This teaching by Mike Bradley is both timely and necessary in this dark age in which we find ourselves. I have found Mike’s insights and teaching style to be edifying and insightful by the Holy Ghost and God’s Word. Enjoy this great teaching from a small home family fellowship in Palawan, Republic of the Philippines.
Is Progressive Sanctification True?
By Mike Bradley
This morning’s home church went well. I am so impressed, seeing both my wife and teenage daughter taking notes and with their bible open! Praise the Lord! It’s such a joy to see this kind of attentiveness to the things of God and that we have a shared vision in our home to walk in obedience and holiness before the Lord.
Today’s topic was three-part… “A scriptural response to the Augustinian error of ‘Original Sin’, “Do Genuine Believers Crucify The Flesh Daily?” and “A Scriptural Response to the Error of ‘Progressive Sanctification’.” These three false beliefs have contributed to many professing believers thinking they can continue in sin and still be saved when in fact, they may have never repented from sin to begin with, and thus, were never saved at all.
Any good Christian husband should both teach and demonstrate to his family how to obey God and walk in holiness, so these three false beliefs need to be preemptively dismantled so as to not be obstacles to obedience. But first, let’s define some terms. What is the ‘flesh’? The ‘flesh’ is another term for the acquired (not inherited) ‘sinful nature’ that characterizes all unrepentant, spiritually unregenerate sinners.
Sinful Nature/ Original Sin
Who is willing to contradict God when He describes our pre-born state as….
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works…” (Psalm 139:14 KJV)
We are born with a nature that is worthy of praising God for, a good nature, not an evil nature. It is this good nature which became corrupted when we chose to sin. Even in the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Spirit, the apostle Paul describes mankind as….
(1Co 11:7 KJV) ….the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
The Bible says in….
(Isa 53:6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
We have not been forced by Adam to sin, nor is God responsible for our sinful nature, but we have ‘turned every one to his own way’. Sin is something we have done, not Adam. We are responsible for our choice to sin. Not Adam. Not God. Not Satan. You.
The bible says….
(Ecc 7:29 ESV) See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
Neither Adam nor God can be blamed for men sinning, because it is men themselves who seek out ‘many schemes’, implying sinful acts.
We have brought our sinful nature upon ourselves due to our own choice to disobey God at some time in the past, and we have been in need of deliverance, of salvation, or spiritual rescue from the wrath of God and from sin itself ever since the first time we disobeyed God.
So, we see that our nature was created by God and that it was good. We see that the flesh is a sinful nature that is acquired after our birth which predisposes a person toward rebellion. And rebellion is when we choose to sin, which leads to spiritual death.
(Rom 6:23 KJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Up to this point I’ve used the terms ‘flesh’ as synonymous with a ‘sinful nature’. There are many who believe we have a sinful nature that is inherited (the Augustinian error), while others believe we don’t have a sinful nature at all (sinners in denial). But we know there is a sinful nature that is acquired, not inherited. For example…. (caps mine for emphasis)…
(Eph 2:3 KJV) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and WERE BY NATURE children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
And we see the antithesis of the sinful nature in the ‘divine nature’ that only spiritually regenerate souls have. For example….
(2Peter 1:4 ESV) by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
To be a partaker of the ‘divine nature’ is what a genuinely saved person enjoys, the freedom from the influence of a sinful desire.
(Jas 3:9 KJV) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
The word “similitude’ means ‘likeness’. So, far removed from the time of Adam, we see that God still creates us in His likeness. Since God is not sinful, it follows that contrary to Calvinists led by the 4th century heretic Augustine, God does not create us as sinful beings.
Notably, all three verses use the same Greek word for “nature”, which is
φύσις
phusis
‘foosis’
This word for ‘nature’ has a primary meaning of ‘lineal descent’, but is also used figuratively to mean a ‘disposition’. The latter meaning is preferred here.
Since we do not inherit a divine nature through physical inheritance, it follows that we also do not inherit sin through physical inheritance.
Now people will sometimes say, “oh, but the bible says we were brought forth in sin!”….No, it doesn’t.
(Psa 51:5) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:5 is clearly saying that David was conceived in sin, not that he was born sinful.
The bible also says….
(Psa 53:3 KJV) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Gone back? From what? If they became altogether filthy, what were they before?
The bible say’s man’s heart is evil from his youth (not his birth). Caps mine for emphasis.
(Gen 8:21) And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil FROM HIS YOUTH; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
(Jer 22:21 KJV) I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner FROM THY YOUTH, that thou obeyedst not my voice.
(Jer 32:30 KJV) For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me FROM THEIR YOUTH: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.
Our ‘youth’ is not when we were born. It’s the time after we are born. It’s a time when we first disobeyed God and felt shame or guilt for it. A baby doesn’t have that capacity. Children do not acquire a sinful nature until they comprehend accountability for their actions.
Perhaps I will go into more detail on additional refutations of the false doctrine of “original sin” in the future, but for now, we will return to the main point of the study.
WHY WOULD GENUINE BELIEVERS CRUCIFY THE FLESH?
Crucifying the flesh was supposed to have already happened.
(Gal 5:24 KJV) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
‘Have crucified’….past tense. It already happened…or should have happened. And how can you be Christ’s if you repeatedly crucify the flesh? The Spirit-inspired word says of the believer…
(Rom 6:14 KJV) For sin shall not have dominion over you….
If you’re repeatedly crucifying the flesh, then you’re still under the dominion of sin. Obviously, some have been delivered from the power of darkness…Others have not.
(Col 1:13 KJV) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
If Jesus has delivered you from the power of darkness, why are you still crucifying the flesh daily? According to the bible, our ‘old self’ was crucified a long time ago.
(Rom 6:6 KJV) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Anyone who claims to have died with Christ should also be declaring they are set free from sin, because that is one of the reasons Jesus died on the cross.
(Rom 6:7 KJV) For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Again, past tense. The believer ‘has been’ set free from sin It does not repeatedly happen because it was supposed to have already happened. If you’re still crucifying the flesh, then it was never killed. Thus, you haven’t been set free from sin.
The bible says….
(Rom 8:6 KJV) “For to be carnally minded is death.” And…
(Rom 8:13 KJV) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
If you’re crucifying the flesh daily, it’s apparent that you’re in the flesh daily, and thus, still spiritually dead. How can you claim to be Christ’s if you’re spiritually dead every day? p
According to the author of Hebrews, your sins were purged already.
(Heb 1:3 ESV) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
If your sins have been purged already, why are you still crucifying them as if you still have them?
Speaking to the Corinthian believers, apostle Paul says….
(1 Corinthians 6:11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
They already were sanctified. It already happened.
This is the predicament that believers in the modern ‘churchy’ church are in. They claim to ‘crucify the flesh’ daily, but are unaware that their sins should have been purged in a one-time occurrence when they first repented…..if they repented. Their criteria for being ‘Christ’s’ is not the word of God in its entirety, but ‘faith alone’. The problem is, the word of God demands more than just ‘faith alone’.
What must a professing ‘Christian’ who has either not repented, is disobedient and otherwise still walking in sin do? Under the inspiration of the Spirit, the apostle Paul says…
(Rom 13:12 KJV) The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
(Rom 13:13 KJV) Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
(Rom 13:14 KJV) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
The bible is teaching that to mortify the deeds of the flesh, we must ‘walk properly’. What is ‘walking properly’? To walk as Jesus walked. In obedience. An unregenerate, unsaved person doesn’t walk as Jesus walked, but a repentant, saved from sin and born again believer does.
The bible here also says to ‘Put on’ the Lord Jesus Christ ‘ and ‘make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires’. In other words, stop sinning.
(1Jn 1:5 KJV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Jesus said…
(Joh 8:12 KJV) ….”I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
If you repent from sin (turn away from sin), follow Jesus (which is to obey Him) and abide in Him with an enduring faith, your way will be lighted. You will not stumble because you will see where you’re going. If your eyes are open, and you’re spiritually born again, you’ll see the kingdom of God and will by the grace of God, be able to avoid sin and ultimately, overcome the world.
So instead of sinning daily and then crucifying the flesh daily, repent from sin and follow Jesus. If you do this, you won’t have to make excuses like ‘God is still working on me’ or ‘I just need to crucify the flesh daily!’.
AGAINST PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION
I then prepared my family to respond to the error of ‘progressive sanctification’ with the word of God. Progressive sanctification is the belief that one’s cleansing of sins is an ongoing work that happens as one repeatedly sins, confesses and (supposedly) repents over and over. Finally, at some time in the future (never soon) a breakthrough is supposed to happen and they finally become ‘sanctified’ or in some cases, they believe God finishes the work after they die. This is completely against what the bible teaches.
Jesus died to save us from sin itself. We died with Him through faith and we were raised with Him as well, in newness and purity in heart, having been purged of sins and sanctified. To believe that our sanctification is incomplete at the time we first believe on Jesus implies that His work on the cross was insufficient. God forbid such a belief! But what does the bible say?
(Act 20:32) And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among ALL OF THEM WHICH ARE SANCTIFIED.
“All them which are sanctified” are genuine believers, sanctified in the present tense. They are sanctified in their nature. It’s already happened.
(Act 26:18 KJV) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Jesus is speaking here, explaining to Paul the reason for sending him to the Gentile people (the non-Jewish nations), clearly indicating that it is faith in Jesus that sanctifies a person, not a life-long process of repeatedly sinning, confessing and repenting….sinning, confessing and repenting etc etc.
(1 Cor 1:2 KJV) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
There are some at Corinth who were not sanctified, as evidenced by Paul’s correcting the Corinthians of sexual immorality, false tongues and other spiritual abuses going on in that church. And there were some who “ARE” sanctified.
(1 Cor 6:11 KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye ARE SANCTIFIED, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Again, some WERE unsanctified, still doing the kingdom prohibiting sins mentioned in 1 Cor 6:9-10, but at the time Paul was penning this letter, they “ARE” sanctified, present tense. Their present state as some who are genuine believers is a state of being sanctified already.
(Heb 2:11 KJV) For both he that sanctifieth and they who ARE SANCTIFIED are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
There is Jesus who sanctifies, and there are those ‘brethren’, genuine believers, who “ARE SANCTIFIED”, present tense.
(Heb 10:10 KJV) By the which will we ARE SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Again, present tense, indicating their present state.
(Heb 10:14 KJV) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that ARE SANCTIFIED.
Again, present tense, indicating one’s present condition of being in a sanctified state.
(Jude 1:1 KJV) Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
The ‘called’ are also the sanctified, present tense, indicating their present sanctified state. For them, it’s already happened. There is no further sanctification. They’ve already believed in Jesus’ work on the cross, which through their faith evidenced by deeds worthy of repentance, sanctifies them.
Thanks for making it this far, if you did. May the grace of God be with you.
(Tit 2:11) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
(Tit 2:12) training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
For those who know they are unsaved, unsanctified and still a slave to sin and on the way to hell fire, I would encourage you to repent from all sin. If you’re sincere, you will, and you’ll be blessed for it. And cry out to Jesus, beg Him to forgive you. If you’re sincere, He will. Then, know Jesus by following Him in an enduring, obedient faith.
Closing Thoughts by Br. John McGlone
In reading Mike’s teaching about the false concept of ‘progressive’ sanctification, what we are really trying to understand is progressive maturation. With the thought of maturation in place. my next thought is what about progressive reprobation?
What is Progressive Maturation?
Progressive maturation comes with the study of God’s Word, sincerely seeking to live holy, rejecting bad doctrines, good/bad spiritual experiences, etc. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of God’s will for our life we adjust our thinking and behaviors based upon our personal convictions that the Holy Ghost gives us personally.
Some examples of progressive maturation in my own life are: 1. stopping smoking about a week after I became a believer. When I was convicted about this I was doing a Bible study while puffing on a cigarette. 2. Another is speeding about 5 mph over the limit as my practice for almost 20 years as a Christian. A brother mentioned to me why wouldn’t I obey that ordinance of man, and the Holy Ghost convicted me. I have not been perfect in this but every time I catch myself I bring my speed back in line with the posted limit. I don’t condemn others about this, but will openly discuss my convictions. 3. My bad thinking that, “…love covers a multitude of sin.” meant that I could ignore what I believe is sin in another brother’s life. I matured and realized that I must deal with those kind of uncomfortable situations and that if the person repents then that love to warn them has covered the sin. Ignoring sin in our life or anyone else’s is to allow and bring greater destruction in the person’s life.
What is Progressive Reprobation?
This is a very important concept that I hope to do a fuller teaching later, Lord willing. Every converted, born again of the Holy Spirit believer on the planet are under what I term ‘probation’. What I mean by that is that we were former criminals(sinners), that have come to the court of the Ancient of Days in our spirit, made a confession of our crimes, and asked to be forgiven, and then trusted the Lamb of God to wash us clean. He then probated or set aside our record of crimes by passing over them through the propitiation of the blood of Jesus Christ. This began our faith walk. Now, while we journey down this narrow and difficult path which leads to life we begin to do our former criminal activity, we grieve the Mediator and the Holy Ghost by which we had been saved from our sins. As they distance themselves from our unholiness, they are still desiring to bring conviction of the leaven that has begun to permeate our life. Sin brings forth death!