DHK,
A few favorite Scripture that show how and what I believe:
John 14:15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1John 1:8-10
8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Following is a rather lengthy passage from Peter but I believe it lays out the lifestyle required of a faithful believer.
2 Peter 1:4-11
4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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The following is a little wordy brother but it expresses my views on sanctification I wrote some years ago:
SANCTIFICATION
The Holy Spirit continues to sanctify those whom He has regenerated and finally prepares them fully for the service and enjoyment of life in the presence of God {Dagg, page 285}. Sanctification has two aspects, positional and progressive. In each case the Holy Spirit is the instrument of sanctification. ‘Positional’ sanctification, being ‘set apart for God’, occurs with regeneration. ‘Progressive’ sanctification occurs as the believer grows in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ {2 Peter 3:18}. Both positional sanctification and progressive sanctification are indicated in the prayer of Jesus Christ for His Church:
John 17:15-17, KJV)
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Progressive sanctification can only occur when the believer is obedient. Just as the life of Abraham shows that obedience flows from faith so the New Testament teaches that obedience is a corollary or outgrowth of faith. We most frequently quote Ephesians 2:8,9 that deal with conversion. Unfortunately verse 10 that deals with obedience is often neglected:
Ephesians 2:10, KJV
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Apostle Paul defines the believers responsibility in sanctification as follows:
Romans 12:1-2, KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, {which is} your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what {is} that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The beloved Apostle John is very blunt concerning the believers responsibility:
1 John 2:4, KJV
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Finally we turn once again to the Apostle Paul, who most clearly taught justification by faith alone, as he writes to the Hebrews:
Hebrews 5:8,9, KJV
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Is our obedience perfect? Most definitely not! Paul again tells us in Hebrews:
Hebrews 2:16-18, KJV
16 For verily he took not on {him the nature of} angels; but he took on {him} the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto {his} brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things {pertaining} to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
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I do believe that God has everything under control and nothing that happens in God's Creation will affect or change His ultimate purpose decreed before the foundation of the world. However, that does not absolve us from the demands of Scripture as I believe I have shown above!
Sadly, I must admit that I fall far short of that which Scripture requires but I take consolation from the passages above, 1 John 1:9 and Hebrews 2:16-18; well actually all the Scripture! And then there is that wonderful passage you use and which I recall daily if not more often!
2Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.