Matt: some time ago you made the comment that a big problem in the church is people thinking they need to work to keep their salvation by doing good works. I wholeheartedly agree with this, especially as one who lived that for too long. However, when I took a brief look at the Word and some resources to see where this was proclaimed, I was unsuccessful in finding some good solid passages and was overwhelmed with passages full of commands.
Gentlemen and Andrea, I am in need of some verses/passages that describe how our sanctification (our present Christian lives after justification) is grace-based and not independently based on good works. In other words, which Scripture instructs us how to work out our salvation properly? Your comments on said passages would be helpful as well.
Thanks in advance.
7 comments:
Sadly, I don't have time to find a litany of verses, but here are some thoughts. First, I never said that we don't play an active role in our perseverance. In fact, if we do not persevere to the end we will not be saved (Heb. 6:1-8). Still, I do believe that God is the one who sovereignly keeps the elect persevering in Him, such that none who are truly called will ever fall away.
Biblical Support: John 10:1-5, 17:1-12, Rom. 8:1, 28-30, Eph. 1:13, Phil. 1:6.
For me, the most important passage on this topic is Philippians 2:12-13, where Paul tells believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling and then grounds this work in the reality that "it is God who works in you to will and to work for his good pleasure." We are the 'passive' keepers, while God is the 'active' keeper. All the means of grace are just that, God-ordained means that are necessary to accomplish God-ordained ends. In the end, it is God who ultimately accomplishes our justification and our sanctification (Rom. 8:29-30).
Hope this helps!
I almost forgot 1Peter 1:3-9. Imbedded in this verse is the reality that our inheritance is secured in heaven for we who are being kept BY the power of God THROUGH faith!!! This is precious and beautiful.
Thanks Matt. I didn't mean to say that we play no part; I simply wanted to say that we don't maintain a hold on our salvation via works; in other words, we don't begin in the Spirit and then work by human effort (Galatians 3:3). I by no means wanted to excuse good works, for this is our fruit; but rather to discredit self-empowered works.
Similar to your language, Francis Schaeffer talks about an "active passivity" of yielding to God's will.
Also, so that I don't misquote/misinterpret what you meant, here was the quote I was attempting to refer to:
"This person believes that God saved them by grace, but no longer sees the gospel as applicable for them now that they are converted. They try to change themselves into Christlikeness via the spiritual disciplines and though they would never say it, they live as though God's love for them is contingent upon their faithfulness to certain practices. This is nearly as deadly for a person and church as the first problem I mentioned...more to come."
Kurtz, I am not upset at all! Have you found any of these verses helpful for your thinking? I'll let you know soon about this summer!
The verse I posted (Galatians 3:3) has me camping in Galatians. There is a lot that I see, and I'm seeing it differently than I did when I went through that book with my Sunday School class. My big issue with Galatians is Paul's consistent use of various forms of "justified." I'm confused by him writing about what seems to be sanctification (he's writing to Christians who are being told falsely that they need to be "Jewish" via circumcision before they can be Christian; but Paul tells them they are in fact Christians (Galatians 3:3)...so it seems like he is saying that they were previously justified by the Spirit through faith, and need to continue in the Spirit through faith). However, much of his argument uses the word justification, which makes me think that he's referring to the "past salvation" if you will. So I've been reading through that and trying to figure it out.
As for Philippians, that was on my mind; I guess I was looking for something that describes how to work out our salvation. In other words, something that explains HOW we are to do those good works; that explains how God works in us to will and do His good pleasure, so that we do not just try to do good things independently from God. I think it all boils down to understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which makes Galatians a nice book to camp in.
I feel like I'm having a hard time explaining what I'm looking for. I guess I want verses that don't tell WHAT sanctification looks like, but the means through which it is done. That's not a great way to put it, but that's the best I got.
"I guess I want verses that don't tell WHAT sanctification looks like, but the means through which it is done. That's not a great way to put it, but that's the best I got."
I think I understand what you are getting at by the above statement. This is why I think that Phil. 2 and 1Peter 1:3-5 are so important. In these verses it is clear that God's sanctifying work is the means by which we grow. It is through the power of God in the gospel that we are transformed from one degree of glory to another (2Cor. 3). Read 2Cor. 3-4, perhaps this will offer some clarity. In these chapters Paul makes clear that it is through beholding the face of Christ in the gospel that we grow and are sanctified. Therefore, I conclude, that believers are justified and sanctified by faith alone in Jesus Christ, not by works of merit. How do people grow? By continuing to believe the gospel and by believing it more and more!
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