@David H.
Do you believe that you can live santified now, today, by trusting Jesus to make it so for you, now, today?
I've never been able to find your answer to this question.
Much love!
1 Corinthians 1:27-31 KJV
27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
As we walk in the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit is in our lives. We love, we rejoice, we rest, we believe, we are gentle, patient, kind, and we walk in His works. We love the truth, we love unity, we love each other, because that's the Spirit Who is in us.
This passage is much like in Romans 4, that "Abraham was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God".
This passage is also much like in Galatians 2, "I've been co-crucified with Christ, yet I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me".
2 Corinthians 4, "that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in our body", that people can see the life of Jesus when they look at me.
Not that I become more alive in Jesus, but that this life which I have now may be seen in me.
Not that I become more crucified in Christ, but that I will live according to this truth.
In looking for a "second work of grace", it's as if this isn't enough.
What we need is to be conformed in our thoughts and behavior to our new creation. We don't need newer creation. We are already alive in Christ. We need our minds to be renewed in the knowledge of Him, being transformed by the renewing of our minds, not being transformed by more sanctification.
Again, this idea of progressive sanctification describes the perceived process as our minds are renewed. We learn to think according to Scripture, and this produces in us the correct thinking, and the fruitful works, and as these increase, some call it "progressive sanctification".
My objection to that terminology is that it gives the impression that we're not already sanctified, and therefore lack the ability to live holy lives. I believe as I trust Jesus to give me His holy living, that is what He does.
I find that I'm inconsistent with this, but as the years go by, my consistency increases. And as I've learned, no matter when or to where I've fallen, by trusting in Jesus, I'm immediately restored. Because in fact the only restoration needed is in my own heart and mind. Jesus has already reconciled me to God.
Repentance is turning from the world to God, from sin to God, from the flesh to God, and then we are reborn. We are born from above, sharing our Father's nature, and we are learning to live that way.
Much love!
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