Ephesians 2:8. As Paul made it clear, salvation is a gift from God, there's nothing we can do to earn it. God's gift is available to everyone, unfortunately, few are accepting His gift. Why not? John 3:16. Because only the ones who believe in Jesus Christ are saved! Again, even the ones who are saved, they are saved by the Grace (Jesus Christ) of God, not by works: 2 Timothy 1:9. Salvation is a process and it includes something called sanctification (holiness): 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The purpose of sanctification is to create in us the Character of Jesus Christ, described by Paul as being the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23. The concept of "cheap salvation" that we have in today's church is not biblical, preachers are offering a "costless" salvation, a salvation that God never offered! Jesus was clear that in order to "be saved" we must count the cost: Luke 14:28; we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him: Luke 9:23; we must lose our lives: Matthew 10:39. That's where sanctification happens, on the cross. The salvation process can take a couple hours, the criminal on the cross: Luke 23:40-43, or it can take hundreds of years, Enoch: Genesis 5:23-24. The criminal on the cross is the perfect example that salvation is only received by faith, by confessing our sins and acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord. Romans 10:9.
Conclusion: Sanctification (holiness) is only attained by the Word of God (Jesus Christ): John 17:17. There is NO salvation without sanctification: Hebrews 12:14.
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