| Author |
Message |
Bill Thompson
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 1999 - 10:17 am: |     |
Here is another:
"Sanctification is the fruit not the root of salvation." |
Susan
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 1999 - 7:26 pm: | |
Interesting discussion! Darrell, I remember that fear of losing my salvation. Boy, was that mixed up. I thank God that I found the truth in scripture. I feel so sad for sda's who continue reading scripture through the lens of EGW garbage. It wasn't until I was free from their teachings that I was able to study my bible clearly. It continues to "wow" me everyday! (I never felt this in adventism)
Great verse from Romans Bruce! Coming from a Reformed perspective I love these doctrines. I feel that I had NO part in my salvation. God chose me. I was incapable of chosing Him (due to my sinful nature). I seek to live a godly life, but only as a response to the overwhelming gratitude I feel, for almighty God's gift of eternal life, through the finished work on the cross. There are several views on sanctification held within Christianity. I'm currently reading a book "The Five Views of Sanctification". Even though I hold to one view, I think it's good to understand where others are coming from.
I thank you all for this wonderful discussion. Don't we serve an awesome God! I'm so thankful that I can rest in the assurance that I'll spend eternity with him.(even if I forget some little sin!)
In Him Alone |
Darrell
| | Posted on Thursday, October 14, 1999 - 6:25 am: | |
In my earlier post I was using the word "sanctification" according to the meaning commonly given to the word today, but I do not believe that this is the same meaning that Paul gave to the word in his usage. I was just reading Colleen's study notes on the first part of 1 Corinthians where Paul "is writing to 'those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy' (v. 2) His first words to them assert their status as sanctified believers in spite of their quarrels and self-serving behavior." This quote goes along with what I have learned previously: that in the original Hebrew usage (which of course Paul would have been intimately familiar with) the word translated sanctified means to be set apart for a holy purpose. For example, when the bread used in the sanctuary service was "sanctified", it meant that it was dedicated to the worship of God, and likewise when the priests were "sanctified", they were dedicated to the service of God in the sanctuary. It did not mean that they had sin purged from their lives. As it says in Hebrews, first they had to make a sacrifice for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people.
Now if we apply this meaning to believers being "sanctified", or being "saints", it means that we are dedicated to God, not that we are no longer sinners. This, I believe, is how Paul uses the word. But I would also say that the way we usually use the word "sanctified" now has a correct Biblical meaning if we recognise that this is talking about the fruit of the Spirit working in our lives. |
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