Aineo wrote:Where do you get the idea that Protestants see our relationship with God as a contract? Our relationship with God is a covenant made between God and Jesus Christ. This is similar to what is called the Abrahamic Covenant that God made with Himself.
Protestant theologians may use the term covenant, however, the forensic scheme of justification formulated by Luther and Calvin (imputed righteousness delivered through faith alone) is basically a legal contract.
Aineo wrote:Sanctification has two meanings, one is the work of God that is competed at salvation.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such some of you were. But you are washed: but you are sanctified: but you are justified: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God. DRV
Notice that we are sanctified, not being sanctified.
That passage makes perfect sense to me. I believe it is referring to baptism. At baptism we were washed, and sancified, and that is a past event. However, sanctification does not end there.
Aineo wrote:This is God’s part of the process; our part is an ongoing sanctification in being conformed to the image of Christ.
I would ascribe the ongoing sancification to God as well. It is He who is at work within us, and He who lives within us.
Aineo wrote:I believe the Bible teaches that a man can choose to walk away from his salvation, but once he does that it is impossible to renew this man to repentance:
Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Have moreover tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come,
And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God and making him a mockery. DRV
You only get one bite at the apple and once the gift is returned it is never again offered.
I think there is still hope for those who have fallen back into sin. King David committed murder and adultery, but he repented and was forgiven, though God took the life of his child as punishment.
Aineo wrote:I don’t understand how you or the Roman Catholic Church can teach that mankind is given the opportunity to continue sanctification after death. What is your Biblical justification for purgatory? There is no Biblical justification to believe that men die and are then given the opportunity to perfect themselves before judgment.
Purgatory happens after judgement. We are judged immediately upon death, and our eternal fate is sealed then. However, those who have died in God's friendship but have not yet been fully conformed to the image of Christ must undergo a final purification before they can enter into His presence. He is all holy, and no sin can exist in His house.
Here is an article on the biblical basis for purgatory.
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