tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post3823476646883093054..comments2024-01-20T06:33:12.603-08:00Comments on Created to Give God Glory: The Christian Life Is a Balance of My Work and God Working in MeCreated to Give God Gloryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17298394573836878999noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post-14887418645057300752014-02-20T07:17:20.989-08:002014-02-20T07:17:20.989-08:00You know you will come back with that, the moment ...You know you will come back with that, the moment I have pressed the enter key to send off the comment. I thought of what I will say if indeed that is your reply.<br /><br />Here is the thought: well, in that case, maybe there are NOT few churches where the majority are unjustified, the minority are justified!<br /><br />Anthony Chia, high.expressionshigh.expressions (Anthony Chia)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15796568536820239102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post-5977169915266914432014-02-20T06:22:40.296-08:002014-02-20T06:22:40.296-08:00We slightly different approach to the manner of sa...We slightly different approach to the manner of salvation. I would say that a person who refuses sanctification has never been justified by identifying with Jesus. I see the work of God in me. I see that I cooperate with that work too. I question if anyone can turn away and live a life so far away from God who has truly given his life to the Lord. I know He holds onto me. I know I hold onto Him. I don't really want to find out if I could become an apostate. I have become a new creation. <br />On the other hand, I believe their are many people calling themselves Christians because they have made a superficial commitment to the Lord. They have gone through the rituals of their churches and believe nothing else is ever required. I would say that they were never saved. <br />Anthony, we agree on our observations but only disagree on our motivation. Neither of us would call someone who sets out to live a depraved life a Christian. I say its because they never were Christians; you say its is because they are not continuing in their faith. I really don't think we are all that different.Created to Give God Gloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17298394573836878999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post-76047009674535340472014-02-20T05:25:55.114-08:002014-02-20T05:25:55.114-08:00Cont. From above
What is character? I think peopl...Cont. From above<br /><br />What is character? I think people are wrong to assume character just appeared. Only for God who exists, His character exists; us, men, no, Scripture paints for us character is to be produced or developed - Rom 5:3-4. We got to be honest with ourselves; do you instantly be of a completely transformed character, on being justified? In other words, are you even near to 80% like Jesus, the moment you are justified? How can we say we are out of character, of a character we have not even lived in?<br /><br />When we are talking about the Christian life, it is still not as weighty an issue to agree if a synergistic doctrine should be adopted, but what if the question is "will a justified person who refuses sanctification to the end, get to live eternal life in Heaven?!" The Catholics would say no (as far as my understanding goes), but what about me, and what about you?<br /><br />Anthony Chia, high expressionshigh.expressions (Anthony Chia)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15796568536820239102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4594466655926701168.post-14338452389241168332014-02-20T05:25:09.242-08:002014-02-20T05:25:09.242-08:00While traditionally, we are taught to look at salv...While traditionally, we are taught to look at salvation as comprising justification and sanctification, I have found myself rarely using the word, sanctification. Your article has promoted me to consider afresh why I have been using the word, justification, but not so, the word, sanctification, as much. You of course, know that I talked much about the Christian life journey. I have tended to use many words when the word, sanctification, might have covered it all.<br /><br />After some pondering, I come to this:<br /><br />1. I am from an Anglican Church, and Anglicans are taught along this line: After being justified, a believer embarks on a sanctification journey, where works are key. In other words, we are sanctified into works, and we are being sanctified in works. Sanctification is about being perfected in holiness. We are being set apart for works, and through works, we are being developed of holiness. When we grow and advance in holiness, God would set us apart for even greater works. Justification, goes without saying, is based on faith.<br /><br />2. Then why have I not used the word, sanctification, instead, often using many words to tell about the needs to be engaging in works or good works?! One reason is that I have come to know there are others who, though use the word, sanctification, but they did not understand it the way the Anglicans were taught! For example, those inclined towards Calvinism argue that sanctification is sovereignly done by God to a believer regardless the willingness of the believer; the person has no part, or his free-will has no part, and so, works does NOT feature in Calvinistic sanctification. Actually, many people believe Calvinism as "gospel truth"! I don't think all of the TULIP (5 pillars) of Calvinism is right.<br /><br />3. The overly grace or hypergrace believers community also vehemently defends the same monergistic doctrine of sanctification. The stance is the same - that justification is 100% by grace, nothing to do with anything done or not done by the person, sanctification, too, is 100% by grace! purportedly NOT anything to do with the volition of men! Apparently, it got nothing to do with us, it is all up to the Holy Spirit indwelling us.<br /><br />What is the point of me using the word, sanctification, when it is different thing to different people. I cannot identify with the monergistic view, and so, I tended to use many words to explain the synergistic doctrine of sanctification where we work together with the Holy Spirit for the development of our personal holiness. The overly grace believers would say I am mixing grace with law or works to hold such a view; and to them, to put it nicely, "I am out of step with grace", bluntly, it will be, "I fall from grace!" I don't understand why people cannot see it there in Phil 2:12-13, the synergistic view. Overly grace believers and Calvinistic proponents would rather take this stance of, when incongruency is seen, it is NOT the man doing evil but he is acting outside of his character; in other words, the man is NOT being himself! He is NOT being true to who he is! Isn't this the common excuse you hear when perpetrator of all kind of evil deeds, is caught! <br /><br />Cont...high.expressions (Anthony Chia)https://www.blogger.com/profile/15796568536820239102noreply@blogger.com