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