How does one become a better Christian?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download What are the basic principles of sanctification?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
How does one become a better Christian?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download What are the basic principles of sanctification?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download5 Responses to “Session 9: The Doctrine of Santification”Leave a Reply |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Powered by FireStats
March 29th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Session 9 Discussion Questions (The Doctrine of Sanctification)
1. The Wesleyan View of sanctification teaches that one can become perfect (without sin) in this life. Do you think that a person can be perfect? Why or why not?
REPLY: I think it is possible for a person to live a life that is generally above reproach and generally blameless. But, I do not embrace the notion that one can be absolutely sinless and perfect during his earthly existence.
For instance, King David lived a life that was (with the exception of a few blatant sins) consistently above reproach. Consider the passage below.
1 Kings 15:5 ESV
(5) because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
Consider Job in the passage below.
Job 1:1 ESV
(1) There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
But, consider also what Job said regarding his sinfulness in contrast to God’s righteousness after he got a glimpse of the Almighty. See below.
Job 42:5-6 ESV
(5) I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
(6) therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Notice the description of the parents of John the Baptist in the passage below.
Luke 1:5-6 ESV
(5) In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
(6) And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
Finally, take a look at Paul’s testimony in Acts 23:1.
Acts 23:1 ESV
(1) And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
I cite these examples in order to establish the truth that it is possible to live a “blameless” life, that is, a life of consistent righteous living, but that does not imply a life of perfect sinlessness. Job realized this when he gazed upon God. And although David was a man “after God’s own heart,” he committed some heinous sins.
To live blamelessly does not necessarily connote a life of sinless perfection, but it does imply a life of consistency, a life that persists in and does not abandon righteous living. And I believe the Bible illustrates the potential for every believer to live this type of life.
It is expected that the believer will become a slave to righteousness rather than a slave to sin. But the Apostle John makes it clear to me that sin still occurs.
1 John 1:8 ESV
(8) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
2. The flesh is the energizing principle within all people that inclines them toward sin. Do you think people are born with particular sin tendencies?
REPLY: Definitely. Our susceptibility to particular types of sins (alcoholism, promiscuity, lying, etc.) is influenced by factors such as heredity and our environment (culture, family background and so on). Although these factors predispose us toward participation in certain types of sinful patterns, it is important to realize that these factors do not make us become sinners. They are not at the root of our sin problem. I firmly believe in the axiom: “People sin because they are sinners. They are not sinners simply because they sin.”
There is an intrinsic tendency for every child born into this world to go astray – to go his or her own way. This inherent inclination to sin is all-pervasive and permeates the essence of every human soul. This is the Sin Principle that is resident within each one of us. The Bible refers to this as the “flesh.” In this context the flesh is not our physical bodies but is the corrupting influence or power within us that inclines our hearts toward sin.
Isaiah 53:6 ESV
(6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Romans 3:12 ESV
(12) All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Psalms 51:5 ESV
(5) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
3. Many people excuse and justify sinful behaviors saying that the reason they engage in them is because they were “born this way.” How does the fact that we are all born with the flesh help to respond to such an argument? Explain.
REPLY: These sinful patterns of behavior likely refer to those blatant, besetting sins which we often attribute to our personality traits, and therefore we rationalize them as excusable. The writer of Hebrews exhorts believers to set aside these sins which so easily trip us up…
Hebrews 12:1 HCSB
(1) Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us,
This exhortation implies the capacity within the life of the Spirit-filled believer to accomplish this task. The “flesh” embodies all sins to which we have a propensity to yield and most especially includes those sins to which our personalities are most susceptible. God does not create a sinful soul and no sin is excusable in God’s sight. It is also wrong to embrace the notion that it is my humanity that makes me sinful. Christ was fully human and possessed a human body, yet He was without sin. The cliché, “To err is human,” affirms a totally erroneous notion. Adam, when first created, was fully human, yet without sin. Sin (error) is not an essential component of the human anatomy. The flesh (or sin principle) was superimposed upon the essence of man’s being subsequent to the Fall of Adam, but from the beginning this was not so.
In conclusion, to say “I was born this way,” or “this is just the way God made me,” is nothing less than a “cop out.”
4. How can we work with God in our sanctification process? What is our part? What is God’s part?
REPLY: The sanctification process is synergistic in the sense that we are co-participants with God in the process – that is, we do play an active role. But, I prefer to view our participation as fully orchestrated by God who is actively working within us to bring us into conformity to the image of His Son. Sanctification is never achieved by virtue of one’s own intrinsic ability, but is always in deference to God working out His will within us.
Philippians 2:13 ESV
(13) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
5. How can a complete surrender or dedication to God help us in our battle against sin? Explain.
REPLY: In answer to this question I can only speak from personal experience. Spiritual lethargy dominated my life for many years. I have even questioned whether my profession of faith as a youngster was actually genuine.
During the past several years God brought family trials and physical affliction into my life. At one point I felt a “nervous breakdown” was almost inevitable. I was experiencing much physical pain due to a neurological disorder. And it seemed at this point that I was faced with two paths. I could become hardened and forsake God, or I could relinquish all control of my life to a Sovereign Creator and ask Him to draw me closer to Himself. To the best of my recollection I pleaded with God not to allow me to become bitter and cynical toward Him. My greatest fear at this point was complacency…
God has not taken away my physical infirmity, but He has given me renewed zeal and fervor. Had He not brought me to the end of myself, I would probably not be involved in TTP today, nor would I have been involved in other ministries such as I have these past several years.
It was during this time that I saw God more clearly than ever before. He became the focal point of my life. I became somewhat obsessed in my pursuit of Him, and consequently, some of my most besetting sins dissipated into nothingness… It almost seemed to me that God saw fit to “slap me upside the head” in order to get my attention and my affection…..
6. Why is it that orthodoxy (right teaching) must precede orthopraxy (right practice or living)?
REPLY: Although our culture might attribute virtue to those who venture to take a massive leap of faith into the darkness of nothingness, to do so is most assuredly irrational and illogical. How can an individual who professes to have faith be expected to live rightly when his faith rests upon a content-less, proposition-less vacuum? This equates to faith without information (revelation/truth) and faith without understanding. This amounts to trust in nothing. In order for right living to commence a person must have an object to his faith - i.e. truth. He must mentally agree that it is truth, and most importantly, he must trust in it. Only then will righteous living be the natural outgrowth.
7. Discuss the validity of this statement: “Only when one understands and believes what God has done for them will they be motivated to serve Him in truth.”
REPLY: This question paraphrases the dictum, “Orthodoxy precedes orthopraxy.” Or, to put it still another way, “Right teaching precedes right living.”
How is one able to truly live out his faith if his faith is a content-less, fact-less, or proposition-less faith? If the object of his faith is a “black hole,” how can his life be guided by the parameters of right teaching? The answer is, “He has nothing to guide him.” He clings to nothing but blind faith – a blind leap in the dark. Moreover, how is one to be sure is he is living out his faith rightly if the content of his faith consists of untested folk theology – a content that has been inherited from parents, pastor or Sunday School teacher but never critically evaluated or assessed?
To serve God in truth is to have a Berean-like mind. The Bereans did not even take the Apostle Paul’s teaching at “face value.” Instead, they tested his words against Scripture.
See passage below.
Acts 17:11 ESV
(11) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
8. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
REPLY: I was challenged to reconsider my usage of the term “sin nature.” Properly understood, it might be OK. But, there is great potential to communicate misinformation by usage of this term. As Michael pointed out, we do not have two natures. (Christ is the only human who ever possessed two natures – human and divine). We only possess a human nature which has been corrupted and permeated by the Sin Principle. But again, it is important to remember that the Sin Principle (or flesh) was not an integral part of our human constitution as it first came from the hands of the Creator. It was only later that is was superimposed upon human nature at the FALL OF ADAM.
________________________
Greg Eby
March 30th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
1. The Wesleyan View of sanctification teaches that one can become perfect (without sin) in this life. Do you think that a person can be perfect? Why or why not?
First, my personal experience and my observation of other Christians provides strong evidence that even the holiest among us are not perfect. Second, scripture seems to speak of the assurance of, and expectation of, a future or eventual perfection, but also of a continuing struggle. In Romans 7:15 Paul speaks of still doing what he hates. In Philippians 3:12 Paul tells the Philippians that he presses on because he is not perfect yet.
2. The flesh is the energizing principle within all people that inclines them toward sin. Do you think people are born with particular sin tendencies?
Yes. the guilt and condemnation of Adam’s first sin has been imputed to all of mankind and our sinful nature has been passed on to us from our parents, but each of us is unique in personality and prone to unique sinful tendencies. The lecture pointed out the struggle with homosexuality some people deal with, while others are not subject to that desire but must deal with lust, greed, jealousy, anger etc…etc…as Paul explained to the Galatians (Gal. 5:10). Personal experience shows that while we are all uniformly sinners, we all sin in our own individual ways.
3. Many people excuse and justify sinful behaviors saying that the reason they engage in them is because they were “born this way.” How does the fact that we are all born with the flesh help to respond to such an argument? Explain.
All believers who have surrendered their lives to Christ, acknowledging their sinful nature, have another choice. We no longer have to be slaves to sin. With the Holy Spirit living inside of us we have crucified the flesh (Gal. 5:24) and are no longer enslaved to sin (Romans 6:7). The choice to plug into the flesh will always be there in this life, but we now can also choose to plug into the power of the Spirit and reject our old ways.
4. How can we work with God in our sanctification process? What is our part? What is God’s part?
In Philippians 2:12-13 we see Paul telling the people to remain obedient, to stick with the things that save them and to do it with reverence and in awe of God, because when we do this it is actually God working inside of us. If we remain obedient to God He will give us the energy to do what pleases Him.
5. How can a complete surrender or dedication to God help us in our battle against sin? Explain.
By surrendering our lives to God we gain the power of the Holy Spirit. Before we are justified we have only our own will in the power of the flesh. Once justified, however, the Holy Spirit indwells us and we have two options; flesh and Spirit. We can choose to battle sin with the power of our own flesh, which will always eventually fail, or we can choose the power of the Spirit, which strengthens us to gradually defeat sin in our lives.
6. Why is it that orthodoxy (right teaching) must precede orthopraxy (right practice or living)?
Orthodoxy comes through spending time in God’s Word and in worshiping Him and praying to Him, endeavoring to know God and what He did for us and our relation to Him, and through this the Holy Spirit convicts us of our need to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand that he might lift us up (1 Peter 5:6). In other words, it is the understanding of the teaching, the true magnitude of who God is and what He did for us that leads to orthopraxy, the conviction to live in a way that draws us closer to Him.
7. Discuss the validity of this statement: “Only when one understands and believes what God has done for them will they be motivated to serve Him in truth.”
In a previous lesson we discussed true Biblical faith that includes notitia, assensus and fiducia. We see many Christians who know and believe the Gospel, they have the notitia and assensus of faith, but lack the fiducia or true trust in Christ that leads to the sanctification process. This fiducia aspect of faith can only come when one fully understands the magnitude of what God has done for us. Faith that includes notitia, assensus and fiducia produces true sorrow for sins and deeper and deeper dedications to Christ throughout a lifelong sanctification process.
8. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
The most challenging aspect for me was the deeper realization that plugging to the flesh for power to live by will always be an option throughout the sanctification process. Even though the Holy Spirit indwells me, I will battle sin throughout this life. As the chart showing the Reformed View of Sanctification indicates, this process will include ups and downs…periods of stagnant or even declining sanctification, which will then lead to stronger dedications to Christ. One would like to think that justification leads to a steady climb on the path to becoming Christlike, but experience and Scripture teaches us that God’s plan is one of peaks and valleys and we need to learn to trust Him in the spiritual highs and lows.
March 31st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
1. The Wesleyan View of sanctification teaches that one can become perfect (without sin) in this life. Do you think that a person can be perfect? Why or why not?
No, I do not. I believe that we are all born sinners and can not be perfect in this life. There was only one man who was without sin and that was Jesus. Although sanctification and the call to be holy is serious, even the apostles Paul struggled with what he wanted to do and what he did. If Paul couldn’t get it, I don’t think I can either.
2. The flesh is the energizing principle within all people that inclines them toward sin. Do you think people are born with particular sin tendencies?
Yes. Think of young children. I have never come across a child who does not have a sense of mine or entitlement. Our ‘default’ mode seems always to be of the flesh and ourselves and not of God. Experience more than anything has shown me this. Particular tendencies seem to be consistent with my observable experience.
3. Many people excuse and justify sinful behaviors saying that the reason they engage in them is because they were “born this way.” How does the fact that we are all born with the flesh help to respond to such an argument? Explain.
We are all born sinners and are all in need of a savior. Just because you are born a certain way or toward a different tendency, does not mean it is right. People born with a tendency toward violence or abuse should not be excused because they were born that way, rather they need to be addressed as for what their sin does.
4. How can we work with God in our sanctification process? What is our part? What is God’s part?
God has called us to be holy. We are given the opportunity to serve Him or serve ourselves. Our part is to surrender to Him and allow Him to control our lives. From my perspective, I need to remove myself and allow Him control.
5. How can a complete surrender or dedication to God help us in our battle against sin? Explain.
We can not win our battle with sin on our own. No one ever has. A complete surrender is what is necessary for us to be delievered from our sin. Sure, there are steps we can take that may be practical and help some symptoms, but the root of the sin problem is us, and therefore a total surrender on our part to Christ is needed for sin to be dealt with.
6. Why is it that orthodoxy (right teaching) must precede orthopraxy (right practice or living)?
If I do not know the right way of doing something, I am probably not going to get the intended result. At work, we use the term a consious-competent. In order for me to be consistent in my results I need to understand why and how I am being consistent and correcct. Its not unlike faith, in order for me to be what God wants me to be, I first need to understand what it is He wants from me.
7. Discuss the validity of this statement: “Only when one understands and believes what God has done for them will they be motivated to serve Him in truth.”
I am not sure I will even totally understan and believe what God has done for me. I think that statement has an element of truth to it. I believe we need to understand that we are sinners and in need of a savior. Not all people who understand this will follow Him, but some will.
8. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
Sanctification is a constant struggle of my life. The desire to be more holy and to deal with my ‘default’ or flesh-mode is tough. I am in constant conflict with myself over what I want to do and how I think. Thanks be to God for all He has done and for never failing me!
April 1st, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Group Discussion Questions:
The Doctrine of Sanctification
1. The Weseyan View of sanctification teaches that one can become perfect (without sin) in this life. Do you think that a person can be perfect? Why or why not?
No, I do not. I wonder where Wesley found Biblical support for his understanding of sin as “willful acts”. I wish I had the time to read Wesley to better understand this concept. Grudem defines sin as: “Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.” Attitudes are seen in the Ten Commandments as pride, disrespect, or coveting. Jesus listed anger and lust among those sins innumerate in the Sermon on the Mount. In Gal. 5:20, Paul lists jealousy, anger, and selfishness. We break the greatest commandment (“you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30) whenever God is not receiving from us our all. Can we ever attain such perfection? I hardly think it possible.
2. Th flesh is the energizing principle within all people that inclines them toward sin. Do you think people are born with particular sin tendencies?
I’ve heard this used to explain homosexuality, alcoholism, drug use, even anger. I believe we are born with the tendency toward sin. The particular sins we favor are not hereditary but are the results of environment, choices, and choices made for us. Genetics determines hair color, how much hair we have, whether we are right handed or left handed, but my love of Blue Bell’s Pecan Praline ice-cream is cultivated as is the excess I choose. Perhaps someday some scientist will prove me wrong. Until then, it sits on my stage of truth as a weak belief.
3. Many people excuse and justify sinful behaviors saying that the reason they engage in them is because they were “born this way”. How does the fact that we are all born with the flesh help to respond to such an argument? Explain.
That men have the opportunity to choose to sin or to refrain from sin is obvious in Scripture. (Deut. 30:19; Josh. 24:15; Is. 7:15,16). Throughout scripture, if/then passages are pervasive. II Cor. 5:10 clearly states “That each may receive what is due him for the things done in the body”. We have a sin nature but the choice to sin is still ours. (I Cor 10:13)
4. How can we work with God in our sanctification process? What is our part? What is God’s part?
I quote from “The Cross and Salvation” by Demarest, pages 401- 402. Sanctification “is a divine human operation initiated and continued by God The Holy Spirit (Phil. 2:12-13; Heb. 13:20-21) and appropriated by faith (Acts 26:18; I John 5:4)…” “Christians advance in Christ likeness by effort (ICor. 9:24; I Tim. 4:10; Heb. 12:1), struggle (Rom. 7:15-23; Gal. 5:17;), warfare (Eph. 6:10-18; I Tim 6:12), suffering (Rom. 5:3; Heb. 10:32-34), and divine chastening (Ps. 119:71; Heb. 12:5-11).” “Sanctification involves both God’s provision and the Christian’s participation.” From “Pursuit of Holiness” by Jerry Bridges, p.68. “To experience practical, everyday holiness, we must accept the fact that God in His infinite wisdom has seen fit to allow this daily battle with indwelling sin. But God does not leave us to do battle alone. Just as He delivered us from the overall reign of sin, so He has made ample provision for us to win the daily skirmishes against sin.”
5. How can a complete surrender or dedication to God help us in our battle against sin? Explain.
I question “complete” as a possibility. Complete surrender would be sinless perfection and smacks of a works based sanctification. Scripture says “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13. I cannot do except that which God enables me to do. Sanctification, holiness, is not an instantaneous event, but rather, a lifelong pursuit. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Phil. 3:14.
6. Why is it that orthodoxy (right teaching) must precede orthopraxy (right doctrine)?
I am teaching through Galatians in our Wednesday evening services. Paul spent much time correcting doctrinal issues in his letters that had lead to wrong practice. It is easier to teach new believers in their infancy correct interpretation of scripture than it is to correct faulty interpretation that has become ingrained. To practice correct doctrine, we must first come to know correct doctrine and that comes from correct teaching and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 10:17; Luke 12:12).
7. Discuss the validity of this statement: “only when one understands and believes what God has done for them will they be motivated to serve Him in truth.”
This statement rings true with experience and the witness of scripture. II Cor. 5:14 KJV says that “the love of Christ constrains us”. In Acts 18:5 “Paul began devoting himself completely to the word”. His teaching poured out of his devotion to Christ and scripture. The witness of Peter and John in Acts 4:19-20 echoes this same thought.
8. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
Again, thank you for the work you have out into this course of study. This was an affirming study. I read “Pursuit of Holiness” and “Practice of Godliness” by Jerry Bridges years ago in the early ages. It became the cornerstone material for the small group work with our students. This was a revisit to many of those precepts taught in the pages of those two books. I was the Minister of Music and Students in those days, and went from these books by Bridges to “Knowing God” by J. I. Packer. I look forward to next week.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Session 9 – Discussion Questions
1. The Wesleyan View of sanctification teaches that one can become perfect
(without sin) in this life. Do you think that a person can be perfect? Why or
why not.
Response: No, I do not. Romans teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
2. The flesh is the energizing principle within all people that inclines them
toward sin. Do you think people are born with particular sin tendencies?
Response: I believe that people can be born with particular sin tendencies but it is more likely that external circumstances/experiences have a major impact on a persons tendencies.
3. Many people excuse and justify sinful behaviors saying that the reason they
engage in them is because they were “born this way.” How does the fact that
we are all born with the flesh help to respond to such an argument? Explain.
Response: The argument can also be made that the ways of God is written on the hearts of men. The awesome part of grace is that, even though we all struggle with sin, as we grow to be more like Christ we are empowered through the Spirit to resist such temptations and the subsequent consequences associated with sin. God’s grace is what allows this to happen.
4. How can we work with God in our sanctification process? What is our part?
What is God’s part?
Response: God’s part is to provide a way for us to be given a righteous standing before God. This was accomplished through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Our part is to place our trust in Christ and submit our lives to his Lordship.
5. How can a complete surrender or dedication to God help us in our battle
against sin? Explain.
Response: The power of sin was defeated by Christ’s death on the cross. Once we accept God’s grace and submit our to Him we are empowered through the Holy Spirit to grow into Christ-likeness.
6. Why is it that orthodoxy (right teaching) must precede orthopraxy (right
doctrine)?
Response: I would say that correct doctrine (orthopraxy) is developed through correct teaching (orthodoxy), not the other way around.
7. Discuss the validity of this statement: “Only when one understands and
believes what God has done for them will they be motivated to serve Him in
truth.”
Response: I believe this statement to be true.
8. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
Response: Sanctification is a life-long process and seems to, at least for me, have many peaks and valleys. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that through this process God draws us closer and closer to himself as we are transformed and more toward the image of God.