How would you define sanctification?

[Andrewn]

Does this mean we can continually disobey God? No. If we disobey our conscience, we grieve the Holy Breath, and thereby forfeit outpourings.

How do you define "righteousness" in relation to "holiness / sanctification?"

Take regeneration for example. It's an impartation of holiness and thus it's your initial sanctification.

How do you define "justification" in relation to "regeneration?"

 

[JAL]

How do you define "righteousness" in relation to "holiness / sanctification?"

I've never really done a study on the term righteousness. Taking a stab at it, I'd surmise only a minor distinction:
- Holiness/sanctification refers to the Holy One tabernacling in a geographical region (whether the Tent, the ground at Moses feet, or a section of the human body/heart) FOR PURPOSES of assuming control.
- One inevitable BYPRODUCT of that holiness is morally upright behavior (righteousness).

Given this relationship, at the moment I don't see any major need, aside from splitting theological hairs, to vastly distinguish these concepts. They are somewhat interchangeable. Thus, for example, our initial regeneration is also our first dosage of righteousness.

This is in stark contrast to those exegetes who define righteousness in purely forensic terms, i.e. as our being declared righteous in virtue of the atonement, without necessarily being righteous. This error is partly responsible for the widespread misreading of Galatians as an epistle centered on justification rather than sanctification. Which brings me to your next question.

How do you define "justification" in relation to "regeneration?"

In Galatians, Paul is using the terms "justification" and "righteousness" as synonyms for regeneration. Which is also a synonym for sanctification. Regeneration is simply the initial dosage - subsequent dosages might be called 'sanctification' (if one doesn't mind that convention). The point is that Galatians isn't really focused on the initial dosage (regeneration). Rather it is extrapolating FROM that premise to subsequent dosages (sanctification). How do I know this? At verse 3, the Greek word for 'mature' is used, even though most translations render it as 'perfect' - you'll find that translating it as 'mature' makes for a more consistent/plausible NT-wide rendering.

Secondly, both Romans 4 and Galatians 3 look back to the outpouring of the divine Word upon Abraham at Gen 15:1-6 as the paradigm of righteousness. Abraham received this outpouring of the Holy Breath by HEARING God speak promises. He received the Breath by the hearing of faith (which is the literal rendering of the Greek). Thus Paul's argument to the Galatians is this:

"Are you so foolish?...Did you receive the Breath through works of the law, or by the hearing of faith...Does God supply you His Breath and work miracles among you, because you observe the law, or by the hearing of faith? Consider Abraham."

Thus, as most commentators acknowledge, Abraham's experience at Gen 15:1-6 is adduced here as proof of the preceding verses. Commenting on Gal 3:6, Calvin said it something like this (I don't have his exact quote handy right now), "Paul's point is that with respect to the Galatians receiving the Spirit and miracles via the hearing of faith, it runs parallel to Abraham."

Now here's the clincher. Both Romans 4 and Galatians 3 refer to this Abrahamic experience as 'justification by faith' - but Abraham was already justified by faith prior to this point! Faith comes by hearing (receiving) an outpouring of the divine Word (Roman 10:17), but Abraham had long since heard God's voice multiple times.

Thus the focus here isn't on Abraham's initial dosage (for salvation) but subsequent outpourings (for sanctification).

How can this be? How can we be justified multiple times? As already suggested, the human soul is a physical substance fused to the body, stretched from head to toe. Being filled full of the Holy Breath would be Christian perfection (which I don't think is possible in the current life). Presently, you've only received a light sprinkling. Thus only part of your heart has received justifying Faith, in the strict technical sense of divinely inspired, divinely sustained Faith. I capitalized Faith because, having free will, all parts of the human heart/mind are potentially capable of self-generated human faith, which is a much weaker kind of faith, very imperfect. Unfortunately Scripture often blurs the distinction between Faith and faith.

 

[Andrewn]

Thus, for example, our initial regeneration is also our first dosage of righteousness. This is in stark contrast to those exegetes who define righteousness in purely forensic terms, i.e. as our being declared righteous

I like your definition of regeneration / justification as the "first dosage of righteousness."

How can we be justified multiple times? As already suggested, the human soul is a physical substance fused to the body, stretched from head to toe. Being filled full of the Holy Breath would be Christian perfection (which I don't think is possible in the current life). Presently, you've only received a light sprinkling. Thus only part of your heart has received justifying Faith, in the strict technical sense of divinely inspired, divinely sustained Faith. I capitalized Faith because, having free will, all parts of the human heart/mind are potentially capable of self-generated human faith, which is a much weaker kind of faith, very imperfect. Unfortunately Scripture often blurs the distinction between Faith and faith.

I never thought of this before. Would you elucidate this point further?

 

[fhansen]

What exactly is sanctification?
What is sanctification not?
What is the impetus of sanctification?
What is the mechanism of sanctification?
What is the method of sanctification?
What is the result of sanctification?
Who can be sanctified?
Who cannot be sanctified?
What are the prerequisites of sanctification?
Who is active in sanctification?
Is sanctification a state?
Is sanctification a scale or spectrum?
Is sanctification a process?
Can sanctification be measured? How?
On what basis is one understood to be more or less sanctified?
Can sanctification be sped up or slowed down?
Does sanctification have any bearings on one's eternal state?

Sanctification is essentially to be transformed into the image of God. this happens as we respond to His grace and urging -and so do His will. As this happens we're "investing" our "talents", acting on grace and growing in it.

 

[JAL]

I like your definition of regeneration / justification as the "first dosage of righteousness."


I never thought of this before. Would you elucidate this point further?

Which part was unclear?

 

[Daniel C]

Being washed in the sacred blood of Christ is our sanctification.

 

[Andrewn]

Presently, you've only received a light sprinkling. Thus only part of your heart has received justifying Faith, in the strict technical sense of divinely inspired, divinely sustained Faith. I capitalized Faith because, having free will, all parts of the human heart/mind are potentially capable of self-generated human faith, which is a much weaker kind of faith, very imperfect.

Which part was unclear?

The difference between Faith and faith.

 

[JAL]

The difference between Faith and faith.

Self-generated faith is sustained by human effort (free will) and thus is not guaranteed to prevail in many scenarios. Note that generally we shouldn't TRY to make ourselves believe something, because blind faith is foolishness. The one exception is when conscience DEMANDS it (because conscience is always obligatory). For example suppose you just lost your job. You can choose either:
(1) To sulk in depression and despair.
(2) To TRY to believe in the kindness and mercy of God.

Assuming conscience is telling you to do #2, you are in sin if you do #1. Since human faith is weak, you might somewhat fail at #2. But at least you tried, and therefore are not in sin.

Whereas inspired Faith is unfailing. "The old is gone, the new is come." And if God didn't supply it - if you had to rely on yourself to sustain saving faith - you could lose your salvation. Inspired Faith never doubts. Why then I do feel doubt? Because the loudness of ordinary, self-generated thinking (which is filled with doubt) often DROWNS OUT the small voice of inspired Faith. Fortunately each dosage from on high loudens the voice of inspired Faith. Also God can give us a special (short-lived) enduement of inspired Faith for the sake of a miracle - enough to drown out the voice of doubt altogether. Thus:

22“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“Truly f I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” [26]

Such perfect, undoubting faith cannot be self-generated. If it could, immature believers could easily utilize miracles for selfish-gain. In fact none of us would be safe from each other given the infinite potential of the above promise.

 

[JAL]

P.S. The passage cited above blurs the distinction between Faith and faith. Jesus is advising to make an effort to believe, which is faith, but we should not presume that such a level of faith can be achieved without Faith. That's why He told His disciples, "This kind cometh out not but by prayer and by fasting." It is not enough to self-generate faith. One needs to pray for Faith.

 

[iLove]

Holy Spirit
helping us to finish the good race
Repentance -- used often
sometimes very painful
but, relief once on the other side.
M

Most Believers faith is misplaced, therefore grace is cancelled (Gal. 2:21); the Holy Spirit will not help this Believer (Gal. 5:4).