Sanctification is the process of growth toward godliness ... in the lives of those that believe (i.e. have faith). It is God's desire that His children grow in grace ... as it is our desire that our children grow in character and maturity.
Do you believe in "Once saved, always saved", Quester? I hadn't gotten that in the past from you. However, those who DO believe that, sanctification is really a pointless exercise. If Christ covers us up with His own righteousness and we are saved for heaven no matter what we do after that one-time faith declaration, then it is an utter waste of time and effort. Think about it. OUR OWN sanctification doesn't matter, because Christ will cover us with HIS anyways ...
I believe that ... as long as one wishes to be a child of God ... and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ ... then one's desire is in agreement with God's desire ... and that God will facilitate that desire.
Note that the knowledge of God ... and the desire to be with God ... comes with a lot of baggage (if you will).
By that, I mean that the soul which desires to be with God ... will also desire the things of God (i.e. love, peace, joy, contentment, etc.) ... and that God will grant that soul the power to realize such desire.
I do not, necessarily, believe that the soul which has, once, chosen God ... will never choose to reject God, ... but I maintain that this would be a defining life choice ... and that, such a decision would be irrevocable (like Satan and the fallen angels).
I believe that God might let you walk away (Hebrews 6:4-6) ... but that He will never let you just slip away (John 10:28-29), ... that He, Himself, will never cast you out (John 6:37), ... and that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5).
I agree that sanctification is VERY important on whether we will enter the Kingdom or not. My question was a rhetorical one to Blogger. In the world of OSAS, sanctification is a moot operation.
Santification does not become a moot point ... just because that it likely that the child of God ... will always be a child of God.
Even if you are irrevocably saved ... God still desires that you will grow. He doesn't want us to be spiritual babes forever, ... but He will not discard us for being spiritual babes, either.
He will patiently endure with us ... to ultimately grow us up.Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
I thought so. That moment of faith 20 years ago is not the only part we play in salvation - and thus, it appears you do not believe in "OSAS". Your first sentence tells me that you believe faith is an ongoing decision, one we make daily.
I believe that God might let you walk away (Hebrews 6:4-6) ... but that He will never let you just slip away (John 10:28-29), ... that He, Himself, will never cast you out (John 6:37), ... and that He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5).
As long as we do not abandon Him first, we can rely and trust that God will not pull the rug out from us. We believe God is righteous and will honor His promise to reward those who obey Him and love Him. However, to those who do not, even those who at one time DID make a proclamation of faith, there will be a condemnation awaiting them:
"For if we sin wilfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins, But a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries" Heb 10:26-27
"A faithful saying: for if we be dead with him, we shall live also with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us." 2 Tim 2:11-12
Also, apparently, those who commit certain sins and not repent of them (even those who had once proclaimed their faith in Christ) will not inherit the Kingdom of God:
"Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God" 1 Cor 6:9-10
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, Idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God" Gal 5:19-21
Even if you are irrevocably saved ... God still desires that you will grow. He doesn't want us to be spiritual babes forever, ... but He will not discard us for being spiritual babes, either.
What is the purpose of our growth in this scenario? If one sees salvation as a strictly legal issue, then does it matter, legally speaking, if one has obeyed God a bit more? Under such a scenario, we are nothing but dirty rags anyway. Apparently, God is ready to pounce on what we have done wrong - and they would outway any good we might do during our sanctification. When we consider salvation as only a legal issue, sanctification is meaningless, because salvation is ALREADY a done deal.
This is not biblical - because salvation is NOT a done deal in Sacred Scriptures. Salvation is seen as a past, present and future event. Thus, when one looks at only the past, denying the present and future aspect exists, one runs into problems with Scriptures.
Regards