The False Teaching
Sanctification is the act of God's grace by which the soul is cleansed from the
nature of sin, and made holy in the sight of God. This second work of grace is
received instantaneously after we totally commit our life to God, and is
evidenced by being filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Inbred sin, or the nature
of sin, is removed from our soul and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live
victorious lives without sinning against God.
The Westminster Confession of Faith succinctly sums up
sanctification:
They who are effectually called and regenerated,
having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified
really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by
His word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is
destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and
mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving
graces, to the practice of true holiness without which no man shall see the
Lord.
This Wikipedia link reveals the myriad different and divisive views on the subject.
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Exposing the Error
Sanctification
is one of the most divisive doctrines. This is the key to its errant
character. Reading the material to the left, including links,
with this in mind illustrates this as there are many sectarian
views on sanctification. This is not incidental, as the different
views have been major causes of division. This is particularly evident
since the onset of the Holiness Movement of the Twentieth Century. The
unity of faith requires one to abandon the terminology of
Christian theology -- justification, sanctification, glorification,
(that are the tools of professionals) and state the Truth of
Jesus in the simplest, every day language of the man on the street or
in the field. Then, it's simple meaning will shine forth clearly
so that it becomes the basis of unity among the disciples of
Jesus. But it is needful to retain one technical word -- holy
-- to state the Truth due to the dual action -- a separation and
a unification. There is separation from the world, (though yet in
the world) and unification with the Father and the Son through the Word
of Truth. Just observe the disunity of the Christian religion as
manifest in the many sects!! Saint, sanctification, sanctify, sanctified and sanctity are all divisive words we do not need.
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Declaring the Truth
Jn.17:13 FNT But now I come to you, and I speak these [things]
in the world in order that they have my joy made full in them. 14 I have given them your word, and the world hated them, because they
are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take
them of the world, but that you keep them from the wicked [one]. 16 They are
not of the world just as I am not of the world. 17 Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world.
19 And in their behalf do I make myself holy, in order that they also be made holy
in [the] truth. 20 But not
concerning these [ones] only do I ask, but
also concerning those believing in me through their word, 21 in order that they all be one [thing], just as you, father, [are] in
me and I in you, in order that they also be in us, in order that the world
believe that you sent me. Two actions occur simultaneously -- the radical separation from the world, and the absolute unification in the Father and in the Son through the Word of Truth. The Word of Truth is not the Bible. It is the words uttered by Jesus.
Jn.14:24 And the word that you hear is not mine but of the father having sent me.
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