April 17, 2011, Romans #13
We have defined the various Scriptural words that point to salvation:
1) Redemption,
2) justification,
3) regeneration,
4) righteousness
5) holiness
6) reconciliation,
All of these words point to another term,
7) Sanctification.
To sanctify means to be set apart for a holy use. God has set us apart for the purpose of sanctification not impurity #1Th 4:7 and being such we are called to do good works. #Eph 2:10
Sanctification follows justification. In justification our sins are completely forgiven in Christ. Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ in all that we do, think, and desire. True sanctification is impossible apart from the atoning work of Christ on the cross because only after our sins are forgiven can we begin to lead a holy life. (Dictionary of Theology, OLB)
Romans 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
Peter Identifies Leviticus 20:7 as a Christian responsibility, 1 Peter 1:15, 19.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
It matters not how loudly nor firmly someone claims to be a Christian, if the new creature is not evident in the life, they are not in Christ.
I do not know how many people I have met who claim to be saved, yet their lives are anything but what is required of Christians. Here is part of an e mail I received from Rich Salzer, 3/30/11:
I am going to a liberal Preterist Church in Virginia Beach, Va.... Every time I bring up the subject of the Khazars (Tom says you cover this well in D.o.t.C.V.), he gets squeemish. He also said in the Q & A session last week, when one of our I-Net listeners e-mailed in that it doesn't matter if somebody is a homosexual, as long as they are saved? What?! Can you believe it? I almost walked out then. I mean, I like the guy, but he says many complimentary things about the khazars all the time and doesn't differentiate between biblical Judeans and modern day 'jews'. I really hoped I had found THE church for me, but I need your OPINE if you know ... and what I should do. Sigh...
Rich Salzer c/o, Historical Review Library
It seems that the average professor of Christ seems to think that if someone says he or she is a Christian, then sodomy, adultery, fornication, as well as lying and cheating are OK.
As I have previously pointed out:
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
The world sees no conflict with professed Christians being involved in fornication, adultery and sodomy. However, the word of God is clear that those who continue in these practices shall not inherit the kingdom of God. They are not Christian, no matter how nice they may act in public, nor how much we might like them.
Society has promoted these sins as an alternative life-styles, but they are sinful life styles that shall result in an eternity in the lake of fire:
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Throughout Scripture, sanctified means set apart for God's glory and use. The word referred to days, sabbaths, physical property, such as houses and real property. Lev. 27:15, 19. Both Testaments have the same requirement upon God's people:
2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master 's use, and prepared unto every good work. (Personal responsibility. Lev. 8:30)
We see the importance of sanctification as applies to the believer in the fact that the word is used 21 times in the New Testament.
The means of sanctification is given by our Lord:
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth
Sanctification means, among other things, abstaining from fornication, lust, and immoral desires, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Sanctification grows in obedience.
We grow in sanctification, as a baby grows in obedience to his parents, 1 Peter 1:22. Birth places that child in that family, and then the child is to grow in obedience to the rules of his family as established by the father.
The believer has the imputed righteousness of Christ at salvation, but there is no scriptural evidence that Christ imputes his sanctification to the believer. The believer has been sanctified in the sense of set apart for God's use. Then the Spirit gives the believer the grace, or the desire and power to further sanctify himself. Sanctification comes as a step by step increase, and according to Paul, many times through great trials and tribulations. Romans 5:1-5.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
At the beginning of being the new creature in Christ, our obedience to the Heavenly Father is incomplete, for we do not yet know what is fully expected of us by our new parent. As we learn through proper training in his word, we become more sanctified; that is, more like the image of Christ. Romans 8:29.
This process can be identified as progressive sanctification.
Sanctification is a life-long process which starts at Christian Conversion. Sanctification is accomplished by studying God's word, and then living out what is revealed from that study.
Our initial setting apart for God's use is only the beginning of sanctification, for sanctification is a life long growth in obedience.
Redemption and justification means we are saints before God, but sanctification means we appear more and more as saints before men.
If the Bible is true, it is certain that unless we are "sanctified," we shall not be saved.
There are many strange doctrines that have developed over the subject of sanctification.
Some have confused it with justification, saying we are fully
sanctified at salvation.
Some ignore it under the pretense of zeal for free grace.
Others misunderstand sanctification, and when they fail to attain
it, waste their time seeking it, jumping from church to church,
sect to sect, hoping they will find what they understand sanctification
to be.
"set apart" for God's use was commonly used in the Old Testament—the Tabernacle furnishings were sanctified.. Paul applies this Old Testament usage in Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
God has set aside a particular people for his own use, for his good pleasure.
Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in us by the Holy Ghost. That work started when he called us to true faith in Christ. Little by little, sanctification separates us from or natural love of sin and the world. It puts a new rule in our heart, and motivates us to learn and work toward the holiness of God as found in his word.
The work of sanctification is accomplished by the Holy Spirit whom we received at salvation. The Spirit tries to work sanctification through God's word. But I know in my life, it seems that the only way I can grow is through the tribulations as mentioned in Romans 5:1-5.
Those who think that Jesus Christ lived and died and rose again only to provide the means to heaven need to read the Scriptures. They have completely missed God's message, and probably even missed salvation.
Redemption is a call to obedience to the word of God, through sanctification of the Spirit.
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Christ provides for his people everything their souls require. Not only has he delivered us from the guilt and penalty of sin by his death, but he has delivered us from the power and dominion of sin through the indwelling spirit. That is, sanctification.
John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Sanctify.)
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Justification is an immediate result of faith, while sanctification is a progressive result, but the two must go together. Justification starts the process of sanctification.
But sanctification has been greatly corrupted by those who say, "You are a Christian now, and cannot lose your salvation". And thus they tell their followers that they are assured of eternal life though they continue in their worldly ways.
Salvation must result in a new desire to live holy even as the Heavenly Father is holy.
The next section in Romans 5 is vv. 12-21
When I studied this passage as Paul presents it to the Romans, I saw something different than what I have taught. It may be a little confusing, but stick with me.
Paul now illustrates the doctrine of justification. He shows how justification passes to man through Christ. It passes the same way that condemnation passes to man through Adam.
Notice how Paul's words here are divided.
V. 12, then vv. 13-17 are in (**), and Paul picks it up in v. 18.
Vv. 12, 18 & 19 go together, so we will look at them that way.
As we do, we must remember that the comparison is between Adam the sinner and Christ the Righteous. Paul will show us that Adam is the cause of sin in the same manner that Christ is the cause of righteousness.
Sin already existed before Adam, so it was through Adam that sin entered into mankind, and mankind became sinners. As sin entered, so did death enter, and death passed upon all men. Sin is an individual act.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
With Adam, sin became the ruling power or principle in the heart of man. By ruling man, sin now rules the world. Sin lies in the heart of every person, and reveals itself in his general conduct.
Paul has been telling the Romans that through faith, righteousness is to rule in the heart of the redeemed. Though his actions are always tainted with sin, his goal must be righteous conduct.
Vv. 12 & 18, 19, it was through Adam, Sin entered into the world and gave man a disobedient nature. Through Adam, man's whole nature became corrupt with guilt, depravity and actual transgression. Through Adam, man became guilty and exposed to judgment and condemnation, or death, both physical and eternal.
God gave our first parents a choice with a promise, either life or death. Adam's sin, or transgression of God's word, became the cause of death, or the reason for death. The same choice with a promise is for all of his posterity.
Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in...
Jeremiah 21:15 ¶ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in
Proverbs 11:19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
V. 12. Through Adam, death passed on all men as the necessary results of sin. Paul is connecting Adam's sin with the death of all men. Death reaches all men, because all have sinned in Adam. Sin, and therefore death, is universal because of Adam.
Vv. 18, 19, as Adam's offence, or disobedience made all men sinners and subject to death, so Christ's obedience brings righteousness to many. The comparison is between the first man, Adam and the second man, the Lord from heaven, Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:47.
V. 18, the emphasis is on free gift, which Paul has been presenting all alone.
Note the parallel passage again in v. 19. many were made sinners, man be made righteous.
Vv. 12, 18, 19. Death... The comparison is between Adam and Christ.
All of that to say this:
Paul is telling the Romans that condemnation and death is caused by Adam's sin, and not by our own sin. The same as Christ's righteous is the cause of our life, not our own righteousness. If we say that all men are condemned and die because of their own sins, then we must say that men may live because of their own righteousness.
The comparison is between Adam and Christ.
Paul has laid a very firm foundation for the gospel, saying that the hope of God's people is only in the righteousness found by faith in Christ, totally apart from any "righteous" works we might do.
As the act of one man, Adam, condemned all to death, the act of one man, Christ, justifies many to life.
We do not know nor could we understand the inner workings of what Paul is saying. The only way we might understand might be as an agent acting for those he represents.
Adam, acting for all his posterity, sinned. His sin was an act for all men, and the death penalty passed upon all. Then in like manner, Christ's, acting as agent for the Elect, righteousness was passed on to many.
Accordingly, all men died with Adam, the same as we were Crucified with Christ, and even now live with him, which is the only way this passage in Romans will fit.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
We fell when Adam fell; we rose when Christ rose.
Vv. 12, 18, 19. In the legal since before God, the same as Adam's sin brought death to all men, Christ's righteousness brings justification to his elect. Adam's sin is regarded as our own, as Christ's righteousness is regarded as our own.
V. 18, through the disobedience of one we are accounted as sinners, yet by the obedience of one, we are accounted as just.
The doctrine of imputation:
Adam's sin is imputed to all mankind, the same as Christ's righteousness is imputed to the redeemed. The two must go hand in hand, or we have no gospel.
V. 15, if we die on Adam's account, how much more shall we live on Christ's account?
Vv. 13-17 & 20, 21, can be summed up in short order. The law reveals the width and depth of sin, and its control of us and of the world. Though the results of Adam's sin abound, the grace of God through Christ's righteousness abounds much more. As the song goes, Grace is Greater than all our sins. "Grace, Grace".
This understanding is supported by 6:1.