True Sanctification

[KenH]

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6

There is no promise made that we shall be set free in this life from the indwelling and the inworking of sin. Many think that they are to become progressively holier and holier, that sin after sin is to be removed gradually out of the heart, until at last they are almost made perfect in the flesh. But this is an idle dream, and one which, sooner or later in the case of God's people, will be rudely and roughly broken to pieces. Nature will ever remain the same; and we shall ever find that the flesh will lust against the spirit. Our Adamic nature is corrupt to the very core. It cannot be mended, it cannot be sanctified, it is at the last what it was at the first, inherently evil, and as such will never cease to be corrupt until we put off mortality, and with it the body of sin and death.

All we can hope for, long after, expect and pray for, is, that this evil nature may be subdued, kept down, mortified, crucified, and held in subjection under the power of grace; but as to any such change passing upon it or taking place in it as to make it holy, it is but a pharisaic delusion, which, promising a holiness in the flesh, leaves us still under the power of sin, while it opposes with deadly enmity that true sanctification of the new man of grace, which is wrought by a divine power, and is utterly distinct from any fancied holiness in the flesh, or any vain dream of its progressive sanctification.

- J.C. Philpot, Through Baca's Vale, March 19

 

[37818]

Jobn 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1 Peter 1:2, . . . Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, . . . But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[kyredneck]

Jobn 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1 Peter 1:2, . . . Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, . . . But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, as usual, what's your point?

Are you confirming or refuting the OP?

 

[37818]

So, as usual, what's your point?

Are you confirming or refuting the OP?

I am affirming that there is a true sanctification. I also affirm there is disagreement on when this takes place in view of the order of the faith and one's regeneration and election.

 

[kyredneck]

I am affirming that there is a true sanctification. I also affirm there is disagreement on when this takes place in view of the order of the faith and one's regeneration and election.

Would've been very helpful to have included this explanation with the scripture you posited. We're not mind readers.

 

[Silverhair]

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6

There is no promise made that we shall be set free in this life from the indwelling and the inworking of sin. Many think that they are to become progressively holier and holier, that sin after sin is to be removed gradually out of the heart, until at last they are almost made perfect in the flesh. But this is an idle dream, and one which, sooner or later in the case of God's people, will be rudely and roughly broken to pieces. Nature will ever remain the same; and we shall ever find that the flesh will lust against the spirit. Our Adamic nature is corrupt to the very core. It cannot be mended, it cannot be sanctified, it is at the last what it was at the first, inherently evil, and as such will never cease to be corrupt until we put off mortality, and with it the body of sin and death.

All we can hope for, long after, expect and pray for, is, that this evil nature may be subdued, kept down, mortified, crucified, and held in subjection under the power of grace; but as to any such change passing upon it or taking place in it as to make it holy, it is but a pharisaic delusion, which, promising a holiness in the flesh, leaves us still under the power of sin, while it opposes with deadly enmity that true sanctification of the new man of grace, which is wrought by a divine power, and is utterly distinct from any fancied holiness in the flesh, or any vain dream of its progressive sanctification.

- J.C. Philpot, Through Baca's Vale, March 19

What a dismal view of the life of a Christian. If most Christians took Philpot's comments to heart they would just throw up their hands and say why bother.

But his view is not the biblical view thankfully.

1Th_4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1Th_4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
1Th_4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

"Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means—especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer” Article X New Hampshire Baptist Confession (1833)

Sanctification
Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom_6:13; 2Co_4:6; Col_3:10; 1Jn_4:7; 1Co_6:19). Easton's Bible Dictionary

 

[37818]

Would've been very helpful to have included this explanation with the scripture you posited. We're not mind readers.

You do have your own understanding of John 17:17, and phrase ". . . through sanctification of the Spirit . . . ." Do you not?

For the record, I am of the persuasion sanctification presedes conversion and one having faith to become saved.

 

[KenH]

Sanctification
Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature

The spiritual nature, not the vile flesh. The vile flesh of God's elect, those He chose before the world began and gave to His Son to be their Surety, is not made new yet. Their vile flesh will return to the dust, awaiting the resurrection when their vile bodies will be changed to be like unto Christ's glorious body.

Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

[KenH]

What a dismal view of the life of a Christian. If most Christians took Philpot's comments to heart they would just throw up their hands and say why bother.

It is the realistic, Biblical view.

Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

[kyredneck]

You do have your own understanding of John 17:17, and phrase ". . . through sanctification of the Spirit . . . ." Do you not?

For the record, I am of the persuasion sanctification presedes conversion and one having faith to become saved.

There is sanctification that is solely of God, and there is sanctification for which man is responsible.

 

[KenH]

there is sanctification for which man is responsible.

And man will always fail at such an effort:

Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

 

[kyredneck]

And man will always fail at such an effort:

Even this?:

1st Peter Chapter 3

15​	but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:

Even in despair at our depravity we're capable of 'sanctifying Christ as Lord in our hearts':

Romans Chapter 7

24​	Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?
25​	I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

[KenH]

Even this?

Sanctification is an act of God.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

[KenH]

sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord

Sanctify means to set apart. Thus, God's elect, by His power, set Christ apart and do not treat Him as a common thing. God's elect follow after the Lamb:

Revelation 14:4 These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.

 

[37818]

There is sanctification that is solely of God, and there is sanctification for which man is responsible.

God will hold man responsible for rejection of God's gift. Hebrews 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?

 

[Silverhair]

It is the realistic, Biblical view.

Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

You need to keep reading Ken, Even though we all still sin we can thank God that He has forgiven us those sins. So why wallow in your sins. We can rejoice in our relationship with our savior.

 

[KenH]

So why wallow in your sins.

God wants His elect to always bear in mind the vileness of their yet to be renewed flesh, lest they fall into the self-righteousness of the Pharisees.

Luke 18:11-12 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

As for rejoicing, I rejoice as did the apostle Paul in Romans 7:25 - "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

I rejoice as the apostle Paul did in Philippians 3:21 - "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body."

 

[kyredneck]

Sanctify means to set apart.

Yes. I reiterate: "There is sanctification that is solely of God, and there is sanctification for which man is responsible."

 

[kyredneck]

God will hold man responsible for rejection of God's gift. Hebrews 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?

Again, what in the world has this line of thought have to do with the topic of the OP?

 

[kyredneck]

Sanctification is an act of God.

There is sanctification that is solely of God, and there is sanctification for which man is responsible

Do a word search with your Bible software: "Sanctify yourselves".