For those that believe the gospel of Jesus there is much admonition in the word of God.  But by the obedience of it, we do not add to the righteousness that is of faith in Jesus, and justifies us before the Father in heaven.

We are sinners, and always will be in this life, sinning continually.  One small sin, could condemn us to hell, before God, that is why we need the righteousness of another, a perfect righteousness to justify us before God, which is the righteousness of Jesus imputed unto us.

Our sanctification, which is never sinless in this life, does not justify us before God or add to the righteousness of faith.  It cannot be added to the completed salvation of God for us in Jesus, who is at the Father's right hand in heaven.

Our salvation is all of God's mercy and grace given to us freely without cost, a gift. a priceless gift,  of the Father Himself to us as sinners.  We are to accept it by faith alone, and when we do we justified before Him.  Faith, Repentance,  regeneratjion are the fruits of believing and resting in God's word to us in Jesus.

But beware, we cannot look to ourselves or others for sinlessness in this life, as we are all sinners, and we will all fail and fall short of what we should be.  Jesus, alone is the Rock of  our Salvation, our Refuge, our, Righteousness, sanctification and redemption before the Father in heaven.   The more we come to know God, the more sin we will see in ourselves.  That is why the Pharisee thought they were so righteous, they did not know God, but looked for righteousness in themselves, to display before others, to receive honor from men, and not God.   They did not realize they were sinners just like everyone else depending on God's mercy and grace to them as sinners.

Let us walk humbly before our fellow men and God, knowing we are only sinners, saved by God's amazing grace in Jesus, and not of works,  

Our life on earth is a walk of faith from start to finish.  We look for a city whose builder and maker is God, the New Jerusalem.  This earth is not our home, and we are pilgrims and strangers here, just passing through this weary land.  Let us keep our hearts and minds on Jesus, and acknowledge Him before others,  and offer thanks and praise for his wonderful mercy and grace given to us freely in Jesus.  

RaynaRenee  

This is what I understand from scripture about sanctification:

First, we are righteous before God by the imputed righteousness of Jesus.  

Romans 3:
21ut now the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, without the lw is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets.
22: Even the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD which is BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST unto all and
upon all them that BELIEVE, for there is no idffference
23: For all lahve sinned, and come short of the glory of God

Also
I Cor. 1:
29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30:  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, wo of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.


In the Book of Hebrews it states:
Hebrews 10:
9: Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.  He taketh away the first, that
he may establish the second.
10: By the which will, we are SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF  
THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE FOR ALL.

Also:
Hebrews 10:
14: For by ONE OFFERING THE HATH PERFECTED FOREVER them that are sanctified.


Can we add any righteousness to the  RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD by our sanctification
in ourselves?  It states that by one offering we are sanctified ONCE FOR ALL.  And
it states that by one offering HE HATH PERFECTED FOREVER THEM ARE ARE SANCTIFIED.


So in Christ we have righteousness before God, which by our sanctification IN OURSELVES,
cannot add to or take away. THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IMPUTED, OR CREDITED, OR RECKONED UNTO OUR ACCOUNT IN HEAVEN, and it can never be taken away, it is forever!!

Read on:
Colossians 2:
9: FOR IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE gODHEAD BODILY
10: And ye are complete in Him, wich is the head of all principality and power:

Read on:
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TREPASSES

Do our so called "good works" add to this righteousness?  No, as Paul states,
Romans 7
19:  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20: Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21: I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Read on:
I John 1:
8:  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9:  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
10:  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  

So what is the answer?  
God does not save us because we are good!  None of us is good.  The scriptures state:

Romans 3:
8: .....both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin:
19:  ....All the world may become guilty before God.

What happened to Israel?
Romans 9:
30: What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness,
have attained to righteousness, even the "RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH"
31: But Israel, which followed after the lw of righteousness, hath not attained to the
law of righteouenss.
32:  Wherefore?  Because they SOUGHT IT NOT BY FAITH,, but as it were by
the WORKS OF THE LAW, For lthey stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33: As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence;
and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.

RaynaRenee



  

Here is the only answer:

We are not saved because we are good, righteous, or sanctified in ourselves.

READ ROMANS 9!!  Here is the end of the road!!

God saves us because of His mercy and grace.  He will have mercy on who He will have
mercy, and He will have compassion on whom He will have compassion.
It is not of him that wills or runs, but of God that shows mercy.

He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy and on whom He  will he hardeneth.

It is God's choice, not man's to be saved!   God  predestines, calls, justifies, and
glorifies whosoever He will.  We are born again, not the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but of God.  Whoever God chooses is born again by the Holy Spirit, so He
can understand spiritual things, as the natural man cannot understand spiritual things.
READ I CORINTHIANS 2: Now man is able to choose God.  Until then we can only choose
evil.  Now we can understand the GOSPEL OF JESUS.

It is plain in:
John 6:
44:  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him;
and I will raise him up at the last day.

Also:
John 6:
65: And he said, Therefore said I wunto you, that no man can come unto me,
except it were given unto him of my Father.

God is sovereign, and whatsoever He desires comes to pass.  

Read:
Ephesians 1:
4:  According as he hath chosen us in Him, before the foundation of the world,
that we should be Holy and without blame before him in love
5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL.
6:  To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein, he hath made us
ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED.
11:  ....WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL.

We are all sinners depending completely on the pure mercy and grace,
and good pleasure of  His will.

May God help us to believe, and rest in His eternal love and care given to us
in Jesus.  Hear the call of God in the true gospel of Jesus to our wicked world.  As John Bunyan
would say, "Come and close with Jesus Christ".  Accept Him
as your only righteousness before God and His judgment.  Listen, and you will hear God's voice in the
gospel to sinners, to come to Him, and drink of the
waters of life freely by faith.  Jesus is God's free gift to our sinful dying world,
and our only hope.

RaynaRenee