Sanctification

WordSword

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Sanctification


Many believers of late are of the notion that “sanctification” is a process involving the completion of one’s salvation, and that one cannot know for certain when, or even if one is or will be saved until this sanctification process is complete! Be encouraged, dearly beloved in Christ to know that at the moment one is brought to faith in Christ, all within is complete and entire concerning “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2Pe 1:3), which most importantly includes—redemption within salvation!

As one cannot grow into “being holy” (either one is are isn’t), so also one does not grow into being sanctified, nor is it ever descriptively used in Scripture to denote a process. It’s not as though one can do anything to be sanctified (which comes only by the Spirit at rebirth - 1Co 6:11; 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2), it must be imputed, which is the same for all the attributes of God (except salvation, which is imparted and not imputed). Any concept that tends to attribute works towards producing or retaining redemption (usually inadvertently) detracts from attributing glory to God. Works are the fruit of godliness, and not the source of godliness, which is solely of God; and the most prevalent trademark of doctrinal-error within Christianity is works-attribution towards the apprehension and retention of godliness, which detracts testimony from unlearned believers.

I believe that the sole provision in spiritual growth of one’s faith of Christianity (faith is the only godly attribute which grows, and in strength of quality not quantity, as all else is complete) lies within that which concerns its completeness and permanency (because they are the derivatives of all growth truths); and one’s testimony of love to others and the endurance of trials will be manifested in accordance to the level of the understanding and application of these two Biblical truths.

With the most important growth truths comes also the most difficulties (of course) concerning their understanding and application, which answers to why there is not only a waning in many Christians spiritual growth, but also in the number of many long time Church attendees (within the last couple generations).
NC

 

fhansen

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Many believers of late are of the notion that “sanctification” is a process involving the completion of one’s salvation, and that one cannot know for certain when, or even if one is or will be saved until this sanctification process is complete!​
Actually, believers of old held to this notion-that's the legacy of the Church, both in the east and the west, founded by Christ!
As one cannot grow into “being holy” (either one is are isn’t), so also one does not grow into being sanctified, nor is it ever descriptively used in Scripture to denote a process.
Of course we can grow into holiness; holiness isn't a pretend thing. That's what it means to be transformed into the image of God, as we "invest" our "talents"-or not. And there's no limits to that holiness because there's no limits to that Image. And holiness or righteousness is perhaps most aptly defined by the term "love", which is why the Greatest Commandments are what they are.
 
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WordSword

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Actually, believers of old held to this notion-that's the legacy of the Church, both in the east and the west, founded by Christ!

Hi Fhan, and always appreciate your replies! I can understand why some may think holiness and sanctification can vary, but Scripture's use of these terms are always shown they do not admit in degrees, because only can God impute these attributes and man can only walk in them when given at the point of salvation; and I've never seen them to show they admit in degrees.

 
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WordSword

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Then why are we told to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God?

See 2 Corinthians 7:1.
Hi, and always appreciate your replies! The "cleansing" here is in reference to the physical things that defile outwardly, not inwardly as in our spirit, which only God can cleanse via Christ's Cross. Unbelievers are unchanged and thus the avoiding of the physical actions which are outwardly seen and which defile the person are descriptive of those who have not the Spirit (Gal 5:17), nor the nature of Christ (Col 3:10).

John Gill (1697–1771):

"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit: by "the filthiness of the flesh" is meant external pollution, defilement by outward actions, actions committed in the body, whereby the man is defiled."

"Perfecting holiness in the fear of God; by "holiness" is not meant the work of sanctification upon the heart, for that is wholly the work of the Spirit of God, and not of man; He begins it, carries it on, and perfects it of Himself; but holiness of life and conversation is here designed, which in conversion the people of God are called unto, and which highly becomes them (genuine Christians will not manifest and sinful lifestyle - NC): and this they are to be "perfecting"; not that a believer is able to live a life of holiness, without sin being in him, or committed by him; this is impossible and impracticable in the present life; but the sense of the word 'epitelountev' is, that he is to be carrying on a course of righteousness and holiness to the end."

Blessings!
 
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Hi, and always appreciate your replies! The "cleansing" here is in reference to the physical things that defile outwardly, not inwardly as in our spirit, which only God can cleanse via Christ's Cross. Unbelievers are unchanged and thus the avoiding of the physical actions which are outwardly seen and which defile the person are descriptive of those who have not the Spirit (Gal 5:17), nor the nature of Christ (Col 3:10).

John Gill (1697–1771):

"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit: by "the filthiness of the flesh" is meant external pollution, defilement by outward actions, actions committed in the body, whereby the man is defiled."

"Perfecting holiness in the fear of God; by "holiness" is not meant the work of sanctification upon the heart, for that is wholly the work of the Spirit of God, and not of man; He begins it, carries it on, and perfects it of Himself; but holiness of life and conversation is here designed, which in conversion the people of God are called unto, and which highly becomes them (genuine Christians will not manifest and sinful lifestyle - NC): and this they are to be "perfecting"; not that a believer is able to live a life of holiness, without sin being in him, or committed by him; this is impossible and impracticable in the present life; but the sense of the word 'epitelountev' is, that he is to be carrying on a course of righteousness and holiness to the end."

Blessings!

No. It says let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the spirit, too. The spirit is inward. Also, perfecting holiness in the fear of GOD means exactly that. Paul is telling us to perfect holiness in the fear of GOD and Paul is not commanding GOD to perfect holiness. What you propose undoes what the verse plainly says.

In other words, just read and believe this text like you would an Eternal Security verse. You look at words in an Eternal Security verse and read it plainly. But it does not seem consistent if you are not doing so here with 2 Corinthians 7:1. Just read it and believe it. Please do not attempt to make this verse say something different than what it plainly says.
 
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WordSword

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No. It says let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the spirit, too.
Hi BH and thanks for your replies! I suppose we would need to clarify "cleanse." As the posts show, that I believe it refers to the physical cleansing practices that believers live by, e.g. putting of the "old man" (sin nature); "cleanse" can also mean only that which is by the Spirit of God in our soul via the Cross from the curse of our sin nature, which is not the sense here because it's related to the believer's lifestyle. Those born again will always be found to live by "walking in the Spirit," and maturing more all the time as He teaches us.

Also, perfecting holiness in the fear of GOD means exactly that. Paul is telling us to perfect holiness in the fear of GOD and Paul is not commanding GOD to perfect holiness. What you propose undoes what the verse plainly says.
It's okay, but I'm not sure I see what your explanation is here. IMO, the phrase "perfecting holiness" means "completing the practices from which being holy produces until the end, which is when we depart from here (by grave or translation).

Holiness is already perfect in the believer, because it's perfect in and from Christ. So, I see that the phrase also renders the idea of manifesting holiness, not effecting holiness, which only God can produce (not suspecting you mean we can produce holiness).
 
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WordSword

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Concerning "sanctified," my purpose for the article was to show that it is irrelevant as reference to effecting (producing) salvation, because it is fully imputed at rebirth, same for holiness, righteousness, and justification (all of which only manifests faith and salvation, not produces nor retains faith and salvation).


What Christians believe in accordance to they're present understanding on any issue is acceptable, because we assume that what we presently believe is true, and if it isn't God will eventually give us the correct understanding (unless you're not seeking truth, which this is the only way to find it - Mat 7:7; Luk 11:9); and of course it stands to reason that if we seek Scriptural support for our beliefs we will receive understanding the soonest.


This is a list of all the NT references using "sanctified," and note that they are in the present tense, or directs to the present tense:


Jhn 10:36

Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?


Jhn 17:19

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.


Act 20:32

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.


Act 26:18

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.


Rom 15:16

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.


1Co 1:2

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.


1Co 6:11

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.


1Co 7:14

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.


1Ti 4:5

For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.


2Ti 2:21

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.


Heb 2:11

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.


Heb 10:10

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.


Heb 10:14

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.


Heb 10:29

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?


Jde 1:1

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.
 
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