Subject: What is God's part in my santification?. |
Bible Note: Dear Ed, Do you and Joe not play well together? If so, it's too bad. Both of you seem to have a lot of knowledge and wisdom to offer. How does that saying go, "Iron sharpens iron"? I find that when someone disagrees with me, it forces me back to the Scriptures to make sure I have not made an error. Or if I still think I am "right" it still forces me back to the Scriptures so that I can explain my position in a better way. I also find that just because someone might be what I consider to be "wrong" on one subject does not necessiarly mean they will be "wrong" on another subject. In fact, just when I am getting a little cocky, I find that I am the one who is "wrong"! I think on this position with regard to practical sanctification you are both saying the same thing but from different angles. Joe is speaking from a theological perspective of how it all works and you are speaking from the perspective of how to put it into practice. Both perspectives were extremely helpful. Blessings, Pam PS I forgot to send you the first answer Joe sent. Here it is: JOE SAID: Your self-effort before you are saved is a pointless exercise, because no one can attain the perfection that God requires. We all have sinned, and legalism (the idea of earning salvation by law-keeping) is thoroughly refuted in Scripture. We need the imputed righteousness of Christ to be able to stand before an infinitely holy God. The key is understanding that you were not saved just so that you will go to heaven, but so that God's glory would be displayed through your sanctification. So, the Spirit of God motivates us and empowers us to fight against our old sin nature, to put sin to death (Colossians 3). Our role in our sanctification is to wage "no-holds-barred" war against our sin and thereby glorify God (1 Peter 2:11-12). To do this, we rely on God's Spirit that is working within us to give us the strength to do so, and we make use of the means of grace God has given us (word, sacraments, prayer) as our tools and weapons in this struggle. None of those things is effectual in the life of the unbeliever seeking to establish his own righteousness (other than to be used as visual aids for a hypocritical legalism), but they are God's gifts to the Christian, ways in which the Spirit works to glorify the Triune God through our cooperation and transformation (Romans 12:2). A great book on this subject is _The Discipline of Grace_ by Jerry Bridges: http://www.discerningreader.com/disofgracjer.html --Joe! |