Who is responsible for our sanctification?

Hammster

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We have free will and it is our place to use it to surrender to the will of God. We become holy through the baptism in God's Spirit and that Spirit is our helper to guide us in holiness. We cannot do it on our own but must rely on the Spirit to follow.
So...who is responsible? (See the OP)
 
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Hammster

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Perhaps you might define "sanctify" then so your understanding of the word is made known.

According to Webster's, to sanctify means "to set apart to a sacred purpose" as its first definition. The Hebrew (qadash) means to consecrate (to make holy, i.e. to set apart).The Greek (hagiazō) also means "to make holy" and again, holy means "to be set apart from the ordinary."

So the question is, "What are we being set apart to do or become?" I was taking the position that it is too narrow to just say "be saved" when salvation involves more than just eternal life. We have been set apart (sanctified) for His purpose. What is your place in that purpose? What is your calling? Because you being set apart to do that is also part of being sanctified.
How about “to be conformed to the image of His Son”?
 
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Neogaia777

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Perhaps you might define "sanctify" then so your understanding of the word is made known.

According to Webster's, to sanctify means "to set apart to a sacred purpose" as its first definition. The Hebrew (qadash) means to consecrate (to make holy, i.e. to set apart).The Greek (hagiazō) also means "to make holy" and again, holy means "to be set apart from the ordinary."

So the question is, "What are we being set apart to do or become?" I was taking the position that it is too narrow to just say "be saved" when salvation involves more than just eternal life. We have been set apart (sanctified) for His purpose. What is your place in that purpose? What is your calling? Because you being set apart to do that is also part of being sanctified.
We are set apart, or whatever, to walk in His will, both generally and specifically, and as it applies to each one of us specifically, also...

He calls all the truly called to be different from worldly ones, or ones in the world, or caught up in the worldly systems and all it's things, or their ways, or ways of thinking, acting, and being, etc...

So if your not any different than "worldly ones" you are probably not walking in His ways, or His will for you and your life... Are not Holy (yet) etc...

God Bless!
 
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Ken Rank

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How about “to be conformed to the image of His Son”?
That isn't only what the word means. All words have more than one meaning and when you look up the Greek or Hebrew it speaks of being set apart (being made holy).

But to go there.... what is the image of His son? His son was a obedient Torah keeping man who did the work he was called to do. So it still comes back to being set apart for a purpose. We are to be obedient (He is Lord, we are not) and we are to walk in the calling before us. Doing so is conforming to the image presented by our model.
 
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Ken Rank

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We are set apart, or whatever, to walk in His will, both generally and specifically, and as it applies to each one of us specifically, also...

He calls all the truly called to be different from worldly ones, or ones in the world, or caught up in the worldly systems and all it's things, or their ways, or ways of thinking, acting, and being, etc...

So if your not any different than "worldly ones" you are probably not walking in His ways, or His will for you and your life... Are not Holy (yet) etc...

God Bless!
I agree... we are called and we are set apart for His purpose. That means not being like the world, resembling our model (Christ), learning and growing so we can fully walk in the job God gives us, and so forth.
 
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Hammster

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That isn't only what the word means. All words have more than one meaning and when you look up the Greek or Hebrew it speaks of being set apart (being made holy).

But to go there.... what is the image of His son? His son was a obedient Torah keeping man who did the work he was called to do. So it still comes back to being set apart for a purpose. We are to be obedient (He is Lord, we are not) and we are to walk in the calling before us. Doing so is conforming to the image presented by our model.
I was giving what I think is meant by scripture. That’s the goal, to be holy as He is holy, and to be perfect as He is perfect.
 
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Neogaia777

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So...who is responsible? (See the OP)
We have a certain "appearance of responsibility" or being responsible, in that we choose something, or must exert or change our will, somewhat by our own will, in a way that it will be in and line up with His will, etc, but since God already knows, He gets all the "credit", etc...

Or some might also, say "blame", responsibility etc... It's a technicality and a technical thing really...

"Technically" God is, but our not knowing what He knows, forces us to act as though we are or play a big part in it as well, or share the responsibility involved in it as well... when "technically", we do not or may not, etc...

IOW's, what choice do we have but to choose, or what choice do we have but to act and be and do and/or behave as if we do make choices, etc...?

God Bless!
 
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98cwitr

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Who is responsible for our sanctification?

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
— Romans 8:29

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
— Philippians 2:12-13

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
— 1 Corinthians 15:10

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
— Hebrews 13:20-21

It is the Lord's work...via His Will.
 
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Hammster

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Of course, and that's why there was an actual answer to it in my post.
Then, who did you say was responsible? I didn’t see that in your post.
 
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fhansen

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Then, who did you say was responsible? I didn’t see that in your post.
My post was very clear. Sanctification does not happen without both, God doing the sanctifying, and we allowing God to sanctify. He doesn't need us to allow anything, but that's how He's set it up.
 
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Wordkeeper

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Who is responsible for our sanctification?

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
— Romans 8:29

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
— Philippians 2:12-13

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
— 1 Corinthians 15:10

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
— Hebrews 13:20-21
Sanctification was always the goal of believers, both in the Old Covenant as well as the New. Grace is the way to sanctification, and grace was always given through faith, being loyal. However sanctification was not always possible.

The first instance of the possibility of God's people being sanctified was in the Exodus. However because of unbelief, refusal to consider the display of God's great works as proof that He would support them in the hard journey ahead, God swore that they would never enter His rest.

So how does rest equal sanctification?

Because no one is sanctified, separated, distinct from the rest of the world unless he or she is without blemish. And the only way that one can be without blemish is by being IN Messiah.

Luke 2
9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,


14“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”



So by withholding the sending of Messiah, Israel had been preventing from entering rest. And by sending Him when the remnant had pleased Him, it was now possible to abide in Him.

Again, abiding in Christ requires grace, which is sufficient, but to receive grace requires, not works of the law, but faith, loyalty. Paul showed loyalty by praying three times for his sinful weakness to be removed, as taught by God, but to prevent him from becoming proud, God allowed the weakness to remain. However it didn't prevent him from being sanctified, being in Christ, because God said His grace, given to the faithful, was sufficient, would do the job.

So we can see that faith, loyal response, from the believer, is required for sanctification.

As for predestination, it does not speak of God choosing individuals, but it speaks of the method: conforming to the image of Christ, by being IN Him. In other words, from the beginning of creation, God always planned to perfect creation, subdue the earth, by using humanity, by conforming them to Christ.
 
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Maria Billingsley

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I asked, who is responsible? Like I said to someone earlier, I am responsible for raising my children. They are not partly responsible, even though obedience is required.
Understood. God since He created the possibility of sanctification through His Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
 
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Hammster

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My post was very clear. Sanctification does not happen without both, God doing the sanctifying, and we allowing God to sanctify. He doesn't need us to allow anything, but that's how He's set it up.
That still doesn’t answer the question about responsibility. But I won’t press the issue.
 
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renniks

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I don’t know anyone who is arguing that we don’t need to do anything.
Obviously, if we have to do something it is partially our responsibility. You might be responsible for molding your child's character, but it won't happen unless he cooperates.
 
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fhansen

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That still doesn’t answer the question about responsibility. But I won’t press the issue.
In order for sanctification to be realized, both parties must fulfill their roles. Only God, however, can sanctify.
 
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