Question of the Week: What are Progressive, Positional, and Final Sanctification?

Sanctification means to set something aside. Once we have established a proper definition, then the different applications explain themselves. When referring to sanctification in a biblical sense, it can be synonymous with a wide variety of different terms. Baptism, or ceremonial immersion, can be considered a form of sanctification due to the fact that cleansing something with water was a part of dedicating the original priests in their service to God. (Exodus 30:21) This was later demonstrated by Jesus to be the means by which He dedicated Himself to the ministry His Father sent Him to this world to accomplish. (Matthew 3:13-17) Another example of sanctification is the studying of the word of God. (John 17:17-19) Marriage is another. (1 Corinthians 7:14) However, in regards to the question of terms used to describe these various forms of sanctification, the focus is on the form of sanctification known simply as the Christian life.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV)

Progressive Sanctification, Positional Sanctification, and Final Sanctification are all terms used to observe this process by which God has set us aside. This would be synonymous with salvation in the most practical sense. The question is what aspect of salvation each kind of sanctification is focusing on. Progressive Sanctification focuses on the Christian life as a whole, before Heaven but following salvation. Positional Sanctification focuses on God’s perspective of us having received His gift of salvation. And Final Sanctification focuses on the final product salvation through Jesus Christ produces in us. Notice that all of them involve us, our relationship with God, and the fact that we are saved. The only difference between them is the order of attention they all focus on.
Progressive Sanctification: Us – Salvation – God
Positional Sanctification: God – Salvation – Us
Final Sanctification: Salvation – Us – God

Progressive Sanctification is described by the Apostle Peter as the ongoing impact salvation through Jesus Christ has on our lives in a practical sense. It is worth noting that sanctification and salvation aren’t conditions of one another, but the natural result of both lived out in someone’s life. Once that salvation is in place, God’s work in your life will be reflected by these things. In other passages that encourage Christians to test themselves to see if they are in the faith, these are examples of what to look for. It is also key to emphasize that these things aren’t a replacement for salvation, but the impact the Holy Spirit will have on your life once He has been welcomed in. God cleans His fish after He has caught them. It isn’t a self-help manual. It’s an observation of the progress, or heading towards the goal, of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-11 (NKJV)

Positional Sanctification brings the attention away from the Christian living their lives and onto how God views the Christian as a rule. This is the ongoing reality for those who have received and are abiding in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Even though we still struggle and fall into sin, God already sees us in Heaven with Him and righteous on the sole basis of His Son having made us justified before the Father. The Apostle Paul describes that reality in the following way.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:4-10 (NKJV)

Final Sanctification likewise brings the attention away from us in the moment and looks ahead to where we’ll ultimately be. Like Progressive and Positional Sanctification, it focuses on impact salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has on us. Unlike the former two topics, it answers the question what we are progressing towards and how that position will remain the case in Heaven. (Romans 8:29-30) We will be like Jesus. Not in the sense that we will share exclusively divine traits with the Father and Holy Spirit, but like Jesus showed us when He adopted human nature, we will reflect His perfect nature in regards to the reason we were originally created. To enjoy a relationship with Him. (John 8:29)

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV)

All of these different ways of looking at the same topic are completely biblical. Though the words “Progressive, Positional, and Final” aren’t directly associated with Sanctification, they are describing biblical principals that surround this topic. Likewise, in order to have an accurate understanding of sanctification as a whole, all of these things need to be understood.
Without Progressive Sanctification, Positional and Final Sanctification are meaningless to you give the fact that you have no metric to determine whether or not you’re actually benefitting from them. Someone who understands how God sees a saved soul and where they are ultimately headed won’t help them if they have no metric to determine if they are in that position and heading to that final destination.

Without Positional Sanctification, Progressive Sanctification and Final Sanctification are useless to you given the fact that you can be living a Christ-like life and know the end result it will lead to, but it leaves out the fact that God already sees you in that Final state. The consequences of this lack produce exactly what Peter was cautioning people against in his second epistle. The more accurate your perspective of God’s character and ongoing view of you, the more hope you will have as you live out Progressive Sanctification and focus on Final Sanctification.

Without Final Sanctification, you have no reason to pursue Progressive Sanctification or consider Positional Sanctification a benefit if it only applies to this life. If you don’t understand that your positional righteousness is the goal as much as the ongoing reality, then it leads to ideas like believing you could fall back into sin in Heaven and end up the Lucifer of some new world in the future.

In conclusion, Sanctification as a whole is understood biblically through all of these doctrines. Progressive Sanctification describes the Christian life. Positional Sanctification describes God’s view of the Christian. Final Sanctification describes the end result being set apart has on us in an eternal sense. All are needed to have an accurate and complete understanding of your relationship with God.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: Was the Angel in Isaiah 37:36 Jesus?

Theophanies, or appearances of Jesus in the Old Testament, are fairly common. The Angel of the Lord is His most common title. However, the reason we conclude that this Angel of the Lord is Jesus is due to the fact that this Angel, or literally messenger, talks like or is treated in ways that exclusively belong to God alone. The question of whether or not the Angel that wiped out Sennacherib’s army was Jesus entirely depends on whether or not that Angel says or does something that could only be rightly said about the True and Living God. If not, then it is possible that this is merely an agent acting on God’s behalf. In this case, there is merit to either position.

The first possibility is that this is indeed an appearance of Jesus. The biblical support for this view is found in the verses immediately prior to verse 36.

“Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it. By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,’ Says the Lord. ‘For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’ ”
Isaiah 37:33-35 (NKJV)

The Lord is speaking and claims that “I will defend this city.” The plain interpretation and application of the passage makes it entirely appropriate to conclude that it was a literal statement. The Lord personally defended Jerusalem from her enemies. He has done so before and promised He would do so again. Examples of God personally coming to Israel’s defense can be found in Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 28:7, and Revelation 19:11-21.

The only other issue that needs clarification in order for this position to have merit is if destroying those who threaten Israel is something that only God can do. This is the problem. It isn’t an exclusive trait of God. God has used agents to defend Israel’s borders. Human beings like the Judges and Kings (Exodus 17:13), Angels like Michael (Daniel 10:21), and God Himself (Exodus 12:29-30) are all capable of defending Israel from her enemies. This is where the second possibility comes in. God could have sent an unnamed angel to act as His agent in this matter without contradicting verse 35. Jesus Himself declared this prerogative when clarifying to Peter that He didn’t need physical protection from His enemies. The idea of calling 12 legions of angels to defend Him was a legitimate threat if the capabilities of one is clarified in Isaiah.

But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”
Matthew 26:52-54 (NKJV)

What then would be the fine line that would prohibit this angel from being anyone other than Jesus? The other examples of the Angel of the Lord being rightly understood as God Himself were determined when the Angel is treated or speaks in ways only God could be. Joshua encounters the Angel of the Lord and worships Him in Joshua 5:13-15. No ordinary angel would accept worship, and we have direct examples of them prohibiting it when it took place in Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:9.

The conclusion on the matter is simply this. Could the Angel who defended Israel from Assyria in Isaiah have been Jesus? Absolutely. The immediate context allows that conclusion. Could the Angel have been an unnamed spiritual being sent by God to fulfill His word? There is nothing that prohibits that interpretation either. The key takeaway from this passage is understanding how to identify the difference between the Angel of the Lord as God and merely another created being we refer to as an angel. This is not a passage where the line is finely drawn.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: Can we make Jesus’ Second Coming take place sooner by sharing the gospel?

The passage being referred to in this question is found in the third chapter of Peter’s second epistle. The context of the whole statement includes the Second Coming of Christ, but the focus isn’t on that event specifically. In order to properly conclude what we ought to from the passage, let’s read it in its entirety.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:11-14 (NKJV)

To begin a careful unpacking of the passage, first take notice that Peter is using the same language Jesus used to describe the End Times in the Gospels (Matthew 24:43-44). Likewise, the term Day of the Lord comes from the Old Testament prophets when God enacts judgment on the nations(Joel 2:11, Isaiah 2:12, etc). Peter is referencing both to give as broad a picture of the End Times as possible. This is further contextualized by the following verses. The End Times is going to include a lot more than the heat death of the Universe, but will ultimately conclude with that when all things are made new. Before that happens, Peter gives an exhortation for Godly living in this passage in light of that eventual fact. The things in this world won’t last forever, but the things of God will. Therefore, our priorities should be on those things that last. However, Peter isn’t making this point on its own. Leading up to this passage, as well as the verse that brought up the question, Peter clarifies why that Day of the Lord, specifically the day in which the universe (heavens) will be dissolved like Revelation 21:1 describes, is still a very far time off.

But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:7-9 (NKJV)

Before Peter gives his exhortation to hasten the coming of the day of God and live Godly in light of that eventual reality, he clarifies that judgment is only being delayed because of the mercy demonstrated by Jesus Christ. Time is no object for Him. Whether it takes a day or a thousand years. “He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” His priority isn’t the restoration of the Universe, but those He created to live in fellowship with Him in it. These were Jesus’ marching orders to His followers and all those who would come to believe in Him through their testimony.

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:46-48 (NKJV)

This is the job the Holy Spirit will accomplish through us as we present ourselves available to be used by Him to lead people to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ. The question is if the answer was a simple yes, why was there a need for so much context to Peter’s words? Two reasons;
1. To clarify what was actually said.
2. To clarify what wasn’t actually said.

There are two equal and opposite errors people make when they read this passage in 2 Peter. One error is to conclude that the end of the heavens depends on our efforts. That isn’t true. Jesus stated plainly that the Father has placed these things in His own authority. He is not dependent on our efforts to hasten or prolong the length of time between now and the restoration of all Creation. (Acts 1:6-8) The other error is to conclude that Peter is specifically talking about the Rapture or Second Coming of Christ. While those events will be a part of what we refer to as the Last Days, he clarifies exactly what he meant when he refers to the Day of God in the very chapter that mentions it. More context is always clearer than less. The gospel will go out with or without us. We have the honor and privilege of being a part of the process the Holy Spirit is seeing done in calling hearts and minds back to Him before every possible chance has been given and the inevitable end this fallen world is heading towards can no longer be delayed.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

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Question of the Week: What did Jesus mean in Matthew 24:34 when He used the word “generation?”

In order to understand what someone meant when they said something, it’s important to first hear everything they said. It is also equally important not to conclude things that contradict other things that they said. And if this statement is recorded in a book (or series of books) about that person, it should also be taken into consideration where else that word is used in order to properly conclude its intended meaning.

What did Jesus say when He used the word “generation” in Matthew 24:34? First consider the fact that there are 33 verses that lead up to the 34th verse in Matthew 24, as well as 17 that come after it. Second, understand that this statement is made in the middle of Jesus using a parable. The parable of the fig tree to be exact. And third, the verse as a whole makes no sense if read in isolation. What things must take place before this “generation” passes away? It is a statement made in a much broader context that needs to be understood as a whole, rather than a doctrine that is established by a single verse.

The Immediate Context:

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Matthew 24:32-35 (NKJV)

The Whole Context: Matthew 24:3-44
Key Passages:

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:9-14 (NKJV)

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24:21-22 (NKJV)

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 
Matthew 24:29-30 (NKJV)

Hopefully it’s plain to see Jesus is speaking of a time in the future leading up to the parable of the fig tree that is referencing the End Times. The Great Tribulation, Jacob’s Trouble, and many other names are given to this time period. However, in order to properly recognize what “generation” is referring to, we need to first understand what things must be fulfilled before that generation passes away. If the Tribulation hasn’t happened yet, then our understanding of the word “generation” needs to be understood in light of that context lest we come to conclusions that make Jesus out to be mistaken, lying, or unintelligible. It’s fair to give Him the benefit of the doubt in those regards. Especially since this chapter began with a prophecy about Herod’s Temple being destroyed that was fulfilled in 70AD. He has the right to tell us about the future given His track record has been pretty good so far.

What can’t generation mean?
1. It can’t be referring to the generation of people hearing Jesus speak these words. The entirety of Jesus’ audience in the 1st century did not see the second coming of Christ, the Great Tribulation, or the kinds of events Jesus described as leading up to the end on a global scale. Too much of the chapter has to be allegorized a priori to the point Jesus is making, instead of letting Jesus’ point set the standard for what He’s talking about.
2. It can’t be referring to the generation that saw Israel restored as a nation in 1948. While it was certainly a fulfillment of prophecy, reading more prophecies into this event that simply aren’t warranted are how false doctrines start.
3. It can’t be a metric by which we can determine when Jesus will return. He goes out of His way to spend the next 8 verses of the chapter to clarify no man knows the day or the hour of His coming. If Jesus’ next words prevent a possible interpretation of His previous words, that’s our cue to consider other options.

What could generation mean?
1. It could be referring to the Jewish people as a whole. Generation has been used in scripture to describe a particular people living at a specific period of time. However, looking for examples are a non-starter since the rest of the information we have in the chapter don’t allow that kind of interpretation. Jesus isn’t date setting. That is why Generation, or Genea in the original language, is a term that can also be referring to a people as a whole. That interpretation would be appropriate given the fact that we are still seeing its fulfillment to this day. Despite being cut off from any common homeland, Israel has defied all rules of anthropology that determine a culture loses their cultural identity within 5 generations separated from their place of origin. In spite of this, The Jewish people have retained their traditions, history, customs, and everything else expected to be adopted from their surroundings for 2000 years.

If your interpretation of scripture makes Jesus a liar, His next words into nonsense, or contradicts other statements made in the Bible, you need to check your interpretation. If Generation can’t mean what it’s commonly advertised to, then don’t fall in line with the most common error and take the position that makes the most sense. Always follow more context to determine meaning over less.

A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio

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