- May 17, 2011
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Simple question, will the unholy enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Ok. I agree with this but a follow on question if I may.Hebrews 12:14 - Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
God has to sanctify us or we wouldn't make it.
Ok. I agree with this but a follow on question if I may.
Does God sanctify a person once for all time, or are they sanctified as they walk with him?
Simple question, will the unholy enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Strictly speaking yes, since you and I are sinners and we are, by the grace of God, already entered God's kingdom by His grace.
The kingdom of God isn't a place one goes to, it's the reality that God is King in Jesus; which is already in part; as Christ our Lord reigns at the right hand of the Father, having received all power and authority, and everlasting kingdom. And, in fullness when He comes again, the dead are raised, and there is Final Judgment, and the renewal of all things: new heavens and new earth.
We have entered into God's kingdom through faith, by the grace of God; which we have received in God's Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Which is why we read that, even now, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. We live and reign with Christ now, by the Spirit, by His grace, through faith.
However all who are born again have been clothed with the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to them; and thus we unclean sinners are clothed in the holiness and justice of Jesus Christ and present before God justified, holy. For this reason we are called saints of God, the holy ones of God; not on account of our own holiness, but the holiness we have received as grace. And we are called, in this life, to devote ourselves to holiness, righteousness, and good works for the sake of our neighbor. I.e. carrying our cross as disciples of Jesus.
-CryptoLutheran
The kingdom of God that is preached by Paul is different from the kingdom of heaven that was the main topic in the book of Matthew.
These are actually really good points and discussion starters.
It seems that you are a "Once saved always saved" believer. Is that accurate? Not asking to be pesky, I legitimately would like to know for conversation purposes.
I'm not. Lutherans reject "Once saved always saved", which is historically a Reformed peculiarity. A person can become apostate, they can deny, reject, and walk away and fully abandon everything they have received in Jesus. What we would insist on is that our salvation has nothing to do with our works or performance--it's always about faith (which is extra nos, from outside of ourselves as the gift of God). But if we reject our faith, then we reject everything. Without faith, there's nothing; faith alone receives the promises of God--hence Sola Fide.
Our assurance is found in God's promises, and faith holds to those promises. Without faith, there's no assurance.
I actually am of the position that the Reformed doctrine here actually hurts and destroys our confidence and assurance of salvation; because it requires one to claim that the one who falls away never had faith--and that doesn't bode well for any of us--if we could be deceived into thinking we have faith when we do not--and that we aren't really saved in spite of our faith and Baptism etc--then nobody can have assurance. For any one of us has a 50/50 chance of either a "True Christian" or an eternally condemned reprobate: regardless of our present faith (which may just be an illusion in our head, and not real faith anyway).
That's not assurance, that's playing the lottery.
-CrptoLutheran
How so?
Ok. I agree with this but a follow on question if I may.
Does God sanctify a person once for all time, or are they sanctified as they walk with him?
Strictly speaking yes, since you and I are sinners and we are, by the grace of God, already entered God's kingdom by His grace.
The kingdom of God isn't a place one goes to, it's the reality that God is King in Jesus; which is already in part; as Christ our Lord reigns at the right hand of the Father, having received all power and authority, and everlasting kingdom. And, in fullness when He comes again, the dead are raised, and there is Final Judgment, and the renewal of all things: new heavens and new earth.
We have entered into God's kingdom through faith, by the grace of God; which we have received in God's Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Which is why we read that, even now, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. We live and reign with Christ now, by the Spirit, by His grace, through faith.
However all who are born again have been clothed with the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to them; and thus we unclean sinners are clothed in the holiness and justice of Jesus Christ and present before God justified, holy. For this reason we are called saints of God, the holy ones of God; not on account of our own holiness, but the holiness we have received as grace. And we are called, in this life, to devote ourselves to holiness, righteousness, and good works for the sake of our neighbor. I.e. carrying our cross as disciples of Jesus.
-CryptoLutheran
In John 14 Jesus told His apostles “I go and prepare a place for you”.
Sanctification is a process that we won’t complete in this life. Luckily for us we don’t have to be sanctified to be saved but we will be perfected before we enter Heaven.
I voted, “no” but there are different views on who are the ungodly. The Lord testifies the ungodly will not be saved per John 5:22-30 ( etc.).
The Christian godly being those saved by grace ( Ephesians 2:8-10) & believed in the Lord, & strove to keep His commandments unto death ( Colossians 1 etc,).
Some believe in total depravity and that whatever a person does in life is automatically devoid of God based understandings of ( for ex.) Romans 1, Romans 2, Romans 3.
Others believe that in Romans 2 God works with the individual conscience and determines that some otherwise did good ( Romans 2:11-16), did not blaspheme the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 12:30-32) according to His determination ( Romans 9:15-18). ( basically according to the light given them).
The Bible doesn't care much about our terminology. We tend to want to use one word to mean one thing, but it doesn't always.that's a good question.
I know that we are considered righteous because of the righteousness of Christ upon our conversion, but as far as I understand, sanctification is as much a process as it is a state of being.
I could be wrong, but I am curious as to what you and others think. This is definitely an interesting topic and is proving to be more than a simple question
I probably could have put more options up there, but I wanted to keep it relatively simple as I'm sure there are a variety of responses.
I've not met many Orthodox Christians, so I'm curious in your "circle" do you view our salvation as a one time fits all deal? Like I say a prayer and I'm saved no matter what. Or as a continual walking with God that even if I stumble and fall, if I should get back up and keep going with him he will guard me?
That's a horrible analogy so I apologize but it's the best I can muster at the moment.