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Carol said: If you mean by the term growing in grace, growing in love, faith, knowledge and commitment to Christ, I can agree with that, but if you mean, as you said in your post, growing in holiness, or gradually attaining higher degrees of holiness, I say, how can that be? How can we contribute to our own holiness?

If what you say is true, Paul was giving some very odd instuctions to Timothy:

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1 Timothy 2 v.6 If you put these things before the brothers, [1] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end wetoil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

This shows it is possible to grow in godliness since Paul commands Timothy to train himself for godliness like an athlete in training.

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Carol said: I do believe we grow in faith, devotion, submission and even obedience to Christ, but I do not read anywhere in the bible of a believer claiming to grow in holiness or sanctification before God.

I think this passage and others that command us to be holy show clearly that this is not a given with Christians. It requires action on our part.

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John 17 v.14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. [1] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

This shows that the the Word of God sanctifies us. That means that as we mature in our faith, we make progress in the faith. The Lord does this work in us but we are not passive. Jesus would not waste his prayer asking the Father to do what He had already done for them.

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Carol said: I believe that when God chose us to eternal life before the world began, we were sanctified
Yes were set apart as holy, but there is also the process of sanctification you are missing.

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Galatians 4 v.19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!


This shows there is room for becoming more Christlike.