[wmfights]

I thought that sanctification was something that was available to us, but not that it guaranteed that anything would happen in the area of works.

Thanks Gamecock for the great post! I'm taking notes. ;-)

FK: I think the key to sanctification, as I understand it, is it only begins to occur AFTER the HOLY SPIRIT has indwelt you. Thus, sanctification is not available to you unless you are saved (justification). IOW, sanctification is not available to the unsaved. They may do a lot of good works, follow all the rituals, and pray really hard but with out the indwelling Holy Spirit it is for nothing.

[Forest Keeper]

FK, I think the key to sanctification, as I understand it, is it only begins to occur AFTER the HOLY SPIRIT has indwelt you. Thus, sanctification is not available to you unless you are saved (justification).

Yes, that is exactly my understanding now. Sanctification will always result in works that are good in the eyes of God. Such works are impossible for the lost. Therefore, sanctification cannot happen with the lost, only the saved.