Many seem to think that they can be entirely sanctified today, within a week—or month, etc.
Sorry—but things don’t work that way.
One grows by grace: 2 Peter 3:16 (another verse for your 3:16 collection).
You see, as he pursues the elements of the lifestyle mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5ff he puts off elements of his old sinful lifestyle and replaces these with new biblical ways. Sanctification is progressive and gradual—never complete until we reach heaven.
There are those who confuse justification and sanctification. Justification (God declaring one righteous by faith in Christ) is an act of God alone; sanctification is progressive as the Holy Spirit within believers enables them to understand and follow biblical truth (John 17:17).
Once justified, one is justified once and for all—he cannot lose. It is a legal term—according to God’s court of justice the believer, by faith in the Good news that Christ died for his sins and rose from the dead, has his sins all forgiven and he is reckoned righteous in God’s sight.
Friend, have you been justified? If so, be sure that you progress in your daily growth by God’s grace.
Full sanctification will come at death—but not now.
Check out our online course, Theology and Counseling taught by Jay Adams!
Books related to dealing with problems:
- A Theology of Christian Counseling by Jay Adams
- Sanctification and Counseling by Jay Adams
- A Call for Discernment by Jay Adams
The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams
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