled church, we must lean on the grace of God through Jesus Christ and extend grace to all people as God has extended grace to us.

Come, Holy Spirit, transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Help us to turn away from sin and evil so that we may turn to Jesus and take on his character and values. Align our actions and words to his. Amen.