LOOKING TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. 18 No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].
I've been reading up on "Keswick Theology" lately. One very interesting article can be found here... http://www.frontlinemin.org/higherlife.asp.
Labels: Keswick Theology
posted by mark pierson at 10:46 AM
7 Comments:
Referring back to the last posting, I wish to thank Daniel for his explanation about the purpose of the ark. However, he didn't say whether he thought there would have been dinasaurs within the ark.
April 03, 2008 12:06 PM
Lorenzo. I see no reason to exclude dinosaurs from the ark, but I qualify that by saying, I see no good reason to demand that they be there either.
April 03, 2008 1:11 PM
From the middle portion of this article...
When justification is separated from sanctification by a lapse of time, it points to a defective view of faith in Christ. Kenneth Prior sheds light on this error by pointing to the truth. “Justifying faith is identical with sanctifying faith. [Christ] is both our justification and sanctification . . . .”[42]
Scripture keeps justification and sanctification together (1 Corinthians 1:30). Those who are in Christ have both. God’s choice of His people sets in motion God’s purpose for His people; conformity to the image of God’s son (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:4). Scripture asserts that there is a logical connection between the doctrines, “sanctification is the necessary result of justification . . . .”[43]
Sanctification issues forth from God’s work in justification. Those released from sin by an act of divine acquittal will not remain in a state of bondage to sin. Berkhof observes that Christ’s work merits forgiveness of sin’s and eternal life for His own. The benefits of Christ’s meritorious work are applied in a life renewing way by the power of the Holy Spirit. “By doing this, He would render it absolutely certain that believers would consecrate their lives to God. (John 10:16) . . . .”[44]
John MacArthur notes that all those that God justifies He also sanctifies (1 Corinthians 1:2, 6:11). Justification has as its objective sanctification. By dividing Christians into two classes, the “carnal” and the “spiritual,” a false dichotomy is created. This false division allows Christ to be “Savior” for justification but not necessarily “Lord,” for sanctification. False assurance of salvation can be the dangerous byproduct.[45]
Sanctification is separated from justification when it is presented as a “second blessing” to be sought after. When it is viewed as an additional gift of grace, it is not longer seen as belonging to all believers in Christ. In part, this error comes from a misunderstanding of Romans 6-8.
Higher life teachers see Romans 6-8 as expounding the method of sanctification rather than the necessity of sanctification. As a result, those who appropriate the method are “spiritual” and those who do not are “carnal.”[46]
Ultimately a “two-step” system of justification-sanctification is a slight upon the sovereignty and Kingship of Christ. For Christ’s kingly office is evident in His Lordship over men. All those who are redeemed own Him as their Lord and King. They have been transferred into His kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13).
As King, Christ sanctifies His people. He chooses the providences by which they are to be refined and chastised. He subdues their lusts and He subjects their wills to His own. What a dishonor to Christ and danger to the soul to suggest that a Christian may have his Savior be Prophet and Priest, but not King and Lord
April 03, 2008 1:48 PM
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April 03, 2008 2:50 PM
Blue, here is an excellent article on Bible.org about the Weslyan and Keswick models of sanctification...
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=391
April 03, 2008 2:51 PM
Mark,
Good article. The quotes from your comment really presents the truth well.
April 03, 2008 4:34 PM
JD - I saved that article onto my blogroll, under "Keswick Theology". Thanks for sharing it.
Mark
April 04, 2008 1:46 PM
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