Paul wrote, “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:12–13). Most translations say something like, “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body.” That is, it’s hard to tell the verb tense there. But the NASB makes it clear this is a continuous present tense—“putting to death.” It is present active indicative—an ongoing, continuous action. We don’t stop.
That’s an interesting idea. It says that our sanctification is an ongoing, continuous putting to death the deeds of the flesh. But that collides with a lot of other views.
For instance, one popular view is the classic “Let go and let God” approach. We don’t do anything. We just “let God work.” Relax. Be happy. This view may feel spiritually exciting, but it doesn’t fit the text. We’re to be executioners of the flesh in our lives at all times. It’s a whole new take on “no rest for the wicked.” So we’re to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Php 2:12) with the certainty that “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Php 2:13). Yes, He’s working—but so are we.
Another view many prefer is the concept of some sudden event that makes us perfect—something like a “baptism of the Spirit” as a post-conversion experience that suddenly changes you and now you’re all set. That doesn’t fit the term. We don’t stop this side of heaven. As long as we’re alive, we are to be putting to death the deeds of the flesh.
There is Quietism, which suggests we’re to be entirely passive, and Higher Life theology, where we “ascend to a higher plane.” There is holiness by rules, or knowledge, or positive thinking. Some are aware of the dangers of “easy believism,” but there is real danger in “easy sanctification,” too.
Sanctification is not passive, instantaneous, emotional, environmental, intellectual, or sacramental. It is ongoing, continuous, Spirit empowered warfare against the flesh. If we forget that, we put ourselves at risk.
This idea of a constant war aligns with what we were talking about earlier in Romans 7. Even Paul, arguably one of the most righteous examples we have, struggled with sin well after justification.
ReplyDeleteOn the "no rest for the wicked", I have to wonder if it is not a whole new take on it, but a reclaiming. The World likes to take our phrases and distort them to man something completely profane. It certainly sounds like something early Puritans would have said about daily life.
On the one hand, the Christian is “all set” in one sense--as it concerns his/her future eternal destination--and we do not complete any work to insure our salvation. On the other hand, however, we have much work to do--some of us much more than others!--as we seek to be conformed to the image of our Savior. This will never end, as you say, since we are far from that perfect standard ever before us.
ReplyDeleteI think some of those alternate methodologies you mentioned sound interesting … if they worked! When I think them through, however, I don’t see how they would make any true difference in one’s life in the area of mortification of sin. Those methods are not drawing on the Holy Spirit, who knows true holiness, but use misguided avenues to pursue mere moral reformation or just a spiritual high. As you say, there is no “easy sanctification”--at least not one truly wrought by the Spirit of God on an abject sinner such as I.