WOW!
All I wanted was some opinions about science fiction.
Did I walk into the wrong room ?
Just goes to show us that none of us is perfect.
I'm new here but not new to internet forums. Lighten up folks, since our characters are the only thing we'll take with us to Heaven, we all better start working on them now.
Alex
Amen, we do it through Bible sanctification, here's how:
Sanctification Worksheet
Although justification occurs at the new birth, the process of sanctification just begins. Along with the new mind and attitude Christ gives us through the Holy Spirit at justification, that new attitude should cause a seeking after God, to live by every word that proceeds from Him. The development of a Godly character is the work of a lifetime.
However, if one dies right after justification, he still is saved, the thief on the cross proves that. Assigning a works-based theology to sanctification simply does not work. In addition, calling obedience to God's requirements "legalism" across the board shows a very faulty understanding of the Bible. Here are the Bible texts that show how the process of sanctification and character development should work:
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which
are sanctified by faith that is in me.
"In the first chapter of Second Peter is presented the progressive work in the Christian life. The whole chapter is a lesson of deep importance. If man, in acquiring the Christian graces, works on the plan of addition, God has pledged Himself to work in his behalf upon the plan of multiplication. "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." The work is laid out before every soul that has acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ by baptism, and has become a receiver of the pledge from the three persons--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (MS 57, 1900)". {6BC 1074.9}
Bible Sanctification2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Does anyone think all these things are added at justification, then the forgiven sinner goes along his merry way with a perfect character? No. Common sense even shows us the truth. What is a babe in Christ?
1Co 3:1 And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for till now you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.
1Co 3:3 For you are yet carnal: for whereas t
Paul here is speaking of new converts, much lacking in character development, that cannot yet understand the meat of the Word. The fruits of the spirit are also closely intertwined with Bible sanctification:
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. We must die to self daily and put on Christ for all this to happen.
Php 2:12 Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
Php 2:13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
It is clear that we cooperate with God in the process of sanctification.
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