Love your posts Angela!
I think if you consider the Scripture that says we shall know Him as He knows us makes this all quite clear.
In Christ we are One with Him, we are joined to His Spirit.
The Sanctification process is the "renewing" (continually be made new) of who we are in Christ.
This is why prophesy is so critical (1 Co 14) and above any gift called to be exercised to build the church.
It's also why we are called new creations and that the former has passed away.
You'll notice where Scripture points at "behavior" which is ultimately what you are referring to when you say "still sin" that it then points affirmatively back to identity, as you have stated in our eternal state.
The point of the disciples, imo, is that you're not behaving like you really are in Christ.
Once we understand this finer point, all the other Scriptures make sense, for instance put off the old man and put on the new man when referring once again to renewing the spirit of the mind (eph 3).
And the fact we have His law written on our hearts and mind, and now desire the things of God, as long as we have our mind renewed to His goodness and kindness (this is the foundation of repentance) which is really renewing of the mind when you understand the Greek context behind it.
This is why Paul says, examine yourself to see if you are truly in the faith, and he says none who do these things shall inherit the Kingdom, but this is not who you are, you have been washed, justified, and glorified.
Which is pointing to a present reality in order to embody the hope (confident expectation) of glory. Christ is this hope of glory. We are joined to Him and we are now His Body (literally). And our life is hid in Him. I like to say we are the I, in the middle of Christ, ChrIst. He hid us in the Son that we might be in relation with the Father.
1 John when discussing confessing our sins is referring to pre-Christ, imo, because of the context of it and also statements made later, about a yr ago I wrote extensive posts on this topic, but I hope that just these different blocks will click as the Holy Spirit breathes life on it. And if not, that's okay too because you are definitely a true seeker in the Lord.
C.
I think if you consider the Scripture that says we shall know Him as He knows us makes this all quite clear.
In Christ we are One with Him, we are joined to His Spirit.
The Sanctification process is the "renewing" (continually be made new) of who we are in Christ.
This is why prophesy is so critical (1 Co 14) and above any gift called to be exercised to build the church.
It's also why we are called new creations and that the former has passed away.
You'll notice where Scripture points at "behavior" which is ultimately what you are referring to when you say "still sin" that it then points affirmatively back to identity, as you have stated in our eternal state.
The point of the disciples, imo, is that you're not behaving like you really are in Christ.
Once we understand this finer point, all the other Scriptures make sense, for instance put off the old man and put on the new man when referring once again to renewing the spirit of the mind (eph 3).
And the fact we have His law written on our hearts and mind, and now desire the things of God, as long as we have our mind renewed to His goodness and kindness (this is the foundation of repentance) which is really renewing of the mind when you understand the Greek context behind it.
This is why Paul says, examine yourself to see if you are truly in the faith, and he says none who do these things shall inherit the Kingdom, but this is not who you are, you have been washed, justified, and glorified.
Which is pointing to a present reality in order to embody the hope (confident expectation) of glory. Christ is this hope of glory. We are joined to Him and we are now His Body (literally). And our life is hid in Him. I like to say we are the I, in the middle of Christ, ChrIst. He hid us in the Son that we might be in relation with the Father.
1 John when discussing confessing our sins is referring to pre-Christ, imo, because of the context of it and also statements made later, about a yr ago I wrote extensive posts on this topic, but I hope that just these different blocks will click as the Holy Spirit breathes life on it. And if not, that's okay too because you are definitely a true seeker in the Lord.
C.
Just in case I have thoroughly confused everyone about where I stand, I do believe in eternal security. But I believe that because God saves us, he also convicts us of sin, after we are saved. This is part of the process of sanctification.
I do not believe we can lose our salvation. But assurance of our salvation does not guarantee perfection.
I also do not believe hypergrace is right, esp. Having just re-read some of the info posted by Grace777. It is some truth mixed with some untruth. A very deadly combination.
Surely there is a middle to this discussion? That we are saved by the grace through the faith that God gives us, because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, who paid for our sin. Yes, all our sin.
So do we then decide we can do whatever we want? If we are walking with Christ, the Holy Spirit is leading us - he will pull us back when we go astray, for sure! BUT, going astray requires repentance before God. And that is part of being sanctified - being made more and more aware of what displeases God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to not only teach us, but transform us.
And that middle ground is so important! Because either extreme will limit our growth and maturity in God. If we sin freely and wilfully, we will lose that close walk with God. And anyone who says they can sin freely and walk with God is a liar.
But, if we live in fear of losing our salvation if we do sin, we are living in fear, and it will also stop us from maturing in our walk with God. And this I say from experience, having been taught and living in fear of losing my salvation for at least 20 years, and not growing one tiny bit in all those years!
Yet hypergrace teachers are simply not teaching they progressive journey of salvation, either! Instead, the Word Faith teachers are saying when God justifies us, we are also glorified at that moment, instead of evidence to the contrary, ie sin in our lives. Or worse, these false teachers tell us we can sin freely, because God already forgave that sin on the cross. Well, he did, but we still need to confess it, in order to mature and grow - in other words - be sanctified.
I know I have said this over and over, but here it is again. Please pay attention as this will be on the final! (By the way, I learned this process from reading my Bible. It is where I also learned I would not lose my salvation. That is why we need to read and study the Bible - and not pull verses out to support our preconceived ideas, but rather to let God teach us the truth from his Word.)
The Process of Salvation
Justification - God saves us (Romans 5:1). We are not perfect experientially, only positionally.
Sanctification - God is in the process of transforming us into the image of Christ. (Romans 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18) We are not perfect. we are on a journey with the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us. And yes, we NEED to confess our sins! (1 John 1:8-2:2) On earth, this is the main part of our Christian walk - unless we are saved on our deathbed.
Glorification - Jesus returns or we see Jesus face to face. We are made into the image of God (but we are NOT God!). 1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12) We do not sin any longer. This is eternity with Christ!
I do not believe we can lose our salvation. But assurance of our salvation does not guarantee perfection.
I also do not believe hypergrace is right, esp. Having just re-read some of the info posted by Grace777. It is some truth mixed with some untruth. A very deadly combination.
Surely there is a middle to this discussion? That we are saved by the grace through the faith that God gives us, because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, who paid for our sin. Yes, all our sin.
So do we then decide we can do whatever we want? If we are walking with Christ, the Holy Spirit is leading us - he will pull us back when we go astray, for sure! BUT, going astray requires repentance before God. And that is part of being sanctified - being made more and more aware of what displeases God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to not only teach us, but transform us.
And that middle ground is so important! Because either extreme will limit our growth and maturity in God. If we sin freely and wilfully, we will lose that close walk with God. And anyone who says they can sin freely and walk with God is a liar.
But, if we live in fear of losing our salvation if we do sin, we are living in fear, and it will also stop us from maturing in our walk with God. And this I say from experience, having been taught and living in fear of losing my salvation for at least 20 years, and not growing one tiny bit in all those years!
Yet hypergrace teachers are simply not teaching they progressive journey of salvation, either! Instead, the Word Faith teachers are saying when God justifies us, we are also glorified at that moment, instead of evidence to the contrary, ie sin in our lives. Or worse, these false teachers tell us we can sin freely, because God already forgave that sin on the cross. Well, he did, but we still need to confess it, in order to mature and grow - in other words - be sanctified.
I know I have said this over and over, but here it is again. Please pay attention as this will be on the final! (By the way, I learned this process from reading my Bible. It is where I also learned I would not lose my salvation. That is why we need to read and study the Bible - and not pull verses out to support our preconceived ideas, but rather to let God teach us the truth from his Word.)
The Process of Salvation
Justification - God saves us (Romans 5:1). We are not perfect experientially, only positionally.
Sanctification - God is in the process of transforming us into the image of Christ. (Romans 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18) We are not perfect. we are on a journey with the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us. And yes, we NEED to confess our sins! (1 John 1:8-2:2) On earth, this is the main part of our Christian walk - unless we are saved on our deathbed.
Glorification - Jesus returns or we see Jesus face to face. We are made into the image of God (but we are NOT God!). 1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12) We do not sin any longer. This is eternity with Christ!
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