Amazing Grace,
I have not said much in the past day or so in this thread.. I have even thought that it might not be worth anymore time since I believe we have exhausted everything and I have not been convinced that my list is unbiblical. But I thought I should answer your post with regards to sanctification...
I have to completely disagree with you. I believe Sanctification is so important that without it no man, woman, or child will see God. You really need to read Holiness by J.C. Ryle... I can really do no justice to the work... It is one of the best books I have ever read....
In light of the discussions related to sanctification, Ryle’s comments are relevant.
“It is a subject which is peculiarly seasonable in the present day. Strange doctrines have risen up of late upon the whole subject of sanctification. Some appear to confound it with justification. Others fritter it away to nothing, under the pretence of zeal for free grace, and practically neglect it altogether. Others are so much afraid of ‘works’ being made a part of justification, that they can hardly find any place at all for ‘works’ in their religion."
In another section, Ryle stressed the cost of living a holy life in the midst of an unholy world. He urged his readers to take up the fight and wage daily war against the world, the flesh, and the devil in whatever arenas these enemies were encountered.
For Ryle, sanctification and growth in holiness are essential evidences that saving faith has happened and thereby serve to aid in producing assurance in the heart of believers. This assurance is something to be sought after and pursued heartily by the believer.
Let me aleast outline his books....
A) It is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian. “The faith which has not a sanctifying influence on the character is no better than the faith of devils.”
B) It is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration.
“Where there is no sanctification there is no regeneration.”
C)
It is the only certain evidence of that indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation. “The seal that the Spirit stamps on Christ’s people is sanctification.”
D) It is the only sure mark of God’s election. “Elect men and women may be known and distinguished by holy lives.”
E) It is a reality that will always be seen.
A man’s “sanctification will be something felt and seen, though he himself may not understand it.”
F) It is a reality for which every believer is responsible.
“Believers are eminently and peculiarly responsible and under a special obligation to live holy lives.”
G) It is a thing which admits of growth and degrees.
“A man may climb from one step to another in holiness and be far more sanctified at one period of his life than another.”
H) It depends greatly on a diligent use of scriptural means.
“He will never bless the soul of that man who pretends to be so high and spiritual that he can get on without [the means of grace].”
I) It is a thing which does not prevent a man having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict. “A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but war within.”
J) It is a thing which cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God.
“The Bible distinctly teaches that the holy actions of a sanctified man, although imperfect, are pleasing in the sight of God.”
K) It is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our character in the great Day of Judgment.
“It will be utterly useless to plead that we believed in Christ unless our faith has had some sanctifying effect and been seen in our lives.”
L) It is absolutely necessary in order to train and prepare us for heaven.
“We must be saints before we die if we are to be saints afterwards in glory.”
Ryle's Applications are the following
1. Let anyone who calls himself a Christian yet has not concern for Sanctification realize his perilous position.
2. Test your own salvation by your progress in sanctification.
3. Begin sanctification with Christ.
4. Work at sanctification continually.
5. There is no shame in making much of holiness; holiness = happiness
Again, Read the Book... I can not stress a more important book.... What I am and Ryle is espousing is not in any form legalism.. Legalism is believing one is justified by works and Pharisaicalism is adding to the law which is a subset of legalism... Remember, Justification is by Faith alone but without works Faith is Dead....
Michael
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Originally Posted by Amazing Grace  Quote:
Originally Posted by Coram Deo Wow, What a way to start a morning...  Where do I start...... (and I have not even had my coffee yet)...
First, no one is saying we should add our own rules or write a collection of extra biblical talmudic law. Nor is anyone trying to be a Pharisee, one who adds to the laws of God or one who believes they are justified by keeping laws. As for Sanctification, all I will say is, "Be Holy for I am Holy" saith the Lord. We are called to be Holy and to grow in Holiness everyday.
Now I know that some of you do not accept the interpretation of some of these passages but I do and many others do to. But this is far from Adding to Scripture or being a Pharisee and it certainly is not legalistic.. What it boils down to is interpretation of scriptures and not adding to it scripture.. I see a list in scripture and I am not the first person and I am not the last person to see them. ECF, Reformers, Puritans, and Moderns have all seen the same list... We may disagree to the list but try not to judge the motives of those who hold to a stricter list for modesty.... I do it out of Love for God and to Grow Holier everyday... "Fear God, and Keep His Commandments" is the whole duty of man.
And Remember "Be Holy, For I am Holy" | It boils down to a strain of legalism Michael. One that Paul so clearly condemns over and over. Sanctification by works is as deadly, perhaps more than justification by works. You are trying to finish what God has started and will complete. You confess that you are justified by faith alone right Michael? Who has taught you or how have you concluded that you must now clean your life up and live holy by adhering to certain do's and don'ts . As you continue to do these do's and dont's you will become more and more like Christ. Hence, obedience is the key to godliness/Christlikeness. Paul is crystal clear in Galatians about this problem. He taught them that God was saving by "faith alone," without the law. In fact, as the law had no part of their salvation, it no longer had part in their perfection (ongoing sanctification). Soon after Paul left these Galatians, some came behind him and taught them to continue in the law and customs.
Galatians 3:1-11, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."
Those living by the do's and don'ts found in Scripture have placed themselves under the curse of the law, the very thing Christ set us free from! So why do you so willingly place yourself under a system of rules? Why do you not rather live by the faith that saved us? My brother Michael, it can be for no other reason than having believed a lie; the lie of works-sanctification.
"The just shall live by faith.", Righteous living (sanctification) is obtained the same way righteous standing (justification) is by faith alone. It is not "progressively" obtained that one grows into over 20, 30, or 40 years of obedience to peccadillo rules. Christ is our sanctification Whom we received by faith. Remember Paul saying "I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me"?
You claim this 'duty of man' is done out of love for God, and to grow holier, yet scripture speaks against the method you are striving to gain the goal by. It is by Grace through faith Michael. Not by any list that someone has concocted. The only thing that can bring us into good standing with God is the finished work of Christ. This is the salvation message we believe by faith. Having believed this, why do you now act as if you are under a performance system after becoming righteous by faith-alone? Will works help you to become righteous (saved) - no! So why do you act as if works will now help you become holier? I fought this disease for years under a works based sanctification preacher. I struggled daily to please an angry God. It made me almost go mad. Then I realized We cannot do anything to make God love us more, or do anything to 'work' ourselves back into God's good favor after we sin. Christ died because we COULDN"T do anything to earn His grace, before or after salvation. If we could be in 'good standing' with God by living right for any period of time then Christ would not have had to die. There is nothing we could do before being saved to become righteous as there is nothing we can do now to become more righteous. As believers, we are the righteousness of Christ already by faith! We live righteously by this same faith, not by righteous works. We are not perfected/completed by our good works, for we are already perfect/complete in Him.
So, are we not to read God's word, pray, worship, give, serve, etc.? Of course we are. However, as we perform these activities we must realize that these activities will not make God love us any more, gain us any favor with God. Any moral self improvement plan is doomed to fail. Yes, we walk, yes we try to obey, yes we run, yes we labor, but we do all this by faith in Christ alone and His cross. |