Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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:
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 |
Bible Answer: I love friendly discussions. Please forgive me if I misunderstand your question. However, here is my answer (please allow me this premise, which others may not agree with, but I hold to this): Jesus' atonement is all I need, period. Allow me to explain my fervent belief. Romans 3:23 and James 2:10 both state that we fall short. We WILL sin (be rebellious to God's law). Matthew 5:48 says to be perfect, yet we cannot. Romans 6 states we war with our very desires and constantly do that which we do NOT wish to but that which we WANT to do (good) we find hard to do. Romans 10:9 says we are to confess our sins to the Lord and we will be saved. Isaiah 1:18 says that our sins (as scarlet) shall be white as snow (bright bright white and clean). Matthew 10:32-33 states whoever acknowledges God before men, Jesus will acknowledge to God the Father in heaven (and visa versa-ouch). John 1:12-13 states believing in Him gives us the RIGHT to be children of God (yahoo!!!!!). John 6:47 says, "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." -and- Ephesians 2:8-9 states "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. Wowzers. Okay, so, I hold that my justification into heaven is not by my works or anything I do here on earth, but through confessing that I am a sinner, I need Jesus Christ to save me from the penalty of my sin (all of it) and calling on His free gift of salvation, through His most precious blood.......is enough. Now, grace without works is bad. For the Bible says we will be known by our fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Yet, that is between God and each person. I hold it is His responsibility to work with us, like a "potter with clay" and it is God's grace, through the blood of Jesus Christ and my not rejecting God's Son, Jesus that will gain my entrance into heaven. I do not just say Jesus is Jesus, for even Satan knows who Jesus is. I call him, "My Savior." In Him, Cheryl |