God’s Part & Mine…
The Lutheran View, by Gerhard O. Forde*** A MUST READ ***
This post may be perhaps the most crucial post I have ever done to date because it deals with such incredibly important Bible themes under the umbrella of “salvation”. What’s God’s part in all this? What is my part? What is this “justification” and “sanctification” thing all about anyway? Some may say a lot of big words that mean next to nothing to me and have no connection whatsoever to my life… And so the wrestling match goes and the fog creeps in.
This post highlights an article by Gerhard O. Forde, entitled “The Luther View of Sanctification” from the book Christian Spirituality, Five Views of Sanctification.
The impact of God’s truths presented here have such HUGE consequences on our lives as Christians. HUGE! He asks the very questions orbiting around our minds…and then delivers very useful insights, sort of “out of left field” for us to consider.
Here’s a taste…
This post highlights an article by Gerhard O. Forde, entitled “The Luther View of Sanctification” from the book Christian Spirituality, Five Views of Sanctification.
The impact of God’s truths presented here have such HUGE consequences on our lives as Christians. HUGE! He asks the very questions orbiting around our minds…and then delivers very useful insights, sort of “out of left field” for us to consider.
Here’s a taste…
SANCTIFICATION, IF IT IS TO BE SPOKEN OF AS SOMETHING other than justification is perhaps best defined as the art of getting used to the unconditional justification wrought by the grace of God for Jesus' sake. It is what happens when we are grasped by the fact that God alone justifies. It is being made holy, and as such, it is not our work. It is the work of the Spirit who is called Holy. The fact that it is not our work puts the old Adam/Eve (our old self) to death and calls forth a new being in Christ. It is being saved from the sickness unto death and being called to new life...(entire article)
Enjoy the read...and through it...God! I pray this will change your life!
God is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1Co 1:30,31 (ESV)
Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
1Co 1:30,31 (ESV)
posted by Daddy, Manf and Bean at 10:24 PM
3 Comments:
Danny-O! what's the good word?
Interesting entry, I remember that book. An fyi for ya, you should check out Lee Irons' 3 part series on sanctification at his website:
http://www.upper-register.com/mp3s.html
Scroll down to the "Sanctification" series of mp3 lectures. There's also PDF's based on the notes of each study. I want you to check it out because in the first lecture, he goes over all the major views of sanctification and therein refers to the Lutheran view of sanctification (specifically based on Forde's contribution to the 5 Views book). It's an interesting listen. I agree with Irons' critique that the Lutheran view is as good as far as it goes but it misses out on an essential dynamic in the NT teachings on spirituality. I'd love to hear your feedback. Besides that, his whole series is an edifying listen, very Christ centered approach indeed (in that first lecture he also critiques a certain Reformed approach to sanctification by the Law).
5:19 PM
hey joe,
great to hear from ya. hope you are well.
funny, just started listening to the irons series, "married to another". shall be an interesting listen.
ya, this forde essay was and is again very refreshing for me. i realize not everything can be covered in 20+ pages, but the jist is right on.
check out www.god-centered.com also, its our home 'ship.
peace bro
d
5:29 PM
ah... Married to Another is an excellent series, I've gone through that one a couple of times. Lee has been so good at expositing the scriptures on these issues. Sanctification is indeed a holy mystery of God's Spirit working in us our new life in Christ. So many Christians need to become more clear that sanctification isn't something that we just do - "ok God saved me by grace through faith, now I must do my part" - right off that's starting on the wrong foot.
By contrast, I just love Paul's explanation in Gal. 2:20ff - The "I" that once strived to vindicate self before God has been crucified with Christ, died to the Law, and now it is no longer the "I" who once lived, but Christ that lives in me. So the life "I" now live is lived by faith in the Son of God.
That's why the manifest characteristics of someone being sanctified are called the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of our own efforts.
...
I am doing well... I'm getting married in August! Crazy, huh? God has provided a wonderful girl who is willing to put with me ;) hehe
blessings in Christ,
j
5:54 PM
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