Question #1

Is sanctification our responsibility or God's?

First of all, I was puzzled when I read this question because I wasn't entirely sure what "sanctification" meant. So I looked it up via google: and according to gotquestions.org (looked like the most legit option) a Christian's understanding of sanctification is the "practical separation unto God," which I took to mean that we "sanctify" ourselves (as Jesus requested in John 17v16) when we bind ourselves with God and his word and his teaching, making ourselves wholly (and holy) his. If this is the correct idea, the only thing left to do is to figure out what we need to do to latch onto God and remain there. And how do we find that out? Listen to our parents' pastor, the one they've been taking us to since before we could hold memories of anything different? Or just whatever our parents tell us themselves? Or just read the Bible and interpret those guidelines on our own? Is it even our responsibility, or is God supposed to go all the way and complete the work he began in us? (I can't remember the exact verse where we are given this promise, and biblegateway.com sucks at doing its job..)

Personally, it's hard for me to assign God responsibility..you know..considering that he is God and all. Who am I to assign him anything?

But seeing as how God created us and designed this whole thing (at least if you share my current world view) then hasn't he already done his reasonable part?

I know I'm just asking questions rather than answering one, but this is sorta what I do when it comes to God and the world. I'll try.

Simply, I believe that sanctification is our responsibilty, that God is constantly moving and working in and through the world and it is our job to recognize his movements and listen for his voice and receive his guidance and the more we do this, the more connected we become to him and the greater our sanctification. And it doesn't really matter how we do this..whether we receive guidance in this area through our pastor or our parents or the word... but ultimately I believe that the most beneficial and efficient way to know God and to be unified with him is to realize that he is within each of us, that we are already so much like him as we are made in his image, and that he reveals himself to us even in the small things (and that sometimes, the small things make more sense than all the complexities created by religion.)