The notion that a person must do
something (penance, rituals, good deeds) in order to gain eternal life has no
basis in Scripture – it is a man-made fabrication, it is misleading, it is
evil.
So a clarification of the
essential nature of biblical salvation and its inseparably related theme of
sanctification is given here in a concise approach.
Biblical salvation requires no
work on the part of man - Christ did it all. Even the act of faith in Christ is
"not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so
that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Having said that, once a person is saved, he is considered sanctified - set apart from his old position of unbelief into union with Christ (John 15:4-7; 17:23, 26). This is known as positional sanctification.
He is set apart now to a new position of service to God: "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10), this is known as present sanctification.
This is what Paul meant when he told the Philippians (2:12) to "work out your salvation." He did not mean for them to work in order to attain salvation, but to work serving the Lord, which is the standard for the believer while present on the earth.
Ultimate sanctification is when the believer is finally in the presence of the Lord, either when death occurs or the Rapture of the Church. (See Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:23)
Unfortunately, many miss out on the blessing of serving the Lord while present on the earth because they have believed and failed to understand that they have been set apart for a higher calling in this life – to serve the living God and have fellowship with Him. They will die and experience ultimate sanctification, but miss out on the associated eternal rewards.
Having said that, once a person is saved, he is considered sanctified - set apart from his old position of unbelief into union with Christ (John 15:4-7; 17:23, 26). This is known as positional sanctification.
He is set apart now to a new position of service to God: "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10), this is known as present sanctification.
This is what Paul meant when he told the Philippians (2:12) to "work out your salvation." He did not mean for them to work in order to attain salvation, but to work serving the Lord, which is the standard for the believer while present on the earth.
Ultimate sanctification is when the believer is finally in the presence of the Lord, either when death occurs or the Rapture of the Church. (See Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:23)
Unfortunately, many miss out on the blessing of serving the Lord while present on the earth because they have believed and failed to understand that they have been set apart for a higher calling in this life – to serve the living God and have fellowship with Him. They will die and experience ultimate sanctification, but miss out on the associated eternal rewards.
Note the two extended Scripture passages bearing on
the doctrine of rewards: 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 and 9:16-27; also the passages on
the various crowns: 1 Cor. 9:25; Phil. 4: 1; 1 Thess. 2:19; 2 Tim. 4:8; James
1:12; 1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 2: 10; 3:11.*