156 – Sanctification Imperfect in this Life

SANCTIFICATION IMPERFECT IN THIS LIFE

§ 156. While Christ’s obedience imputed to us constitutes a perfect 1 righteousness in the sight of God, our own obedience, or the righteousness inherent in us, must, on account of the residue of sinful flesh still active within us,2 remain imperfect in this life 3—justitia inchoata—, the beginning only 4 of the restitution of the divine image in the regenerate being made in this temporal life.5

1. While Christ’s obedience imputed to us constitutes a perfect…

Cf. § 148, 12. 13. 14.

2. …righteousness in the sight of God, our own obedience, or the righteousness inherent in us, must, on account of the residue of sinful flesh still active within us,

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

Romans 7:21, 23-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (23–25) But I see another law in my members, warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Galatians 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

I John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Romans 6:12, 14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

3. ...remain imperfect in this life

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

I John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

4. …—justitia inchoata—, the beginning only

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

II Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

II Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

5. …of the restitution of the divine image in the regenerate being made in this temporal life.

I John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He Is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.