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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What is my role in my sanctification? | NT general Archive 1 | EdB | 99711 | ||
Pam Let me take the coward's way out and let some one else answer for me. SANCTIFICATION, ENTIRE. Is it the privilege of believers to be wholly sanctified in this life? The doctrine of the Roman Catholic church is that baptism, rightly administered, washes away not only guilt but also depravity of every kind; and thus, in its own peculiar way, that church answers the question in the affirmative (see Baptism). Among Protestant theologians there is wide difference of belief; and there are undoubtedly greater differences of statement, because of confusion in the use of terms. We have space only to indicate in a most general way the two leading views and to add a few suggestions for guidance. The Calvinistic View. To the Calvinists, sanctification is imperfect in this life. Corruption of nature remains even in the regenerate so that during this life no man is able to live without sin. For formal expression of this doctrine the reader is referred to the Westminster Confession and to the Larger Catechism of the Presbyterian church. The Methodist View. The Methodists, on the other hand, despite various shades of opinion and form of statement, see entire sanctification in a true and scriptural sense as being attainable in this life; and accordingly, Christians may arrive at a state of spiritual purity in which they are able to remain free from condemnation. This view is in agreement with the Calvinistic in regarding sanctification as distinct from regeneration (see Regeneration). But it is in strongest contrast thereto in regarding the work of spiritual purification as one that may be wrought instantaneously and in the present life. It should be said that the essential features of Methodist doctrine are held by many other denominations. Summary of New Testament Statement. The NT presents the doctrine of sanctification in three aspects: positional, experiential, and ultimate. Positional sanctification is the possession of everyone “in Christ.” The great doctrinal epistles of the NT first present the marvels of saving grace manifested in the believer’s position and then close with an appeal for life consonant with this divinely wrought position (Romans 12:1; Ephes. 4:1; Col. 3:1-2). Positional sanctification is just as complete for the weakest and youngest believer as it is for the strongest and oldest. It depends only upon one’s union with and position “in Christ.” All believers are “saints” and are “sanctified” (Acts 20:32; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 6:11; Hebrews 10:10, 14; Jude 1:3). First Corinthians presents proof that imperfect believers are nevertheless positionally sanctified and therefore “saints.” The Corinthian Christians were carnal in life (1 Cor. 5:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:1-8), but they are twice said to have been “sanctified” (1 Cor. 1:2 and 1 Cor. 6:11). Thus this positional aspect of sanctification is absolutely essential if the doctrine as a whole is to be clearly understood. Experiential. The basis of experiential sanctification, or actual holiness of life, is positional sanctification, or what one is in Christ. Only those “in Christ,” that is, regenerate and thus concomitantly sanctified, are candidates for experiential sanctifications. This phase of sanctification is effected by faith that reckons upon one’s position in Christ (Romans 6:1-10). One’s position is true whether or not he reckons or counts it as true. But it becomes experientially real only in proportion as one reckons it to be true (Romans 6:11). Ultimate. This is glorification or complete conformity to Christ at His coming (1 John 3:1-3; Romans 8:29-30; Jude 1:24-25). The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1988. Database © 1997 NavPress Software. EdB |
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2 | What is my role in my sanctification? | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 99863 | ||
I found the answer on Bible.org. Many thanks to all who responded to my questions and for all the work and thought I know each of you put into it. While each of you was helpful in what you wrote, I found the answers to my question on sanctification on the web site Bible.org. It is an awesome web site that I know each of you will enjoy! To see the article that helped me out, go to the Bible.org website, select "Advanced Studies" on the left. Scroll down to pheumatology (the Holy Spirit). Then select "Wesleyan and Keswick models of sanctification". Awesome article. I think you will all enjoy it and learn from it, too. Also scroll down to "Soteriology (Salvation)" and select "Regeneration, Justification, and Sanctification." Another very interesting article. Please let me know what you think of the Bible.org web site and the "Wesleyan and Keswick Models of Sanctification" article. Blessings, Pam |
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3 | What is my role in my sanctification? | NT general Archive 1 | EdB | 99908 | ||
Pam Very interesting article and I'm most interested in the conclusions you reached, would you share them? How do you now view your role in your sanctification? EdB |
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4 | What is God's part in my santification?. | NT general Archive 1 | Pam D | 99990 | ||
Dear Ed, Thanks so much for your concern and interest. Your words are always so gracious. I think it will be helpful for me to write down my new understanding of my role in my own sanctification. Perhaps there are still a few “kinks” left to be ironed out that you may be able to help me with. I was caught up in the Keswick understanding of sanctification. And I could not seem to figure out how to make it work. The reason why is because the Keswick understanding of experiential sanctification seems to be unbiblical, as that article pointed out to me. Points from this article that really jumped out at me that I had falsely believed to be true were: Keswick wrongly teaches: 1. sanctification comes by faith, and not in any other way! 2. Keswick explicitly disavows eradication of the sin nature. If one walks in the Spirit, the Spirit carries the burden of Sin. If one sins, the Spirit no longer counteracts the tencency to sin and the believer is caught in a spiral of sin. He has no more help in overcoming sin than the unbeliever. 3. Keswick sees the old nature as something which is not subject to transformation, but retains its full force throughout ones life. This contradicts Paul which speaks of the progressive transformation of the believer into the likeness of Jesus (2Cor 3:18; Rom 12:2). 4. Keswick redefines sin by limiting it to volitional acts of rebellion (at least with reference to ones ongoing fellowship with God), which leaves the result that they believe that an individual may at any point in time be described as sinless. 5. Keswick believes it is the believers duty to take leave of his own personality so that Jesus can make all the decisions. The Keswick concept of the filling of the Spirit is akin to demon possession. The New Testament never uses the terminology of control (uses leading) to describe believers relationship to the Spirit. The truth is that a result of the Spirits ministry on our lives is self-control. This would hardly seem posssible if the regenerate self were still totally evil as Keswick claims. 6. Keswick offers spiritual victory through the means of a formula. The Truth is, the test of ones spirituality is not whether one has by faith fulfilled the conditions of a formula, but rather the fruit of the spirit in ones life. 7. Keswick says holiness is freedom from sin, not conformity to Gods character. 8. Instead of a relationship with God producing holiness, Keswick demands holiness before communion. 9. Christ is our Sanctification. If we wish to make any progress in holiness, we have to give up belief in the value of self-effort in holiness. As you can see, all of these points would certainly give someone the wrong idea as to exactly what their role in sanctification was. Once I recognized what “wrong” beliefs I was believing, a whole new world opened up! I think my part in sanctification is that “I” am supposed to PURSUE holiness. Holiness is not attained by faith, like justification. It is work. “I” need to MAKE EVERY EFFORT to be like Jesus, and get rid of every attitude, action and motivation that is unchristlike. As your “assistant” Aixen7z4 said, “Practical sanctification is a process of putting off things that are unlike Christ and putting on things that are like him.” What do you think - am I right so far? But alas, now the question arises in my mind as to where does God come in? I believe that God plays the whole part in both my positional sanctification and my ultimate santification. But what is Gods part in my practical / experiential sanctification? I suppose part of it is that the Holy Spirit reveals to me through reading the bible where I am missing the mark so I can fix it. But whats the difference between my self effort to be holy now that I am saved and my self effort to be good when I was unsaved? What do you think Ed? Blessings, Pam |
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5 | What is God's part in my santification?. | NT general Archive 1 | Emmaus | 100002 | ||
Pam, " But whats the difference between my self effort to be holy now that I am saved and my self effort to be good when I was unsaved?" I am sure that EdB will answer. But let me offer that the difference is grace. By that grace of Justification you are now a child of God, a member of His family and you are able to cooperate with God because of that grace, which is something you could not do without it. It is the fact that you are now in Christ that allows you to be conformed to Him and to cooperate with Him in the process of being sanctified by Him. I hope this is of some help. Emmaus |
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