Is sanctification an event, a process, or both?

[episkopos]

How do you grow in grace?

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isa 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Isa 7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Luk 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

We grow in grace by making more room for Christ in our souls...through a greater work of the cross in our lives. There are many areas of our lives that need to be worked out. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

God will not conquer us by force...but through love. It is WE that must learn surrender. That is what the sanctification process is doing...

[Noeb]

Hagiasmos- Holiness.

It's translated both holiness and sanctification. IMO, both pointing to a predefined standard which is God's holiness. Only his complete sanctification makes us holy as he is holy.

Granted, but what about the word hagiōsynē, as it is used in 2 Corinthians 7:1 and 1 Thessalonians 3:13? How do you exegete these passages? I have already quoted 2 Corinthians 7:1 numerous times, so I will just post 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 here...( emphasis added)

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Those to me are reaching the standard, which is the end, or goal, we pursue.

1Th 3:13 "to the end"
2Cor 7 -"let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness"

perfecting the standard or end
perfecting
epiteleō
ep-ee-tel-eh'-o
From G1909 and G5055; to fulfill further (or completely), that is, execute; by implication to terminate, undergo: - accomplish, do, finish, (make) (perfect), perform (X -ance).

If we cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit we will have executed or accomplished the standard of holiness.
The prayer in 1Th 3:12-13 is that we reach the end, goal, standard. Tele/telo

What do you think?

[glad4mercy]

It's translated both holiness and sanctification. IMO, both pointing to a predefined standard which is God's holiness. Only his complete sanctification makes us holy as he is holy.


Those to me are reaching the standard, which is the end, or goal, we pursue.

1Th 3:13 "to the end"
2Cor 7 -"let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness"

perfecting the standard or end
perfecting
epiteleō
ep-ee-tel-eh'-o
From G1909 and G5055; to fulfill further (or completely), that is, execute; by implication to terminate, undergo: - accomplish, do, finish, (make) (perfect), perform (X -ance).

If we cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit we will have executed or accomplished the standard of holiness.
The prayer in 1Th 3:12-13 is that we reach the end, goal, standard. Tele/telo

What do you think?

I agree! I think we are perfecting holiness when we allow the work of sanctification to accomplish the end or goal that it is intended to accomplish. In the act of sanctification, God plants the seed of Holiness in our hearts. The seed is perfect and complete, but the end or goal is to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit in our hearts and lives. When a believer walks in the Spirit, the believer through the Spirit first bears fruit, then bears much fruit, then superabounds in fruit, and yes, God intends for us to bear fruit that remains.

So in standing, sanctification is complete, but the fruits of sanctification seem to be progressive, from bearing fruit to bearing much fruit. In this way we are Christ's disciples. I don't think this disagrees with anything you or anyone else has stated, because it is what the Bible teaches. If we get past the confusion caused by terminology, most of us agree in large degree.

[glad4mercy]

Where you said
" 2. He sets us apart from sin to become His very own. "
how did he do that?

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Romans 6:11- Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

BTW, I do not hold that this aspect of sanctification is a process. The events spoken of above, ( redemption, dead to sin, alive to Christ) are onetime events *( see footnote), yet we must appropriate them by reckoning them.

* footnote -I say this to contend against the unscriptural error of multiple regenerations.

[Noeb]

Actually the soul is neither the body nor the spirit. Think of the body as a tent for the soul. Think of the spirit as a transmitter for the soul. But the soul is who we are. We are being saved through obedience to God in the Spirit. That is the process of sanctification.

body+spirit=soul
Scripture uses souls as the number saved or lost in battle or a city etc..., referring to how many individuals were saved or lost. So yes, it is the individual. Scripture says the individual is saved. How then can you say the soul not?

[Noeb]

Mar_12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.


The new testament is about a new heart. This is God's beach head in us...the first step in the process of saving our soul. The mind needs renewing and this is a part of the soul. So once we are renewed in the Spirit WE are to continue that process (through a daily surrender) so that the soul becomes holy as well.

1Pe_2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

The spiritual war we are engaged in is to the taking of our own soul. We must work that battle out.

How does any of this say the soul is not sanctified? I really don't see how any of this even address my question. Can you clarify?

[Noeb]

I agree with you! But there is more to the process...

How do yo read this?

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

First thing I notice is it is through the knowledge of what Christ has done for us.
Second, we have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Once we know who we are in Christ we are to be diligent to add to our faith in what Christ has done for us xyz...
Lastly, I notice that if we do this, xyz ensure we will have fruit in what Christ has done for us -That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection

I see you have v9 bold. Why? If you are going to tell me we are only forgiven past sin when we are born again, that's not what this is about. Nor does any scripture say it.

[Noeb]

We grow in grace by making more room for Christ in our souls...through a greater work of the cross in our lives. There are many areas of our lives that need to be worked out. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

God will not conquer us by force...but through love. It is WE that must learn surrender. That is what the sanctification process is doing...

I quoted scripture that said growth through knowledge. Do you have any scripture that says we grow in grace by

making more room for Christ in our souls
through a greater work of the cross in our lives
It is WE that must learn surrender

[Noeb]

I agree! I think we are perfecting holiness when we allow the work of sanctification to accomplish the end or goal that it is intended to accomplish. In the act of sanctification, God plants the seed of Holiness in our hearts. The seed is perfect and complete, but the end or goal is to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit in our hearts and lives. When a believer walks in the Spirit, the believer through the Spirit first bears fruit, then bears much fruit, then superabounds in fruit, and yes, God intends for us to bear fruit that remains.

So in standing, sanctification is complete, but the fruits of sanctification seem to be progressive, from bearing fruit to bearing much fruit. In this way we are Christ's disciples. I don't think this disagrees with anything you or anyone else has stated, because it is what the Bible teaches. If we get past the confusion caused by terminology, most of us agree in large degree.

I think you are right. Like I said earlier, the real problem comes when discussing how this is accomplished. Am I sanctified because of God's work and my faith in that (him) so that his work is manifested by faith, or do I have to crucify myself again and again and again, repent again and again and again, surrender again, be broken again, be poor in spirit? Did he come to give life and life more abundantly or death? To break or heal?

[Noeb]

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Romans 6:11- Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

BTW, I do not hold that this aspect of sanctification is a process. The events spoken of above, ( redemption, dead to sin, alive to Christ) are onetime events *( see footnote), yet we must appropriate them by reckoning them.

* footnote -I say this to contend against the unscriptural error of multiple regenerations.

I was hoping you'd say that!

I like to include verses 9-10
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Only happens once.

Blessings!

[glad4mercy]

I was hoping you'd say that!

I like to include verses 9-10
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Only happens once.

Blessings!

Amen!! This is a glorious truth. Thanks for including the scriptures from Romans, too.

God bless.

[episkopos]

I was hoping you'd say that!

I like to include verses 9-10
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Only happens once.

Blessings!

Jesus dies no more..but living sacrifices have a habit of getting off the altar...Paul said he dies daily.. So death is an ongoing principle that must be adhered to. We are not talking about a doctrinal stance here...but a real walk in the Spirit. Those who have really walked in the Spirit know that one can easily fall out of that state. So we are learning to trust only in the Lord in order to ONLY walk as He walked.

Even John states...
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

This presumes that John was not always "In the Spirit" or at least not to the same degree every day. This is the reality...

[episkopos]

I quoted scripture that said growth through knowledge. Do you have any scripture that says we grow in grace by

making more room for Christ in our souls
through a greater work of the cross in our lives
It is WE that must learn surrender

I thin you are looking for a doctrinal stance as opposed to a living reality. We are to GROW into the full stature of Christ....even Paul said he had not yet attained. You must go back to the drawing board and reconcile this with your doctrinal stance of a simple one-time death to everything in this world...AND the instantaneous maturity required to remain there and never sin again.

Purity is one thing...maturity quite another.

[shepherdsword]

Both:

It is instantaneous: When one is filled with the Spirit there is no more room for anything else so that person is sanctified at that time. This will happen in a instant. The problem is that we as vessels tend to be leaky. So to shore up the leaks we need to develop a godly character and carry our vessels with the appropriate honour that is required to be able to hold the grace of God. .


It is a process: When we learn to become more dependent on Christ...we learn to hold on to sanctification longer....even indefinitely to some degree. It is like the leaks happen further up the vessel so that not ALL the grace leaks out. So that process of a deeper character causes us to carry the holiness of God in Christ for a longer distance and even to a certain extent permanently. If we read 2 Peter 1 we see what we are to add to our faith so that we never stumble.

The whole process involves us learning love.

Excellent.........

[Watchman]

The problem is that we as vessels tend to be leaky.

This is what Paul was addressing in chapter 2 and the first bit of chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians!