Sanctification

INTRODUCTION

 

What is Sanctification?

Sanctification is the process by which God reveals to us truth. He doesn't do it all at once or we would be overwhelmed. In other words, He turns the light on gradually so that we are not blinded.

Now does the Bible come right out and plainly describe thii process? Sometimes, but for the most part it is implied. For instance look at the definition of sin in the book of James.

Jas 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Sin is not what we are ignorant of, but what God has revealed to us. We are only held accountable for that which God has taught us. Now look what Jesus says about what He expects from us based on the knowledge we have been given.

Luk 12:48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

In this next verse we see this principal operating on a larger scale. Not only does God expect us to live up to the things He has taught us during our lifetime, but He also expects us to follow truth that He has revealed to His people as a whole.

Act 17:30 Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now He strictly commands all men everywhere to repent,

Ok, so is it important for us to understand this concept? Doesn't grace just cover our sins anyways? Certainly it wouldn't cost us our salvation if we continue to sin knowingly would it?

Heb 10:26. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
27. but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28. He who despised Moses' Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.
29. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

This warning is specifically directed at those who misunderstand grace to mean that its ok to knowingly sin. Now keep in mind that as strong as this warning is, its purpose is to direct us to the undescribeable experience of having God take away our sinful nature. Everytime we allow God to do this, our life becomes so much better. For those who have weaved a theology that allows them to avoid this process, God inspired Paul to pen this powerful ultimatem of either trusting God or falling from grace.

Now if you are still confused as to how this concept works, consider that this actually means that a sin today may not have been a sin yesterday. Saul thought he was serving God while killing Christians. When Jesus opened his eyes, Paul immediately turned from his sin and repented. When Mordecai revealed to Queen Esther that if she was to remain silent, the blood of her people would be upon her, she chose to risk her life to save her people. When the Prophet revealed to King David that he was a murderor and an adulterer, he repented and wept bitterly because of his actions. And how about Peter, when he was shown in vision that he was not to treat gentiles as unclean animals? All these men and women of God turned from their sinful actions done in ignorance. On the other hand, howmany accounts do we have of those who did the opposite. King Saul, dead set in his prideful ways. All the wicked kings after him who were given rebukes through God's prophets, only to respond with hardened hearts. We have all kinds of examples ranging from the rich young ruler who would not give up his fortune, to the Pharisees who refused all of Jesus' rebukes. The passage in Hebrews applies to all of these examples and applies to our daily lives. When God reveals our sin to us, do we excuse or accuse our actions? Do we harden our hearts or humble them?

 

And now here is the ultimate statement revealing to what extent Jesus and the Father overlook sins commited in ignorance.

Forgive them father, for they know not what they do . .

How does this effect the Gospel?

This is answered in understanding whether Sanctification is the result of being saved, or a part of our salvation.

The Justification Gospel believes it to be the result of salvation. This leads to the following theology:

1) Sanctification cannot cost us nor earn us our salvation
2) Sanctification occurs by our effort with the help of God
3) When it occurs is undertimed and unimportant
4) Christians are not Holy and righteous to a degree. One cannot be more or less than eachother. We are all merely justified only. God sees Jesus righteousness rather than ours, and this means our sanctification is completely irrelivant. Like a scale of 0 - 1.

 

The Righteousness by Faith Gospel believes Sanctification to be a part of the process of Salvation. This leads to the following theology:

1) When God reveals truth and sin to us, we must live up to it. Our choice to live up to it is how we choose God, and if we continually choose to reject this process it can result in us falling away from God.
2) Faith alone is how we choose to overcome sin. Not will power.
3) Sanctification begins when we are baptized and continues throughout our walk with God
4) Although this might sound strange, we are holy and righteous to a degree. We are to strive to be more so and to encourage our brothers to be more so every day.

So now try and decide which Gospel you agree with. But whatever you do, donot close your mind to one or the other. I believe I have included every verse in the Bible concerning this topic. The answer to this question and the 4 points above is repeated over and over. Each time it is illustrated in a different way. And each time the answer is exactly the same.

 

1) Does Sanctification effect our Salvation?

Now lets take a look at each of the 4 theological views of Sanctification and see which one the Bible supports. After that I have provided the many ways the Bible illustrates this same truth.

The problem with all theological error is that it mixes truth with error. For instance, can I "earn" my salvation? No. But does this mean my actions have no bearing on my salvation and that I can live like the world? Or is there more to accepting the price Jesus paid? Now remember that in the category of things I "do" falls: how much time we spend reading our Bibles and praying, learning and following truth, spreading the Gospel, ministering to others, obeying God, and even standing up for truth in the face of persecution. And yes there are those who do these things as penance in attempts to earn their salvation, but sanctification involves being changed on the inside resulting in these works becoming the natural outworking of our inner man.

Lets start with a verse describing Sanctification:

1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10. nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

First notice how not only are justification and sanctification listed together, but sanctification is listed first. Now notice that we "were" sinners in various ways, but "were washed." And this is what it means to be Sanctified and Justified. Being washed means we nolonger do these things. It does not mean we continue to do these things, but because we are Justified, its ok to continue to do these things. These sinful traits have been literally washed away through sanctification. And they have been wiped from the book of life through Justification. And here is the punchline: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not enter the kingdom of God." If we are not "washed" or if we return to these ways, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven. If you are still confused that maybe this means we can still be justified if we are unchanged, consider that Paul would have not bothered to even write this verse. Instead He would have said "The unrighteous will not enter the kingdom of God, unless you believe in Jesus, then you can continue being unrighteous and Jesus will Justify you anyways."

 

2) Is Sanctification 100% God or partially us?

Now you might think this is a silly point. What Christian actually believes we must accomplish Sanctification through willpower? Don't we all believe that we are God's workmanship and not our own? Well not so fast. Why do somany Christians today argue with such bias against the law. And those who do accept the law argue so passionately against keeping the 4rth commandment. Is it possible that they believe that the only way to keep the Sabbath is through willpower? Do they not want to keep the Sabbath because they believe God is incapeable of changing what they want to do?

Now consider the powerful implications of the following verse

1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

This means that absolutely no temptation will ever come our way that God will not provide a way of escape. Thats right, we do not provide the way of escape, but God does. Have you experienced this verse working in your life? If you haven't, try challenging God on this for yourself. See what happens when you never choose the easy/sinful way out of a perdicament. And start with the example above. If it appears that you will lose your job, business, social life, miss vital sporting events etc, if you were to keep the 4rth commandment, just go ahead and keep it anyways and you will see the wonder working power of God working in your life the same way as described in the Bible!

Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,
9. not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are God's workmanship, not our own, lest we should boast. So what does this mean when God does the works and not us? How does this work when it is 100% God, but yet somehow we have our part in it? Sound like an impossible question to answer? Well you're right it is. But the good news is that God has answered this question by illustrating how it works. Both the old and new testament are chalked full of examples of how this works.

God told Moses to stretch out his staff and the sea would part. Did the sea part because of what Moses did, or because of God? But would have it parted without Moses' mustard seed of faith? And then story after story through the wilderness. The bitter springs, water from a rock, collecting mana, the bronze serpant, showing up to battle while outnumbered 20:1 only to have their enemies destroyed by hornets or hail stones. And then finally walking through the Jordan river and marching around Jericho. All these events would not have occured had they lacked the faith as they did at Mara, when they were too afraid to fight the Giants. And the examples don't stop there. You have the story of Namen bathing in the Jordan to cure his leprousy, Elijah calling fire down from heaven, Daniel and the lion's den, shadrak meshak and abednego and the fiery furnace. All various illustrations of how God's people obeyed through faith, and God did the rest, providing the way of escape. And did this principal change in the new testament? Just look at all the miracles Jesus' performed, and you will see the same exact pattern. Would the paralytic have been healed had he and his friends not had the faith to lower him through the roof? How about the women who forced her way through the crowd to touch Jesus' garment. And the blind men who forced their way through the crowds, probably falling several times, being pushed around, trampled, and told to be quiet. But they would not be quiet or give up. Then the next thing they hear is silence, followed by the voice of Jesus speaking to them and telling them they are healed.

Jesus then uses an earthly example to best illustrate how this balance between us and God works.

Mat 13:32 which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

Mat 17:20 And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you.

This reward that God offers for our faith is far more than we are capeable of or deserve. The minute mustard seed grows into a strong plant, but not of its own effort. It does so because God created it to do so, gave it life, and even protects it waters and provides sunshine for it. And if we could only have faith that God wants to do the same for us, our mustard seed of faith could move mountains!

3) When does Sanctification occur

[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

4) Righteous to a Degree?

Now before you draw any conclusions on this topic, you must assume that we are not talking about a human system of hiearcy here. The Bible is written in the context of love, not pride and self exaltation. However the Bible still reveals that we can be righteous to a degree and should be constantly striving to be more so. Now why is this an important question to understand? If God is calling us to be more righteous, and views some as more righteouss than others, than this tosses quite a monkey wrench into the justification gospel. The Justification gospel insists that our righteousness has no bearing on our salvation and that God is only concerned that we believe in Jesus. Understanding this is key in understanding whether Sanctification is a part of our salvation or the result of it.

Now lets see what the Bible has to say on this.

1Th 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer endure, I also sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter may have tempted you and our labor may have been in vain.
9. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
10. night and day praying exceedingly for me to see your face and to perfect the things lacking in your faith?
11. And may God Himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you.
12. And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we also toward you,
13. in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

It would be best for you to read this whole chapter. What is Paul desparately praying and hoping for to the point where he feels like a free man while in jail? That the Thessalonians were not lacking in faith being unable to resist the tempter. And then prays that the lord will increase their love so that they will be established, blameless in holiness towards God.

Now Woh. Does this chapter actually contradict every principal of the justification gospel in itself? Well infact it does. Paul's main concern is that his labors would be in vain because Satan had tempted them away. His prayer was that the Thessalonians be established blameless before God. Now this doesn't sound very once saved always saved does it? And what about this concept of lacking faith and growing in love? These are concepts that generally provoke a blank stare from those believing in the justification gospel. I'm not being mean, its actually true. And then if we fill in the obvious blank here, why must we be blameless and holy at the 2nd coming of Sanctification is not a part of our salvation?

 

Now here are a couple of passages refing to when Jesus returns or just prior.

Dan 12:1 And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation; until that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3. And those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the sky; and those who turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever and ever.

Rev 22:11 He acting unjustly, let him still act unjustly. And the filthy, let him be filthy still. And the righteous, let him be righteous still. And the holy, let him be holy still.
12. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.

In Daniel we have this inspiring reference to us shining brighter in heaven in relation to howmany we turn to righteousness. In Revelation we have reference to [Filthy] < [Unjust] < > [Righteous] > [Holy]. It appears that this verse in revelation may refer to when Judgement closes near the end or when our judgement closes if we die before the end, but regardless we see this degree of how the lost and saved are.

[UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

The Light Analogy [UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

1Jn 2:8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true Light now shines.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1Jn 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

1Ti 6:16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in light which cannot be approached, whom no one of men have seen, nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

Act 26:13 at midday, along the highway, O king, I and those with me saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun; shining around me.

Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

Joh 12:35 Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while the Light is with you. Walk while you have the Light, lest darkness come upon you. For he who walks in darkness does not know where he goes.

2Co 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones, so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them.

Joh 3:21 But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his works may be revealed, that they exist, having been worked in God.

Joh 3:20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil.

Act 26:18 in order to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

 

1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall each one have praise of God.

 

 

 

 

 

Turning the Light on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

under construction

 

 

 

 

Now here is a letter of James inspiring Christians to inspire eachother to turn from sin.

Jas 5:19 Brothers, if anyone among you err from the truth, and if anyone turns him back,
Jas 5:20 know that he who turns back the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eph 4:18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

So much can be learnt from our shortcomings if we listen to God. For example, He can give us amazing insights into the perspectives of the people we have offended.

 

1Th 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now you see the truth emerging. We can believe we are saved, and be completely convinced we are completely worthy of the kingdom, but unless we are wearing Christs robes of righteousness, there is no place for us in the kingdom. Now lets look at this next verse for a small clue into what robe of righteousness is all about:

Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?
23. And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

Notice the obvious contrast between the lost and the saved in these verses. The Lost had works, but never knew Jesus and were working lawlessness. In the previous verses we see that it is not about believing we are saved, but whether we are wearing Christ's righteousness. As you should know, Righteousness means right before the Law. So unrighteousness means to not keep the law. So does this mean we can not bother to keep the law and just depend on the righteousness of Christ? Well if this was so, then why was the guest cast out? If the wedding garment was just merely asking

So now ask yourself this.