Why is sanctification essential for salvtion?

Dave-W said:

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Are you mixing up unpardonable with unforgiven?

The unpardonable sin is very narrowly defined; so much so that many would say it is impossible to commit in this day and age.

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With all the confusion today within Christianity is it wise to listen to those who dismiss what the Bible says is reality? I don't think so. Theologians have always been the ones to lead the laity into confusion and error all throughout history. It was the Jewish theologians who so confused the scriptures that the Jews rejected the Messiah. It was the Catholic theologians who led the way to ills of the Catholic church such as abandoning Sabbath, indulgences, sanctification by works, etc.... It was the Lutheran theologians in Germany who paved the way for the rejection of a living God, and the acceptance of the Nazis. It's always been that way. The scriptures are our only safeguard.

I'm not mixing up anything, Dave. If we will continue to harden ourselves in sin by not recognizing it's destructive nature and continuing to practice it, we will become like who we follow: the devil and his snares. We either walk in the footsteps of Christ, following Him in word and deed through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or we follow in the steps of the devil and become like him. We cannot follow both God and the devil at the same time. Jesus told us this. We will have only one master. We will worship one or the the other, God or the devil. It's a binary choice with no middle ground.

If we continue to practice the sins of the flesh, follow in the devil's footsteps, then sin will lose it's appearance of sinfulness to us. And just like the Pharisees of Christ's day we can be led to any depths of sin, and never ask for, nor think we need, forgiveness. If we go far enough along that line the Holy Spirit's voice becomes inaudible to us and we lose all chance of repenting for our sins for the desire for repentance comes only from God. When we so close our ears to His Spirit we have effectively committed the unpardonable sin for not only have we closed our eyes and ears to God's influence, but we have severed all connection with Him who leads us to repentance so that we no longer desire or feel any need of repentance. Therefore we can have no forgiveness. Our sin then becomes unpardonable.

Remember Jesus' words:

Matthew 6: 16 ¶Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19 ¶Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 ¶No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

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If we attempt to serve both against the advice of Jesus we will fail for Jesus also said the following:

Matthew 10: 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

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