God the Holy Spirit, Mentor's Guide, MG14

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G O D T H E H O L Y S P I R I T

Some of the Ways in Which Christians Disagree about Sanctification (continued)

II. Traditional Reformation Teaching

A. Sanctification is begun at salvation and continues progressively until glorification. God completely sanctifies us positionally at the moment of salvation, but practical sanctification is worked out in our experience gradually and daily.

B. Sin is primarily defined as “falling short of God’s glory.”

C. Arguments in favor:

1. Jesus taught us to pray daily, “Forgive us our trespasses” (Matt. 6.12) and added “But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6.15).

2. The Corinthian church was identified by Paul as “sanctified by Christ Jesus and called to be holy” but in practice was anything but. Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 3.3, “For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” Paul understood the difference between being sanctified in God’s sight but not yet sanctified in practice.

a. Experience teaches us that:

(1) We sin.

(2) People who claim perfection tend to become legalistic, condemning, boastful, and tend to deny sin when it occurs.