http://www.mounttirzahbaptistchurch.com/2008/06/03/wages-vs-the-free-gift/ Our Fellowship in the Gospel at Charlotte Court House, VA Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:47:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.mounttirzahbaptistchurch.com/2008/06/03/wages-vs-the-free-gift/#comment-215 Matthew Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:41:30 +0000 http://www.mounttirzahbaptistchurch.com/2008/06/03/wages-vs-the-free-gift/#comment-215 I think that you might be confusing the two ways in which Scripture talks about sanctification. The first is positional - which means that when we believe we are given the righteousness of Christ. This righteousness is perfect and is what gives us access to the Father. 2 Cor 5:21 would be an example of this. The other type of sanctification is progressive - the slow everyday struggle of becoming more like Christ. This is not what earns us salvation, but is a result of salvation. I think the question you are asking is good - namely, if we don't show progressive sanctification then what right do we have to say that we are believers who have been positionally sanctified. Paul here builds a case, as he does throughout all his literature, that the two cannot be separated. Therefore, when God places someone in Christ through faith, they are perfectly righteous in His eyes, and though they may still sin, they are striving toward sanctification. Does this help clarify a bit? I think that you might be confusing the two ways in which Scripture talks about sanctification. The first is positional - which means that when we believe we are given the righteousness of Christ. This righteousness is perfect and is what gives us access to the Father. 2 Cor 5:21 would be an example of this. The other type of sanctification is progressive - the slow everyday struggle of becoming more like Christ. This is not what earns us salvation, but is a result of salvation. I think the question you are asking is good - namely, if we don’t show progressive sanctification then what right do we have to say that we are believers who have been positionally sanctified. Paul here builds a case, as he does throughout all his literature, that the two cannot be separated. Therefore, when God places someone in Christ through faith, they are perfectly righteous in His eyes, and though they may still sin, they are striving toward sanctification. Does this help clarify a bit?

]]> http://www.mounttirzahbaptistchurch.com/2008/06/03/wages-vs-the-free-gift/#comment-214 gary Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:17:31 +0000 http://www.mounttirzahbaptistchurch.com/2008/06/03/wages-vs-the-free-gift/#comment-214 "is it not true that we are sanctified through faith alone" I thought that we were justified through faith and that we sanctified through obedience to His word and becoming more like Him. The way this reads "the believer is enslaved to righteousnes...but rightousness results in eternal life" if we have not been sanctified through rightousness we might not have eternal life ! “is it not true that we are sanctified through faith alone”
I thought that we were justified through faith and that we sanctified through obedience to His word and becoming more like Him. The way this reads “the believer is enslaved to righteousnes…but rightousness results in eternal life” if we have not been sanctified through rightousness we might not have eternal life !

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