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Featured Is sanctification PROGRESSIVE or a solo event?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Feb 2, 2014.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I know the answer to the question based on the corpus of NT Biblical Theology, however some whom do not use Biblical Theology but exegetical theology alone have different conclusions. One verse to draw such conclusions comes from 1 John 3:3 in the NIV 2011 version.

    (NIV 2011) All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

    This verse seems to indicate that purification or sanctification is a solo event and not a daily walk with the savior and time spent in the word, repentance from sin and the like. Note the NIV 1984 version uses the word "purifies" indicating a ongoing process and not a solo event.

    I have emailed one of the NIV 2011 translators and the individual did not respond which may indicate he thinks his "flawless NIV 2011" version is without error and he does not desire accountability. This goes to show the agenda of Zondervan. So what say you?
     
  2. quantumfaith

    quantumfaith Active Member

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    Oh I think it is great that you are contacting and correcting a translator. Can you provide any information about that translator, such as credentials to be doing the work of a biblical translator?
     
  3. rivers1222

    rivers1222 Member

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    Phil 2:12 ---continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (NIV)

    Webster: Sanctification; the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment.

    This is just a reply for discussion. but I believe its an ongoing process.
     
  4. Squidward

    Squidward Member

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    The Church of God (Cleveland, TN) believes in it being a one and done. I know this as I attended a COG back in the 90s for a few years. Sadly, many people who went to the altar to be "sanctified" would mess up not too long after and it made many of those question their faith and the Holy Spirit's ability to change you on the inside. Many of those used it as a means to try to break addictions with no further action to address their addiction and were thoroughly disappointed not realizing that when you wake up Monday morning the addiction was still going to be a battle and their sin present. A lot of these people put too much faith in attaining spiritual achievement in this life not thinking that we will never be free from sin until we're gone from here.
     
  5. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Evan,regardless of what passage you have questions about --your attitude in the above is very offensive. Because you haven't gotten a reply you make some strange remark that a certain translator thinks the NIV is flawless. How do you arrive at such nonsense? And then from that absurd premise you want to blame Zondervan --because you feel you have been slighted. Honestly,do some soul searching. The substance of your OP is without merit.
     
  6. prophet

    prophet Active Member
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    Yes. We are set apart once.
    We are continually perfected.
    Yes to both.
     
  7. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Brother, I don't understand.

    The King James used the same word.

    3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
     
  8. Squidward

    Squidward Member

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    well put. Thank you!:thumbs:
     
  9. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    The "y" doesn't mean the same as "ieth", I reckon...
     
  10. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I must have missed that one.
     
  11. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Oh, wait a minute .... hold the fort!!

    I see what you are saying now.

    You have a disagreement with "purify" vs. "purifies".

    The NIV 2011 says this: "All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure."


    The NIV 1984 (had a hard time finding this!!) says this:
    "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."


    Brother, this isn't a theological clash of progressive sanctification vs. a one time sanctification .... it's just subject-verb agreement.


    All purify themselves. (2011)

    Everyone purifies himself. (1984)


    No difference.
     
    #11 Scarlett O., Feb 2, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2014
  12. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Excellent. Thank you for sharing that. Very pertinent to this discussion.
     
  13. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    I haven't taken time to read the other responses.

    I do not subscribe to sanctification being "progressive" anymore than I think "work out your own salvation" means that one has to work to be saved.

    The word means (both noun sanctification and verb sanctify) basically "to set apart" or "having been set apart."

    Unfortunately, some folks get the idea that the positional transfer involves one literally being taken from one position or state and repositioned to another state. For instance, one might move a lamp into a better place to give its light.

    However, the Scriptures NEVER indicates such a movement takes place. Rather, the word is always in terms of the sanctification being completed and in a static position.

    Look at this passage as an example from Scriptures from 1 Thessalonians 4:
    4 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
    See how there is no movement taken by the believer to become more sanctified? There is no progress from one level of sanctification to another sanctification.

    Rather, in each place (underlined) the sanctification is taken as complete and the believer should grow by what that sanctification brings.

    Pictures of sanctification may go along these along these lines:

    One purchases a car - the car is retitled from the dealer to the new owner. The car doesn't move, the title is transferred - just as a believer is "retitled" (set apart) from the authority of darkness into a child of light.

    The local assembly decides to adjust the budget of expenditures designating a specific portion for certain use. All the money remains in a single account, but is designated for different purpose and to be used for another purpose than originally designated. Same with the unbeliever being "designated" (set apart) to the purpose of God.

    Consider the tabernacle and all the elements that apply to the tabernacle; the "sanctifying" of the various parts of the tabernacle.

    Did the parts hop about gaining more and more "sanctification?" Were they not pronounced holy by various methods of anointing? What of the priestly robes? Did Aaron polish the various parts of the high priestly robes to make them more "sanctified" or were they already sanctified and he had to wash and be cleaned before the robes were put on?


    Look carefully at the use of the word in this passage from 1 Corinthians 6:
    9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
    See how washing, sanctification, and justification are all accomplished for the believer? There is no more need of Christ being crucified again for the believer, no more need of re-sanctification, no further justification.

    First there is the washing (remember Aaron had to wash), then the sanctification (remember the robes were put on), then the justification (Aaron could go about the work of the priest).

    If one takes sanctification as "progressive" it is a violation of these two passages of Scriptures and the picture of what great accomplishment God has done in the work of redemption in which sanctification is one part.

    There are many who would disagree and place the believer's growth and move toward being more Christlike as sanctification, but each of those verses such as "be holy as I am holy" are not sanctification verses, but the impulses from God through sanctification that press the believer to greater likeness of Christ.
     
  14. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Just as with our salvation, there is an aspect of sanctification in which we are passive, and an aspect in which we are active.

    ....The Lord knoweth them that are his: Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. 2 Tim 2:19
     
    #14 kyredneck, Feb 2, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2014
  15. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbs:
     
  16. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    Are you saying that "depart from unrighteousness" is sanctification?

    It isn't.

    Such a verse should be aligned with such verses as "be holy, as I am holy," statements by Paul as what is built upon the foundation of faith, and Peter's great staircase to one being able to represent the Love of God found in 2 Peter 1 beginning in verse 5.

    The growth of the believer into greater Christ likeness is NOT sanctification, but the results of one who is sanctified.

    The prophets were sanctified to deliver the message of God.

    The prophet didn't grow, progress, or by learning acquire the skill to develop into being a prophet, but were sanctified for the purpose of being God's messenger.
     
  17. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate...2 Cor 6:17

    Old Man, are you saying there's no command from God for us to 'sanctify' ourselves?
     
  18. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    YES! It's that part we are active in. If we don't do this how will anyone know that we have been sanctified by God?

    It is.

    For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light Eph 5:8

    If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. Gal 5:25

    We have been sanctified from the eternal realm, our walk in this temporal realm should show that.

    Which is a wonderful road map to follow in our sanctification in which we are active in; and the end result?:

    "for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

    for the kingdom of God is....righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ro 14:17

    Our personal sanctification, that which we do, is extremely important, it holds great rewards. We will, before all others, reap what we sow.

    No, BECAUSE we have been sanctified in Christ we have that ability (privilege actually) to set our affections on things above and not on things of the earth.

    They were passive in that.

    Oh, I assure you, there was personal sanctification expected of them just as with us.
     
    #18 kyredneck, Feb 3, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2014
  19. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    Does the lamp have the ability to light itself?

    Does the clay determine what shape the potter will make it?

    Did the tabernacle and the priestly garments declare themselves sanctified?

    There is never a time in Scriptures were the word sanctify is used as some human ability to attain to any "set apart state" nor the ability of humankind to set them self apart.

    Too often the "progressive sanctification" advocates taking verses of scriptures that discuss the determination of the believer to live a life of holiness and growing in the knowledge and grace of God as sanctification.

    It is not.

    It does not fit the definition nor the application of how the word is used in Scriptures.

    Not accepting the view of "progressive sanctification" in NO WAY diminishes the need of the believer to grow in Christ and work diligently to separate from the worldly.

    The verse you posted serves very well to emphasis the believer is responsible to separate from the worldly.

    But, that isn't sanctification.

    Remember, when the word is used, it is always in the context of what is accomplished by performance upon (be it believer, priest, tabernacle...) and not some change or movement generated from within that (believer, priest, tabernacle...) "progressively sanctifies."
     
  20. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    kyredneck posted:
    These are good verses to demonstrate how the misconception of "progressive sanctification" is so pervasive.

    Eph 5: 8

    Does the believer turn on their own light, or are they commanded to walk as children of the light?

    Progressive sanctification would lead one to conclude if one works hard they may turn on and off the light, and will have more light (faith, Holy Spirit, ...) and be more powerful in prayer, faith, light, Holy Spirit...

    Look at Gal. 5:25.

    Progressive sanctification would in effect say that one must grow and mature to acquire and use the Holy Spirit effectively.

    However, neither verse gives credibility to the view of "progressive sanctification."

    Rather, both in Eph 5 and Gal 5 the verses assume the fact of the position of the believer (light, spirit) and then encourages the believer to demonstrate that positional status in daily life.

    Again, neither verse validates "progressive sanctification."
     
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