Definitions

of

Terms Concerning

Salvation

Sanctification -The divine working within the believer whereby he is "set apart" from sin unto God. There are three aspects of sanctification:

1. Positional sanctification - This occurs at salvation whereby the believer is "set apart" from the world and the penalty of sin.

1Co 6:11 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.

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

1Pe 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.

2. Progressive sanctification - This involves the daily walk of the believer. As he grows in grace, he is "set apart" from the world and becoming more Christ-like as he draws closer to Him.

Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

2Ti 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.

2Pe 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.

3. Perfect sanctification - The sanctification of the believer will be complete at the coming of the Lord. "We will be like Christ."

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Personal Opinion:

All well and good.  What could be nicer.  We are not expected to be perfect at the time of salvation or one second after we make that free will decision to ask Jesus to come into our body.

However, if we are able to see our self in a detached or outside view, we should be aware of a change in direction; subtle or obvious, who can judge?

Again, I have to bring up my doubt as to the use of John 15:1-8 to illustrate the believer's "Growth in Grace".  The whole of John chapter 15 (and chapter 14) is addressed by Jesus to His disciples to whom He says at the end "and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning".

Is there a downside for all believers to read these passages as though they literally apply to them all?

I suspect yes.