How can we determine which of the two messages on salvation and sanctification is biblically sound? – Section two

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COMPARING AND CONTRASTING THE TWO DIFFERENT SALVATION AND SANCTIFICATION MESSAGES—SECTION TWO

Below are more verses used to support a church’s theology on the relationship between salvation and sanctification. There are many more than I would have thought of. As we’ll see, depending on how we’re taught will determine what we believe. And that’s true for any doctrine topic.

Let’s begin by turning our Bibles into the book of Philippians.



SALVATION CAN BE LOST—Whose End Is Destruction

Philippians 3:17-21

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. NASB

The Apostle Paul was instructing the brethren to follow his example (be fellow imitators in the things of Christ, pursuing after Christlikeness) and observe (to fix their attention on) those, like Paul, who set the pattern (a righteous example). Then he makes this shocking statement about some of the believers.

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, NASB

Many walk (live) as the enemies (by allegedly aligning themselves with Judaizing teachers who wish to incorporate [circumcision and other ordinances of the Law] with the Gospel73) and the doctrines of the cross of Christ.

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. NASB

Furthermore, he gives three specific reasons why they’re characterized as such.

Because:

●Their god is their appetite (they worship their appetites, sexual gratifications, and self-indulgences); they live not in any reference to eternity74)

●Their glory is in their shame (they not only sinned but boasted of it and gloried in that of which they ought to have been ashamed75)

●They set their minds on earthly things (their whole study and attention are taken up with earthly matters; their attention is directed to honor, gain, or pleasure, and their chief anxiety is that they may secure these objects76; they are only thinking about doing what people of this world do77).



Then he says these believers are those whose end (inevitable outcome; fixed doom) is destruction (ruination by separation from the presence of God in eternal judgment78).



SALVATION IS IRREVOCABLE—Whose End Is Destruction

Philippians 3:17-21

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. NASB

The Apostle Paul was instructing the brethren to follow his example (be fellow imitators in the things of Christ, pursuing after Christlikeness) and observe (to fix their attention on) those, like Paul, who set a pattern (a righteous example). Then he makes this shocking statement about some of the other believers.

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, NASB

Many walk (live) as the enemies (by allegedly aligning themselves with Judaizing teachers who wish to incorporate [circumcision and other ordinances of the Law] with the Gospel79) and the doctrines of the cross of Christ.



19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. NASB

Furthermore, he gives three specific reasons why they are characterized as such.

Because:

●Their god is their appetite (they worship their appetites, sexual gratifications, and self-indulgences); they live not in any reference to eternity80)

●Their glory is in their shame (they not only sinned but boasted of it and gloried in that of which they ought to have been ashamed81)

●They set their minds on earthly things (their whole study and attention are taken up with earthly matters; their attention is directed to honor, gain, or pleasure, and their chief anxiety is that they may secure these objects82; they are only thinking about doing what people of this world do83).



Then he says that these believers are those whose end (inevitable outcome) is destruction (ruin). The word destruction is a Greek noun (apooleia derived from apollumi). What I found out was that the information about this word is limited. So, another avenue needed to be taken. Excuse me for the minutia.

I decided to use a concordance and find out where and how many times this word was found in the New Testament Scriptures, excluding the four gospels. It occurred eleven times. In order to find a close meaning, I needed to determine two things. What other references were derived from the same Greek word? Second, were the people to whom this word applies similarly in context, meaning that they were unlearned and followed teachers who were leading them astray?

There are three other references that use the same noun in Greek and are derived from the same Greek word. Of these, one Scripture seems to address people of a similar profile. This verse is found in the book of 2 Peter.

2 Peter 3:16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. NASB

The Apostle Peter was talking about some of the teachings of the Apostle Paul, stating that certain of them are hard to understand (used of writings that are difficult to interpret84). Because of such, some believers who are untaught (of people who have not received sufficient instruction in the interpretation of [Scripture], and who are therefore prone to error85)and unstable (believers who have been misled [by false] teachers86) distort (they apply those portions of the Bible to a purpose for which they were never intended87; the act of distorting or misinterpreting the Scriptures through faulty methods of interpretation88; who, in perplexing texts, instead of comparing them with other Scriptures, waiting until God, by His [Spirit,] make them plain, hastily adopt distorted views89) to their own destruction (their own destruction of themselves90; is met with God's judgment91—divine discipline).

Where I’d like us to turn next is the book of 2 Timothy.



SALVATION CAN BE LOST—If We Deny Him, He Also Will Deny Us

Suggested Reading: 2 Timothy 2:10-14

10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. NASB

The Apostle Paul was writing to Timothy, reminding him that whatever difficulties or afflictions might come his way, he (Paul) will endure (put up with) all things for the sake of those who are chosen, i.e., for those who God knows will respond to the gospel when it is presented to them.

11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; NASB

Then, Paul introduces four if/then clauses that deal with some spiritual conditions that pertain to Christians and the stated result. Only three will be addressed in this section.

If they are dead with Christ (of the believer’s identification with Christ in His death and resurrection when He died on the Cross and was raised from the dead92), they should also live (be in fellowship) with Him.

12a If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; NASB

If we endure (persevere in and under trials and hold to one’s faith in Christ93), we’ll also reign (participate) with him in His future rule as king.

12b If we deny Him, He also will deny us; NASB

If we deny Him (the act of repudiating or disowning Christ in the midst of persecution and suffering94; to deny with the mouth, deed, or silence), he also will deny (will not acknowledge us as his own95) us.



SALVATION IS IRREVOCABLE—If We Deny Him, He Also Will Deny Us

Suggested Reading: 2 Timothy 2:10-14

10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. NASB

The Apostle Paul was writing to Timothy, reminding him that whatever difficulties or afflictions might come his way, he will endure (put up with) all things for the sake of those who are chosen, i.e., for those who God knows will respond to the gospel when it is presented to them.

11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; NASB

Then, Paul introduces four if/then clauses that deal with some spiritual conditions that pertain to Christians and the stated result.

If they are dead with Christ (of the believer’s identification with Christ in His death and resurrection when He died on the Cross and was raised from the dead96); they should also live (be in fellowship) with Him.

12a If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; NASB

If we endure (persevere in and under trials and hold to one’s faith in Christ97), we’ll also reign with Him.

Romans 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. NASB

A different idea as to what the word reign could refer to is found in the book of Romans. This means a reigning over self—an ability to subdue personal passions; a power which comes from the “abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness” that are mentioned and which are possessed only by the [redeemed] through Jesus Christ.98

12b If we deny Him, He also will deny us; NASB

If we deny him, he also will deny (that he knows) us experientially (intimate communion and fellowship).

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him NASB

Based on what we determined from the beginning of this verse, the believer’s denial by Christ could be representative of what’s being conveyed in this verse. The words renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One mean a new character in the course of formation by knowing oneself in the light of God. Believers can deny Christ by choosing not to learn about, memorize, and apply the new truths about who they are in Christ. This is a process known as sanctification. As a result, Christ denies us in terms of intimacy and not our eternal standing.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself. NASB

If we are faithless (of a true child of God who nevertheless proves unfaithful99), He remains faithful (true children of God cannot become something other than children, even when disobedient and weak; Christ’s faithfulness to Christians is not contingent on their faithfulness to Him100). He cannot deny (disown) Himself.

Where I’d like us to turn in our Bibles next is the book of Hebrews.



SALVATION CAN BE LOST—Unto All Them That Obey Him

Hebrews 5:7-9

7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. NASB

Jesus, during the time that He lived on the Earth, i.e., His incarnation, offered up prayers (petitions from a sense of need) and supplications (petitions for divine help or protection) with loud crying (the intensity of the [voice,] which is referred to when it is raised by an agony of suffering101) and tears unto the Father who was able to save Him from death (the dread of death on the spot by the intensity of his sufferings and by the power of the tempter, or it might be the dread of the approaching death on the cross102) presumably while He was residing in the Garden of Gethsemane.

8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. NASB

Being God’s Son, He learned (experimentally and practically) obedience (do what God the Father told Him to do) from His sufferings.

9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, NASB

And having been made perfect (having obtained the goal: having died and risen again), He became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey (this kind of salvation is explicitly contingent on obedience and indeed on [obedience modeled after that of Jesus,] who also suffered103; it is not merely [believers but obedient believers] that shall be finally saved104) Him.



SALVATION IS IRREVOCABLE—Unto All Them That Obey Him

Hebrews 5:7-9

7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. NASB

Jesus, during the time that He lived on the Earth, i.e., His incarnation, offered up prayers (petitions from a sense of need) and supplications (petitions for divine help or protection) with loud crying (the intensity of the voice which is referred to when it is raised by an agony of suffering105) and tears unto the Father who was able to save Him from death (the dread of death on the spot by the intensity of his sufferings and by the power of the tempter, or it might be the dread of the approaching death on the cross106), presumably while He was residing in the Garden of Gethsemane.

8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. NASB

Being God’s Son, He learned (experimentally and practically) obedience (the special course of submission107) through His sufferings.

9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, NASB

And having been made perfect (having obtained the goal: having died and risen again), He became the source of eternal salvation (the one who causes people to be saved forever108) to all those who obey him (of those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ109).

Here are some verses that support this perspective.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, NASB

The Apostle Paul was talking about a future judgment on those who do not know God (unbelievers). Then he says what it is that caused them to be in their unspiritual condition, which is that they did not obey (trust) the gospel; i.e., they refused to accept the good news when it was presented to them.

Well, quite a study. I hope you’re enjoying it. Depending on what church you attend and their perspective on salvation/sanctification, it will indicate their stance on this relationship and how you will perceive yourself in this regard. We have one more chapter that will continue to compare and contrast verses of Scripture about the definitions and relationships of salvation and sanctification.

But before we do, I’d like to leave you with an article posted on reddit.com about a Christian who’s overwhelmed by doctrinal differences in the church. I wonder how many Christians share his sentiment. By the way, he mentions a PCA church, which I believe means a Presbyterian Church in America. Enjoy.



OVERWHELMED BY DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES IN THE CHURCH

Hello,

[Recently,] I’ve been feeling quite overwhelmed by doctrinal differences between Christians. I wanted to ask you guys for some input.

As a child, my family was in a church [that] was quite charismatic and had very little emphasis on solid biblical teaching. My family stopped attending church after our family moved, and I did not attend church for most of my [middle school and high school] years. It wasn’t until I started university that my faith really came alive through a nondenominational campus ministry. I started attending church again apart from my [family] and have moved churches once since then. My university friends in this campus ministry still make up my primary faith [community,] though.

Over the past few years, I’ve started to learn more about theology. First, it was a better understanding of what Calvinist and Arminian soteriology actually are. Next, it was the difference between covenant theology and dispensationalism, which explained a lot of the discomfort I had been feeling in [regard] to sermons on modern Israel and prompted me to leave the church I was attending at the time. I currently attend a PCA church and have slowly become convinced of most of my church’s perspectives. One of the staff members at this campus ministry also attends my church and has been a huge influence through this process.

I feel like the more I learn about theology, the more overwhelmed I become. It confuses me when I see a church teaching something [that] seems clearly contradictory to what is in the Bible. I have a hard time accepting the fact that the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches even exist at all anymore. It seems unfathomable that they could continue to read the same Bible as us and remain in such serious doctrinal error.

If people reading the Bible cannot come to an agreement on these controversial topics, it makes me feel like I cannot trust my own interpretation of [Scripture, and I have no metric by which to determine whose] interpretation to trust except by what seems to make the most sense. Places like r/Christianity are such an overwhelmingly bad witness to people asking simple questions that it makes me feel embarrassed to even call myself a Christian. I often imagine myself in the situation of answering someone’s question on what I believe and being forced to admit that most people who call themselves [Christians] disagree on a significant amount of issues.

I know that, for the most part, Protestant Christians agree on the fundamentals of the [gospel,] but the differences between churches still seem glaring. On issues such as the role of women in the church, the relationship between [Israel and the church, the] nature of salvation, and the timeline and nature of creation, there is no person I know personally who holds exactly the same combination of perspectives as I do. It makes me feel deeply uncomfortable when I discover that someone I respect has a different perspective than me on one of these issues.

I also struggle a lot with the idea of biblical inerrancy. I have no issues with the idea that the Bible is correct in all the matters it means to speak on, but I feel like it takes a lot of twisting of definitions to say that the Bible contains no factual errors in it. This makes me deeply uncomfortable because the churches [that] teach theology fairly close to what I believe all believe that the Bible is inerrant.

I do not want to fall into idolatry and worship theology over the simple worship of [God;] I don’t want to judge people for disagreeing with me, and I am desperate to feel some peace about what can really be known about God. I don’t know how to strike [a] balance between these things.

[What] do you guys think about these issues? Do you have any advice for a [young,] immature Christian in my situation?110



Endnotes

73Adam Clarke’s Commentary.

74Adam Clarke's Commentary.

75Matthew Henry’s Commentary Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 16 December 2024

˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

76Barnes’ Notes.

77UBS New Testament Handbook Series.

78Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament.

79Adam Clarke’s Commentary.

80Adam Clarke's Commentary.

81Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

82Barnes’ Notes.

83UBS New Testament Handbook Series.

84UBS New Testament.

85UBS New Testament.

86UBS New Testament.

87Barnes’ Notes.

88UBS New Testament.

89Jamieson, Faucet, and Brown Commentary.

90The Pulpit Commentary.

91Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament.

92Weust’s Word Studies.

93Weust’s Word Studies.

94UBS New Testament Handbook Series.

95Vincent’s New Testament Word Studies.

96Weust’s Word Studies.

97Weust’s Word Studies.

98The Pulpit Commentary.

99The Bible Exposition Commentary/New Testament.

100The Bible Exposition Commentary/New Testament.

101Barnes’ Notes.

102Barnes’ Notes.

103Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament.

104Adam Clarke’s Commentary.

105Barnes’ Notes.

106Barnes’ Notes.

107Vincent’s New Testament Word Studies.

108UBS New Testament Handbook Series.

109The Bible Exposition Commentary/New Testament.

110r/reformed. “Overwhelmed by Doctrinal Differences in the Church,” reddit 1 January 2025

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