What About Progressive Sanctification?

What About Progressive Sanctification?

I don`t really believe in it.

Tell me why you do.

Michael Collum said:

Isn't Sanctification by nature progressive?

We'd kind of die if God changed us that much in an instant.

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You`re reasoning but it`s not Bible reasoning. No offense, but I don`t think you can show scripture that says we become more sanctified as time goes on. In the Bible, it`s just sanctified or not.

HTacianas said:

"Progressive Sanctification" is a Protestant idea that roughly equates to theosis in the Church. The idea that a person strives to become "godlike" over time in this life. And yes, it is real. It is the objective of all men, but few ever achieve it. Christian monks live their lives to attain theosis, and it is said that some do attain it. As a person moves closer to theosis, spiritual gifts such as the gift of healing can appear.

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That`s an interesting remark. I`ll have to think about it for awhile. Thx.

Albion said:

That's a good way to describe it, but it probably should also be said that it's not a POV that is typical of Protestants or Protestant churches.

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How common do you think it is? I think of it as a widely held belief.

SimpleLiving2019 said:

God is continually bringing my ways in closer alignment to his ways. He reveals where my thoughts are still not aligned with his thoughts. He convicts me where a shortcoming must be changed. He has been quite gentle with me. I would be wrong to say there is not more cleansing of my ways that he shall find. So I experience this in my own life, since I was saved, that’s why I believe in it. I have been born again for about 12 years now, but a lot has changed between then and now in my thinking and my ways.

I wasn’t aware this was controversial. Doesn’t every born again believer experience this? It has to be so.

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All of that is wonderful, but are you more saved now than you were then? You more clean now than when your sin was washed away? To me, what you describe is the power he gave you to become a son of God.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" John 1:12

PS, Don`t look at this as controversy, I`m for you not against you.

SimpleLiving2019 said:

I would say I am able to draw closer to God as there is less actual sinful practices in my life. As God brought sin to my attention, that I was involved with, brought conviction so I could come to a place of repentance. I can receive more of his presence, and experience peace, without sin for him to point out, that still needs repented of.

There is a cost to receive more of his anointing. He is Holy, and we must be Holy. I want more and more of his anointing, why would I not want my face to shine? Things won’t get to that point if there is still gross sin practiced in my life. He has to deal with it, and he does, over time, as we can handle his corrections, else it would be a block every time he wanted to draw near.

I wouldn’t say it makes me more saved, but if I had refused his convictions through the years then he might chastise me quite severely for gross sinful practices, actually I know he would. The cost would be severe. Have I ever been dangled over hell so to speak, yes I have.

PS I had only mentioned controversial issue because the thread is within the controversial theology issues section not because of anything anyone said

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I have to say that I like your testimony and would be reluctant to criticize your progressive sanctification. With the right understanding, I might go along with the idea.

Many years ago I had a Bible study group that included people from different churches. One couple had a progressive sanctification belief that led them to believe that their salvation was unstable until they reached a point of full sanctification. I could sense the pressure they felt due to this belief.

I`ve known others who felt like they had outgrown sin. They had this sort of one sin and Jesus kicks you out the kingdom type of belief.

A lot of it is just perspective, maybe

SimpleLiving2019 said:

Yes, I have seen many extremes like that as well.

I had a short vision one time, of a car driving on a curvy road, it was completely dark, pitch black. The headlights showed the path. The vision was a split second, and the understanding of it came in the same moment. Jesus Christ is that light showing me the way to walk and I must walk in the light I am given, else I fall into a ditch. This could go for our theology or other areas in our life. Makes me want to go spend some time with the Lord in prayer and draw near to him, and hang onto him. How I love him.

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I wish I could take you out for a cup of coffee. I'd enjoy having a conversation.

Noxot said:

I believe in better and worse so I have to believe in some kind of progressive sanctification or growth.

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Oh, I believe in better and worse too. Here`s the thing, there is a Progressive Sanctification doctrine that talks about Biblical things. HTacianas pretty much tapped it in post #3 on this thread. However, Progressive Sanctification isn`t a term of the Bible. Like all terms of that nature, it is easily tainted with wrong beliefs, and I believe a lot of people misunderstand it.

Take the testimony of SimpleLiving2019 for example. It`s a fine testimony of someone`s 12-year walk with God. He wants to call it progressive sanctification and I wouldn`t want to stand in the way of someone`s walk. But let me share how I would frame it using terms from the scripture.

Eph 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

Ok, he heard the gospel, he believed, after that he is sealed with the Holy Spirit. The washing away of sin and the sealing of the Holy Spirit sanctifies him permanently until the first resurrection.

Eph 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

In the 12 years since that time, per his testimony, SimpleLiving2019 has been led by the Spirit,

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

He has been testified to by the Spirit,

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

He has been taught by the Spirit,

John 14:17 "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

And he has been given the power to become a son of God

John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"

A lot of things have happened for SimpleLiving2019 over the 12 years but his level of sanctification has neither increased or decreased. In scripture, it`s just sanctified or not. Jesus only needs to do it once.

Michael Collum said:

See below, strongs word 38 is translated as both holiness and sanctification.

Ro 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness <38>.
Ro 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness <38>, and the end everlasting life.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification <38>, and redemption:
1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification <38>, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification <38> and honour;
1Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness <38>.
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification <38> of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
1Ti 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness <38> with sobriety.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness <38>, without which no man shall see the Lord:
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification <38> of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

I get the sense from this context (those are all the instances) that when Jesus says to clean the cup on the inside, (so the outside will be clean also) this speaks of sanctification.

I also get the sense from these passages that the "putting on" of the wedding garment of the parable is sanctification.

So after looking at the sanctification passages, I'm not sure why sanctification is not progressive.

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Let me ask you a question. Do you get your sanctification from the Holy Spirit or do you help Him out with your works? Who cleans the inside of the cup, you? Paul says to abstain from fornication, that is your part in the sanctification. The other part is that you believe the truth. What else do you think you have to do?
What is the source of your righteousness?