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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ¶ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ¶ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged--consecrated to Him--set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
Bible Question (short): It's never effort-free with God! |
Question (full): Hi Guys, I’d like to provoke some thought about that most controversial of Catholic doctrines: Purgatory. Or let’s call it the completion of sanctification after death for those who need it. Or at least for me to really understand your view of the end of God's work in us. Justification (as is most commonly understood) is essentially the declaration by God that we are right with him. Even the nastiest sinner is justified as soon as he is ‘regenerate.’ This is essentially a judicial declaration; some of these people are still bound up with many sins and bad habits. This new Christian may still be addicted to drugs, still be a homosexual, etc. Nevertheless, this person is ‘just’ no sin is held against them by God because of the atonement. This person has embarked on the journey of Sanctification. Fortunately, God often eradicates some of these terrible sin patterns almost immediately. Perhaps an alcoholic or smoker is instantly delivered. This does not always happen. But hopefully, we are all on a journey in the direction of perfection or full sanctification. Of course we usually die first but we might get most or all of the way. However, some people don’t get very far on this journey at all; and some people don’t live very long after coming to know Jesus Christ. Anyway, God uses our earthly lives to discipline us and develop our sanctity. Heb 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." My question is do evangelicals believe that, unlike in life, God does the last bit of the work pain-free and even the uncleanest person is instantly perfect. Whooooosh! I know some will say yes quoting , 1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. However, this is referring to the resurrection of the body at the end of history isn’t it. A person needing further sanctifying would be imperishable as well. This verse I submit disproves nothing. Because, a person needing further post-death sanctification is a justified Christian (as in life) I contend this does not in any way demean the atonement. I ask this as a topic for a bit of speculative theologizing. Those against, is there scripture conclusively proving God doesn’t sanctify in the after life. Regards Dalcent |