The Believer's Twofold Relationship with God

Introduction: 
  • The puzzle: The bible describes the believer as "clean" (John 15:3) and yet he is to "cleanse himself" (II Cor. 7:1), as "holy" (Eph. 1:4) and yet he is to "be holy" (I Pet. 1:15). How can we explain this seeming enigma?
  • The answer: All believers have a twofold relationship with God -- salvation and sanctification
    1. The salvation relationship is the believer's standing before God. It is a perfect relationship. The believer is "complete" in Christ.
      And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality an power. col. 2:10
    2. The sanctification relationship is the believer's state before God. It is always in the process of development. The believer is exhorted to "grow."
      As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. I Pet. 2:2
Text: 
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