Re-examining The Idea Of "Christian Progress" In Sanctification
Lately, I have been wrestling with my long held view of seeing Sanctification as Progress. The problem that I am having is that the older I get and the more I study the Word, the more sin I see in myself and around me. I don't really feel as if I have 'progressed' or moved on to more holiness. A former parishioner once told me that I was too h-a-r-d on myself, but I am not too sure about that, because the way I typically try to justify myself is... well, pretty pathetic.
I have taken some comfort in the Apostle Paul though. After 30 years of being a Christian he identifies himself in 1 Timothy 1:15 as the worst of sinners. But what about this idea of progress then? What gives?
The late Gerhard Forde has been most helpful to me in understanding progress in the life of a Christian, not as movement of me towards a goal. Rather he states that the goal moves in on me and you!
He states in his book "Justification By Faith--A Matter Of Death and Life,"
"The 'progress' of the Christian is the progress of one who has constantly to get used to the fact that we are justified totally by faith, constantly has somehow to 'recover,' so to speak from that death blow to pride and presumption--or better, is constantly being raised from the tomb of all pious ambition to something quite new. The believer has to be renewed daily in that The Old Being is to be daily drowned in repentance and raised in faith. The progress of the Christian life is not our movement toward the goal; it is the movement of the goal in upon us."
Forde goes on to say,
"The sin to be removed is precisely such understandings of progress. The justification is not a mere beginning point which can somehow be allowed to recede into the background while the supposed 'real' business of sanctification takes front and center."
Finally he states,
"Only those who are so grasped that they stand still here and confess to sin and give God the glory, only they are 'sanctified.' And there cannot be more sanctification than that! Whoever knows this knows that there is an end to the old, there is a death involved, and that being a Christian means ever and anew to be blasted by that divine lightning and to begin again.
As Luther said, �To achieve means always to begin again anew.�
This view of sanctification does not see progress as movement. For Martin Luther and Forde, this idea of progress involves death of the old sinful nature and resurrected life. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul is presenting in Colossians 3 when he calls us to "put to death" whatever is earthly and to be "clothed" with the new self. Death and Life, not moral reforming of the old flesh.
You see the problem with seeing sanctification as a movement of progress is that we end up trying to reform the sinful nature when all along the scriptures do not call our sinful nature to be �reformed" but rather to be "crucified." This idea of sanctification is much more radical than mere movement. It calls for an event of death to the old sinful nature. "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God..." (Galatians 2:19-20)
"So, Pastor Matt what you are saying is that there is no progress in this life for us as Christians?" Actually, no. There is progress, but not as movement and not in the way that attempts to �reform� and/or �modify� the sinful nature. The progress that Paul, Luther, and Forde are pointing out is a dying of the old and being raised in the new. Listen to our Confession of Faith (The Small Catechism):
What does such baptizing with water signify?
Answer: It signifies that the old Adam in us, together with all sins and evil lusts, should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance and be put to death, and that the new man should come forth daily and rise up, cleansed and righteous, to live forever in God's presences.
Baptism...is simply the slaying of the old Adam and the resurrection of the new man, both of which must continue in us our whole life long. For we must keep at it incessantly, always purging out whatever pertains to the old Adam, so that whatever belongs to the new may come forth."
Christian progress... a daily dying of the Old Adam and daily resurrecting in Jesus. Progress for us my friends is to begin again daily in Jesus' death and resurrection for us.
First, and I dont mean to discourage anyone, but we can never be "good enough" no matter how far we progress. The "holiest" Christian will never be "good enough". Remember, "all will strive and fall short of the Glory of God". Our "righteousness" is as filthy rags. The Bible says all of this.
Because of this, Satan tries to trap us. He whispers in our ears that we are doomed. He makes us doubt.
If we listen to the evil one, he will try to convince us that we have not progressed far enough. "Look at all your sins. How can you ever be good enough for God? You have not progressed far enough to earn your salvation." The trap lies in when we start to doubt.
But, the truth is, we dont have to be "good enough". Why? Because God sent His Son to die for all of those sins we have committed.
Once you realize that you can not get to Heaven though "progress" , works, or acts of contrition, you begin to understand that God, through His Son, has reached down and lifted us up. The Blood of the Lamb has santified those of us who believe in Him.
Do not allow Satan to trap you in doubt. That you are not worthy. We can not be worthy on our own, but through the sacrifice of the Son of God, and our acceptance of Him, we have been made worthy.
Apostel are you saying we can just go along our merry way and do what ever we want because Jesus died for us. If so that is not what Gods word teaches. We have responsibilities as new creatures in Christ. Through the reading of his word, praying, going to church.
I dont believe that is Apostel is saying taht...he shared ~
"Because of this, Satan tries to trap us. He whispers in our ears that we are doomed. He makes us doubt."
*** Meaning that since we progress "Daily" in Chrsit that hasatan as usual :rolleyes: wants to undermine that progress in sanctification...We need be Ever Deligent to Not Listen to hasatan while continually focusing our mind and heart unto the LORD...xo
As I see it G-dsJude is just illustrating the transformation experience. I can relate to every word. As we "hear and see" more of Him we know more that needs to be transformed to His image. It is an ongoing process for me. And when light shines on our darkness over and over we may get weary but we press on.
Thank you for sharing your process and progress.
May you continue to receive His fire and grace and love as you walk with Him daily.
What is sanctification? What is the definition of Christian sanctification?"
Answer: Jesus had a lot to say about sanctification in the Book of John, chapter 17. In verse 16 the Lord says, �They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world,� and this is before His request: �Sanctify them in the truth: Thy word is truth.� Sanctification is a state of separation unto God; all believers enter into this state when they are born of God: �But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God�and righteousness and sanctification and redemption� (1 Corinthians 1:30). This is a once-for-ever separation, eternally unto God. It is an intricate part of our salvation, our connection with Christ (Hebrews 10:10).
Sanctification also refers to the practical experience of this separation unto God, being the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one�s life, and is to be pursued by the believer earnestly (1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 12:14). Just as the Lord prayed in John 17, it has in view the setting apart of believers for the purpose for which they are sent into the world: �As Thou didst send Me into the world, even so send I them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth� (v. 18, 19). That He set Himself apart for the purpose for which He was sent is both the basis and the condition of our being set apart for that for which we are sent (John 10:36). His sanctification is the pattern of, and the power for, ours. The sending and the sanctifying are inseparable. On this account they are called saints, hagioi in the Greek; �sanctified ones.� Whereas previously their behavior bore witness to their standing in the world in separation from God, now their behavior should bear witness to their standing before God in separation from the world.
There is one more sense that the word sanctification is referred to in Scripture. Paul prayed in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, �The God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.� Paul also wrote in Colossians of �the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel� (Colossians 1:5). He later speaks of Christ Himself as �the hope of glory� (Colossians 1:27) and then mentions the fact of that hope when he says, �When Christ, who is our Life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with Him be manifested in glory� (Colossians 3:4). This glorified state will be our ultimate separation from sin, total sanctification in every aspect. �Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is� (1 John 3:2).
To summarize, sanctification is the same Greek word as holiness, �hagios,� meaning a separation. First, a once-for-all positional separation unto Christ at our salvation. Second, a practical progressive holiness in a believer�s life while awaiting the return of Christ. Third, we will be changed into His perfect likeness�holy, sanctified, and completely separated from the presence of evil.
:rolleyes:...verbose ???...I've experianced a brain fade so I needed to look that word up...Oh my...Me VERBOSE Too sometimes !!!!...:bouncy:...:winksmile:...:ROFL:...:buddies:...(< thats rootbeer folks)....xo
