1 Jan 1999

What about the sanctification mentioned in Hebrews 12:14?

Submitted by theshovel
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Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

I merely shake my head in disbelief at the way we make proof texts out of verses. I don't say this in condemnation but in pure wonder, because it is how I used to view the Bible as well. I know it seemed so right at one time, and yet now I see how I was so often hanging out on a limb waving my own proof text around as if my understanding of it was the final word. haha!

Consider how this statement is placed near the end of the letter. This sanctification referred to has already been made the highlight of the earlier discussion where the writer claimed:

By this will we HAVE BEEN sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who ARE sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

This sanctification (or made holy or made righteous) is a done deal and is in total contrast to what they had been pursuing, which was a BOGUS law-based sanctification. The writer's whole build-up was to make it so obvious that being made righteous could in no way happen by observing the sacrifices of bulls and goats, but had ALREADY been accomplished by Christ.

To touch on it again at this point in the letter was demanding that the "once and for all" sanctification brought by Christ has EVERYTHING to do with the everyday issues of our lives. Now, notice how the writer clarifies what sanctification he refers to: "the sanctification WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD." Well, it sure couldn't be the old performance-based sanctification they were resorting to because that bogus sanctification had no power over sin. The only possible sanctification he demands is that of the once and for all done deal of Christ.

Now, also notice the connection between peace with all men and this sanctification. This is INCREDIBLY significant! Why? Because there is NO real peace we can have with one another unless it is based upon the peace established by Christ in breaking down the barriers between us.

For I determined to know nothing among you except Christ, and him crucified 1 Corinthians 2:2

This is the same thing referred to by the writer of Hebrews because pursuing this sanctification is the determination to see all things in view of it.

Hope this helps. If you have more questions based on what I just wrote then send them on over. :)

Jim Minker

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Comments

During the regeneration process we are empowered to hate those thing which God hates (delivered (saved) from the love of sin), but if we are saved from the power of sin isn’t that part of the sanctification process? I mean isn’t sanctification a process if one being saved struggles from an addiction or sin of some sort?

Sin is a state of being, as opposed to an act or acts of the flesh. We were taken out of the old Adam and into the Messiah. The process you’re referring to was fulfilled by and through Christ ALREADY. It may APPEAR that one is still “struggling with sin” but in actuality he is freed from it already by having been totally and completely killed and raised as a new being in Christ. The earthly shell remains, with all its addictions and lack of belief and what have you, but the real Self is a freed man; thats who you truly are: Free from whatever you believe binds you. Hope that helps. On a side note, Jim, for some reason the comment section doesn’t allow text at all when I’m logged in, so I have to log out in order to post here. - Justin
theshovel's picture

Good response, my friend Justin.

As to why you can't post while logged in doesn't make any sense. Permissions are set correctly, but I'll check it out after the audio recording session is over. :)

Jim

theshovel's picture

Justin, why don't you try deleting that cookie from theshovel.net again and then try it again.

Jim

It was a problem with my browser I found out. I switched to another browser and it works perfectly.

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