dr. olson states that the four transformative events described in the blog below prepare us for a “relationship with god and journey with jesus, particularly in the process of sanctification. . . . sanctification is a crucial part of the christian life, and the holy spirit is at the very heart of this transformative process.” it is a gradual process, “requiring both divine assistance and human effort.”
“to live by the spirit [of god], as paul commands, we must cultivate a relationship with him. . . . it is about communion with god’s presence. . . . to live by the spirit is not to strive under our own power but to surrender to his leading. . . . being attentive to his voice.
“. . . the final step of the journey, full union with god, does not occur in this life, but after death. . . . it’s important to understand this not as the [human] soul being dissolved into god, but as a profound and perfect union [/communion] in which the soul is fully united with him while still retaining its god-given distinctiveness. at that moment, glorification completes our spiritual sanctification. believers are now not only in heaven but are made fully whole, holy, and beautiful, fulfilling god’s redemptive plan. this transformation is the crowning work of god’s grace, in which we reflect his glory and reign with him forever.”