Dealing with the Root

Before you pour a concrete slab in Florida, you don’t just mow the palmettos—you rip out the roots. If you don’t, those roots will press through and split the foundation later. Sin works the same way. It hides under the surface, plays the long game, and—left alone—can reproduce an entire forest of trouble.

This post is about that process—sanctification—from a biblical perspective. No sugar-coating, just straight talk and solid hope.

Scripture speaks of salvation in three tenses:

1. Justification (Past, once-for-all)
   God declares the sinner righteous because of Christ alone (Rom. 5:1). It’s forensic, instant, and complete—not by works (Eph. 2:8–9). You will never be more justified than you are at the moment of conversion.
2. Sanctification (Present, lifelong)
   God makes the justified sinner holy in heart and conduct (1 Thess. 4:3; John 17:17). It’s a Spirit-driven, Word-shaped, church-anchored, effort-requiring process. We work because God works in us (Phil. 2:12–13).
3. Glorification (Future, certain)
   God will transform our lowly bodies to be like Christ’s glorious body (1 Cor. 15:51–53). That’s coming, and it’s guaranteed.

The classic categories are mortification (putting sin to death) and vivification (bringing righteousness to life). Practically:

• Name the root.
  Patterns often have a long memory. Get specific about the “old pathways”—fear of man, approval addiction, anger, lust, greed, cynicism. Ambiguity is the ally of sin.
• Renew the mind with the Word.
  No renewal without Scripture (Rom. 12:2; John 17:17). Read, meditate, memorize, and obey—in community.
• Use the ordinary means of grace.
  Lord’s Day worship, the preached Word, the sacraments rightly received, prayer, fellowship, and discipline. God designed normal, weekly rhythms to do supernatural work (Acts 2:42).
• Walk by the Spirit.
  The Spirit produces the fruit (Gal. 5:16–24). You can’t white-knuckle fruit; you sow to the Spirit in the means God appointed.
• Practice repentance quickly.
  Don’t manage sin; mortify it (Col. 3:5). Confess specifically to God—and, when needed, to a trusted brother or sister. Bring it into the light before God drags it there.
• Pursue accountability, not co-dependence.
  Invite inspection without outsourcing responsibility. Hebrews 3:13 Christianity: “Exhort one another every day … that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
• Aim for progress, not perfectionism.
  Holiness is typically a slow burn, not a flash-bang. Expect potholes; refuse detours.

If you’re in Christ, God isn’t negotiating with your sin—He’s uprooting it. He’ll use His presence, His providence, His people, and yes, even your critics. He will confront you, draw confession from you, and then put you back to work. Progress may be slow, but it’s real, and it’s certain, because He is faithful.

So today, name the root. Drag it into the light. Take up the ordinary means. Fix your eyes on Jesus. And keep going. The King has already signed your ledger. Now let Him deepen His work in your life.