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Sanctification is unavailable, but you can change that!

The holy has been defined existentially and sociologically, and churches too often allow their expectations regarding holiness to be prompted by existential aspirations or the social mores of the Christian community. Perhaps it is not surprising that many view holiness as accidental or expendable, even as a legalistic and conformist posture opposed to the freedom of the gospel. But sanctification...

spoke of the divine “work in you” (enarxamenos en humin) which has been observed and noted and which can be trusted to continue to the very end. For this same reason, the crescendo of Paul’s exposition can take the form of saying “stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved” (4:1). That they are told to “stand firm” is no surprise, for enduring action has been a constant theme. And that they are called the “beloved” of Paul, indeed, “my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,”
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