Why is God being thanked that you became obedient from the heart?

Because God gave you the obedience from the heart.

That's why he's being thanked.

If he didn't give it, you wouldn't thank him.

If you did it, you'd thank you. If your parents did it, you'd thank thank you if you did it you if your parents did

it you'd thank them if your genetic makeup did it you'd thank it but if God does

it you thank God and that's what verse 17 is doing thanks me to God that you

became obedient and were freed from slavery to sin.

Because God gave you that freedom, that's sanctification.

Sanctification is a gift.

Is sanctification a gift, or is it something we achieve?

In this episode of Light and Truth,

John Piper turns to Romans 6, 22, and 23

to explore the nature of sanctification

as it relates to our freedom in Christ.

The sermon was originally preached

at Bethlehem Baptist Church on December 24, 2000.

Father in heaven, I ask for your help now to open verses 22 and 23 of this chapter faithfully

so that we can understand them in their biblical sense and intention and proportion and import and magnificence and power.

Guard me from error and pride and help me to be true to the scope of your word.

Lord, these are weighty things we're taking up here.

Eternal life and holiness, sanctification.

...