Who is responsible for our sanctification?

KingdomTruth said:

If I don't realize this and believe God's work relieves me from my own work, then I'm in big trouble. I begin to entertain some very destructive, philosophical, theological ideas that undermine my salvation.

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Sanctification is God's responsibility.

Yes, the prodigal son did walk back towards the Father's house (he was not dragged or carried there).

But it is God's Spirit that led him there.

stuart allen said:

who is responsible for our Sanctification?
Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces

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That's actually very work-based, with many obligations of penances, novenas, prayers, devotions, etc.,...etc.

Hammster said:

Well, they say that open theism is the natural result of Arminianism/synergism. I guess that’s true.

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The text says it, it must be true.

Hammster said:

The weight of history is against him.

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Medieval church scholars never had access to the Dead Sea Scrolls or many other important parchment that were only recently excavated. You want to stay in the Dark Ages too?

Hammster said:

You rely on you, I’ll rely on Him.

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Think of the consequences if the reliance is wrong. You rely on Him, you wait till the cows come home and don't know what's supposed to happen, you get a nasty judgment waiting on you.

You rely on you, do works that result in gathering, because when to do a selfless act you are resurrected everyday, mirroring Scriptural methods, you get a warm welcome.

You choose.

Wordkeeper said:

Think of the consequences if the reliance is wrong. You rely on Him, you wait till the cows come home and don't know what's supposed to happen, you get a nasty judgment waiting on you.

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Why would God abandon the one who relies on Him (Psalm 91:14-15)?

Can you please elaborate?

Hazelelponi said:

Anyone living in habitual unrepentant unremorseful happy sin is unsaved, regardless of their church attendance or how they care to label themselves.

They may later become saved, but uncaring habitual sin is the mark of the unsaved.

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Yours is a false dilemma fallacy. While it is true that habitual sin is the mark of the unsaved, it is also the mark of the saved person who subsequently chooses to habitually sin. Believers always have the choice whether to sow to the flesh or sow to the Spirit.
Paul warned the brethren in Rome "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Rom 8:13. Spiritual death is referred to here as everyone physically dies no matter what kind of lifestyle they lived.

Hammster said:

You really need to read The Who chapter. And all of Galatians. Really.

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Really? Instead of giving me your personal opinion, your belief might have more credibility if you wrestled with the text. All Scripture must be reconciled with your doctrine; not just those proof-texts that appear to support your view.

Hammster said:

I wrestle with the whole text, not just a verse that is a “gotcha”. I’ve spent the last month or so in Galatians “wrestling” with the law/gospel distinction. You ignore all of the previous verses in Roman 8, not to mention the previous 7 chapters. So, as you proof-text by posting a total of two verses, you may want to consider the context of those verses.

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You did not address Rom 8:13 itself nor do you address James 5:19-20. Pull the trigger and take a shot. If you take the mark of the beast are you still saved? If you do, then according to your view it would mean that you were never saved to begin with. How does that make you feel? If you protest and boldly proclaim that you would never do such a thing, Peter did the same thing and subsequently denied Christ thrice. If you believe that a genuine believe cannot spiritually die, tell that to the believers in the Church of Sardis whom Jesus said were DEAD. The warnings in Scripture exist for a reason.

Oldmantook said:

Yours is a false dilemma fallacy. While it is true that habitual sin is the mark of the unsaved, it is also the mark of the saved person who subsequently chooses to habitually sin. Believers always have the choice whether to sow to the flesh or sow to the Spirit.
Paul warned the brethren in Rome "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Rom 8:13. Spiritual death is referred to here as everyone physically dies no matter what kind of lifestyle they lived.

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There are also 2 ways you can read Romans 8:1-2, of course one is wrong.

Romans 8 New King James Version (NKJV)
Free from Indwelling Sin
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The wrong way is saying 'who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, as if this is a personal daily choice they make. One day they walk according to the Spirit, and another according to the flesh, that's just real bad theology.

The right understanding is they are in Christ and Christ is in them, so they then walk according to the Spirit with their life and practice, because they belong to Him and he directs their steps. In another place it is said, and those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its lusts and desires. And a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit, yet people frequently contradict Christ by saying yes they can.
Agree with Christ otherwise you know nothing.
And the following verses clearly point out your either in Christ or your not in Christ, there is no in one day and out the next, and then back in again. He doesn't indwell you and then fly out and then come back again.

Believers wont be carnally minded, as that would mean they are at war with the Holy Spirit.
And if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation with all things become new, and the OLD WAY IS GONE.

He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (obviously those deeds are the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Those who are Christ's (ownership rules are in force too ) have crucified the flesh with its lusts and desires, so they will NOT live according to the flesh.
It just can't happen, if your crucified with Christ your a new creation and the old way of the flesh is dead for you, reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive to God.

Galatians 5:16-25 New King James Version (NKJV)
Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Hammster said:

I’m trusting Him and His promises. My righteousness is no good.

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There's always the possibility of wrong interpretation. Your only hope is to compare the consequences.

ChicanaRose said:

Why would God abandon the one who relies on Him (Psalm 91:14-15)?

Can you please elaborate?

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You have to understand the instruction. Ignorance is no defense. The correct teaching is against Him or for Him. Scatter or Gather. When you gather you can see fruit. Relying is like pie in the sky.

How do you know you are not deceiving yourself like the person describes in the bold text:

When Assurance Is Not Assurance

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Dr. R. C. Sproul is a very articulate spokesman for the view that assurance is not certainty. A few years back he described his own struggles with assurance, and in so doing he explained his view of assurance:

There are people in this world who are not saved, but who are convinced that they are. The presence of such people causes genuine Christians to doubt their salvation. After all, we wonder, suppose I am in that category? Suppose I am mistaken about my salvation and am really going to hell? How can I know that I am a real Christian?

A while back I had one of those moments of acute self-awareness that we have from time to time, and suddenly the question hit me: "R.C., what if you are not one of the redeemed? What if your destiny is not heaven after all, but hell?" Let me tell you that I was flooded in my body with a chill that went from my head to the bottom of my spine. I was terrified.

I tried to grab hold of myself. I thought, "Well, it's a good sign that I'm worried about this. Only true Christians really care about salvation." But then I began to take stock of my life, and I looked at my performance. My sins came pouring into my mind, and the more I looked at myself, the worse I felt. I thought, "Maybe it's really true. Maybe I'm not saved after all."

I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, "Well, here I am. I can't point to my obedience. There's nothing I can offer. I can only rely on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on Your mercy." Even then I knew that some people only flee to the Cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, "Where else can I go? Only You have the words of eternal life." In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option!

According to this way of thinking, certainty is not an option. The very best option available is "being uncomfortable with Jesus."