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Link Hudson | PentecostalTheology.com
I have seen this verse used to argue for sanctification as a one time experience subsequent to salvation:
I Thessalonians 4
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
If ‘sanctification’ here refers to a one-time experience of sanctification that happens after one gets saved, wouldn’t that imply that it is normal for Christians who are saved, but not sanctified, to engage in fornication?
Is sanctification as a one-time experience after salvation a helpful way of interpreting this verse? Doesn’t it make more sense to see sanctification as something that all believers need to walk in?
David Lewayne Porter
Sanctification is a distinct work of grace, the second work of grace (which could be argued started the moment that we are saved – because how are you ever more cleansed and set apart for/to God for His purpose than the moment that Jesus’ blood is applied)
But sanctification is also walked out by us on our end daily.
Charles Page
Link Hudson, you make a logical valid point. One can be saved and not sanctified or loose his sanctification.
Charles Page
all “believers” should abstain from sexual immorality. God’s children who are not abstaining from sexual immorality are not believing, thus have not practical sanctification.
Charles Page
our eternal salvation is a finished work from the cross and that eternal salvation cannot be lost. Once a child of God always a child of God.
David Lewayne Porter
Charles Page
Then Heb 10:26 really gives you an issue.
But let’s read it in context
Notice verse 26 comes after verse 17,18&19, after 22&23, it comes before verses 27,28&29,
Vs 29 tells us we are under more judgment than those in the Old Testament (which I have NEVER HEARD a minister or Bible teacher address. (Vs 29 is great).
All the rest of the chapter is awesome but I really love verse 35 which tells us believers to not cast away our (confidence) again it comes after verse 26 after verses 17&18.
So the warning in verses 26 and 35 are to those who are already believers.
Just so you don’t have to look them up;
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Charles Page
what is your question, David?
Link Hudson
I don’t think any believer, any new creature in Christ Jesus, has to have some emotional experience at an altar or elsewhere that he can point to and say, “At such and such a time, I was sanctified” to live holy and to abstain from sexual immorality or any other sins.
Charles Page
the early pioneer days (up to the 60s) you had a testimony of being sanctified. few testified of the day they were born again.
As a minister you sent a report in of the number who were saved and who were sanctified. (filled with the Holy Ghost – with initial evidence)
David Lewayne Porter
I have no question.
We (personally of our own) can discard and cast away our (confidence).
That is no any one plucking us from His hand, as some people state.
It is our freewill
Also see 2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Vs 20 shows it is believers having already escaped through Jesus Christ.
Vs 21&22 says they end up worse off.
How are they worse off than being lostv (unsaved)?.
Charles Page
Who does the ‘unsanctioning’? God does the sanctioning and through his word.