In this next series of posts, I will be examining several common views of sanctification including the Lutheran position, Wesleyan view, and Reformed view of sanctification. I will be critiquing each one to see which one is the most biblical.
In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you. What is your view of sanctification-meaning, how would you describe it, and what is our role and God's role in it?
I think this is a very interesting topic. It seems that on one hand, God gives us a responsibility, and on the other hand, He's the one who is doing it through us.
ReplyDeleteThis paradox, or cooperation, is summed up in Philippians 2:13-14: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Vs. 12 tells us to obey and work out our salvation, and vs. 13 tell us that it's God who is causing us to even want this to happen as well as being an agent that brings about the action.
The NLT says it this way: Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
So, it seems that I have a role, but any credit goes to God.
Also paradoxically, Paul talks both about being freed from sin and enslaved to God in chap. 6, as well as the struggle against the flesh in chap. 7, in which he seems powerless.
Lastly, it seems that holiness and sanctification are synonymous. When things were set apart for God, or made holy, in the bible, weren't they also sanctified for His use?