Sanctification
Sanctification....The Doctrine of Sanctification is no doubt one of the most mis-understood doctrines of our historic Christian Faith.
Many Christians either withdraw from it completely, or else they associate it with fanatical fringe groups. This result has been a continued neglect and mistreatment of the Doctrine of Sanctification.
No matter what I say, any attempt to examine the Biblical doctrine of Sanctification will cause disagreement. Not wanting thunder and lightning to come crashing down upon my head, if there is going to be any disagreement among us, please let us disagree agreeably.
We are in a warfare - not against each other, but against Satan, and against sin.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
The very fact that we are saved people should tell us that the Doctrine of Sanctification is not one that we should go to war over with each other.
If there is a basic error, I believe it is the failure to grasp the meaning of the term "Sanctification".
The Holman Bible Dictionary defines Sanctification as "The process of being made holy resulting in a changed life-style for the believer."
The Easton Bible Dictionary says 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."
The Scriptures do not teach that Sanctification is the improvement of the un-regenerate nature, and it is not the eradication of that nature which would render it impossible for a child of God to commit sin.
The work of Sanctification in the believer's life involves victory over sin in his or her daily life.
Sanctification is not merely a single act, but a continuous process. It begins upon regeneration - being born again - and continues until we are perfected in the presence of Jesus Christ.
To learn more of what God has to say, please listen to (link below):
Regeneration - Justification - Sanctification, Part Three - Pastor Howard Fleury - Posted on 12/20/2007
http://biblestudies.aroadinthewilderness.org/2007/12/20/regeneration--justification--sanctification-part-3.aspx
Many Christians either withdraw from it completely, or else they associate it with fanatical fringe groups. This result has been a continued neglect and mistreatment of the Doctrine of Sanctification.
No matter what I say, any attempt to examine the Biblical doctrine of Sanctification will cause disagreement. Not wanting thunder and lightning to come crashing down upon my head, if there is going to be any disagreement among us, please let us disagree agreeably.
We are in a warfare - not against each other, but against Satan, and against sin.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
The very fact that we are saved people should tell us that the Doctrine of Sanctification is not one that we should go to war over with each other.
If there is a basic error, I believe it is the failure to grasp the meaning of the term "Sanctification".
The Holman Bible Dictionary defines Sanctification as "The process of being made holy resulting in a changed life-style for the believer."
The Easton Bible Dictionary says 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."
The Scriptures do not teach that Sanctification is the improvement of the un-regenerate nature, and it is not the eradication of that nature which would render it impossible for a child of God to commit sin.
The work of Sanctification in the believer's life involves victory over sin in his or her daily life.
Sanctification is not merely a single act, but a continuous process. It begins upon regeneration - being born again - and continues until we are perfected in the presence of Jesus Christ.
To learn more of what God has to say, please listen to (link below):
Regeneration - Justification - Sanctification, Part Three - Pastor Howard Fleury - Posted on 12/20/2007
http://biblestudies.aroadinthewilderness.org/2007/12/20/regeneration--justification--sanctification-part-3.aspx
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