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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 -

 

 

 

 

VIII.       CONCLUDING REMARKS ON SANCTIFICATION

 

A.    The Reformed View on Sanctification

 

1.     The Reformed View and the Augustinian-Dispensational View are so closely related that any differences might be depicted as degrees of emphasis. Both are closely aligned to Scripture and neither includes the idea of “entire sanctification” (sinless perfection).

2.     It is at this point we turn to the Reformed View to give some theological clarity on Sanctification from the Westminster Confession.

3.     Progressive Sanctification

a)    They, who are once effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified really and personally, through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection,(1) by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them;(2) the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,(3) and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified,(4) and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,(5) to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.(6) (WCF 13.1) (1)1 Cor. 6:11; Acts 20:32; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5,6.  (2)John 17:17; Eph. 5:26; 1 Thess. 2:13.  (3)Rom. 6:6,14.  (4)Gal. 5:24; Rom. 8:13.  (5)Col. 1:11; Eph. 3:16-19.  (6)2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12:14.

4.     Struggle with Sin

a)    This sanctification is throughout in the whole man,(1) yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part:(2) whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.(3)  (WCF 13.2) - (1)1 Thess. 5:23.  (2)1 John 1:10; Rom. 7:18,23; Phil. 3:12.  (3)Gal. 5:17; 1 Pet. 2:11.

b)    Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers? A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins,(1) are hindered in all their spiritual services,(2) and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God.(3) (WLC 78) - (1)Rom. 7:18,23; Mark 14:66 to end; Gal. 2:11,12  (2)Heb. 12:1  (3)Isa. 64:6; Exod. 28:38.

5.     Growth in Grace

a)    In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail,(1) yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome;(2) and so, the saints grow in grace,(3) perfecting holiness in the fear of God.(4)  (WCF 13.3) -  (1)Rom. 8:23.  (2)Rom. 6:14; 1 John 5:4; Eph. 4:15,16.  (3)2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18.  (4)2 Cor. 7:1.

 

B.    The Augustinian-Dispensational View of Sanctification

 

1.     Though closely aligned in the biblical perspective on sanctification, the Augustinian-Dispensational View places an emphasis on the Holy Spirit in relation to sanctification.

2.     Though the basis of our present sanctification is on the believer’s union with Christ’s death and resurrection and the new nature, a major contributing factor to sanctification is the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who enables the believer with his union and new nature to make progress in sanctification.

a)    Redeemed individuals cannot lead a holy life apart from divine help. The old nature has a tendency to sin and the new nature a tendency to act in righteousness; hence, these two natures are in the struggle…Christians do not automatically experience sanctification on earth simply because they have been made new creatures in Christ…because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and His power and direction, a Christian can progressively grow in Sanctification. (Walvoord, Augustinian-Dispensational View)

3.     Much of the error on sanctification has been because of either confusing or misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit’s ministries. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is His permanent residency in the believer (1Co 6:19). The baptism of the Holy Spirit places all believers in the body of Christ and empowers them (1Co 12:13).The filling of the Spirit especially has a direct correlation to a believer’s sanctification.

a)    The filling of the Spirit is a work of God that occurs repeatedly in the life of believers, and as such it is obviously the source of sanctification as well as all spiritual fruitfulness. (Walvoord, Augustinian-Dispensational View)

 

C.    The Filling of the Holy Spirit

 

1.     The filling of the Holy Spirit is the only ministry of the Spirit that the believer is commanded to participate in (other than the use of spiritual gifts). All other ministries of the Spirit were given once for all at the moment of salvation, but filling is to continue throughout the believer’s life.

2.     The filling of the Holy Spirit could be defined as the continual control of the Holy Spirit in the yielded and obedient believer.

a)    Though various definitions of the filling of the Spirit have been given, the term refers basically to the unhindered ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian. Such ministry brings for the time being a control of a believer’s life by the Holy Spirit and the infusion of spiritual power, enabling a Christian to do far more than he or she could do naturally. (Walvoord, Augustinian-Dispensational View)

3.     Ep 5:18 is one of the more important passages that defines the filling of the Spirit. Paul uses the prohibitive analogy of drunkenness to suggest the idea of control and influence. Instead, the believer is to be under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. In the Greek construction, “be filled” (present passive imperative - plēroō - lit. “you must keep on being filled”), the believer is commanded to be continually under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit

4.     The all-important question remains, “How does the believer become filled with the Spirit?”

a)    Yieldedness - The main idea is that the believer must yield to the Holy Spirit’s direction in the Word of God, not in a mystical sense or feeling. The believer can only know what the Spirit desires him to do by validating it in Scripture. Or we can say it another way. The Holy Spirit will only direct the believer in accordance with the Book He divinely inspired (2Pe 1:20-21). This would also encompass yieldedness to the will of God and the Lordship of Christ.

b)    Obedience - Obedience and yieldedness go hand in hand and a willing heart must translate into obedience. Ro 6:13, 16 speak of a believer yielding himself to God that results in obedience. The believer has been provided with power over the dominance of sin and a new nature to walk in newness of life, and it is the power of the Spirit that enables him to walk in obedience and grow in sanctification. In this way the believer is working out what God has worked in (Php 2:23). This concept is akin to verses that speak of “walking by the Spirit” (Ga 5:16, 25).

c)     Not Quenching the Holy Spirit - The believer must not stifle or “quench” (present imperative - sbennumi - extinguish) the Spirit’s control in his life by refusing to obey (1Th 5:19).

d)    Not Grieving the Holy Spirit - The believer will “grieve” (present imperative - lupeō - cause grief or sorrow) the Holy Spirit when he does something in disobedience to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit (Ep 4:30).

e)     Confession of Sin - When the believer does sin, refuse to yield, disobey, quench, or grieve the Spirit, he is not being filled with Spirit. According to 1Jn 1:9, sin must be confessed to God. Forgiveness is then granted, and fellowship is restored and the believer can continue to yield himself to the Holy Spirit.

f)     Results of filling - The results and fruit of being filled with the Spirit will be: obedience to the Word of God and the will of God; spiritual thoughts (1Co 2:13); having the fruit of the Spirit (Ga 5:22-23); joy in the Lord (Ac 13:53; Ep 5:19b); 3) giving thanks (Ep 5:20); humility and subjection to one another (Ep 5:21); Spirit filled living (Ep 5:22 - 6:9); speaking the word of God with boldness (Ac 4:31; Ep 5:19a); witnessing (Ac 1:8); service (Ac 6:3, 5).

5.     Since the believer will always struggle with the sin nature and never reach perfection in this life, he will never be completely controlled by the Spirit. But the degree of being filled with the Spirit should grow as the believer continues to grow in sanctification. The believer also may be controlled in some areas but not in others. The goal of sanctification is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit in all areas and at all times.

 

Conclusion - Sanctification is the whole process of God begun from the foundation of the world to eternity, and everything in between. It is the work of God whereby He sanctifies the believer positionally at the moment of faith, progressively in his condition in this life, and perfectly in eternity. Much of Scripture is taken up with the believer’s progressive sanctification because it pertains to this life. God has provided sanctification for the believer in this life through union with Christ’s death and resurrection, a new nature, and the empowerment of Holy Spirit.

                However, the believer’s sinful nature has not been eradicated and will continually wage war with the Spirit. Because of this, the believer will sin and will never achieve “entire sanctification” in this life. Neither will a believer reach a second level of sanctification through a second blessing or second grace.

                But before this leads the believer to “entire despair,” the believer is able to work out through the Holy Spirit what God has worked in. He not only can have much hope, but much victory also, knowing that the dominance of sin has been rendered inoperative, his new nature has the capacity for newness of life, and he can walk by the Spirit’s enabling, not fulfilling the lust of the flesh. It is this victory and hope by the grace of God that causes us to press on, so that we may lay hold of that for which also we were laid hold of by Christ Jesus.