PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION?
C. H. Spurgeon made this
statement about the doctrine of progressive sanctification, with which I fully
agree - "I do not admire the term 'progressive sanctification', for it is
unwarranted by Scripture; but it is certain that the Christian does grow in
grace, and though his conflict may be as severe in the last day of his life as
in the first moment of conversion, yet he does advance in grace, and all his
imperfections and his conflicts within cannot prove that he has not made progress."
A believer does not gradually become less sinful and
more holy in the sight of God. Can there be degrees of sin and degrees of
holiness in the sight of God? The very term "holiness" implies
perfection. Anything less than absolute perfection is not holiness, but sin.
The only holiness any fallen man can have is that
holiness which God gives to all believers in Christ; and it is perfect
holiness. God's elect were sanctified in eternal election, when we were set
apart for God and DECLARED TO BE HOLY IN GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE. In time
we were actually perfected and made holy in the eyes of God's law and justice,
by the righteousness and shed blood of Christ as our Substitute. When Christ
died at
While we live in this world we grow in grace and in
the knowledge of Christ. We grow in faith, and in love, and in hope. But we do
not grow in holiness before God. CHRIST IS OUR ONLY HOLINESS BEFORE GOD. So
long as we live in this world our old nature will continue to be nothing but
sinful flesh. It never gets sanctified.