At what point does sanctification end, after which one receives this gift of perseverance?
Hi Magenta.
Well, Paul said in 1 Cor 9, written around 53 A.D. (as shown earlier) that he could still be cast away/disqualified.
1 Cor 9:24:
"24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25And everyone who competes for the prize [j]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
Doesn't that suggest that Paul, who surely was already Justified, filled with the Holy Spirit, had evangelized many, written many Epistles, exhorted many Christians, planted many Churches etc etc - had still not received the Grace of Perseverance?
Otherwise, why would he say he could still be cast away? Any thoughts on that? imo, this passage shows
Salvation=Justification or OSAS is not correct.
Salvation=Justification+Sanctification+Perseverance is the Biblical equation imo.
Now, some 15 years later, shortly before he died/was Martyred for Our Lord, St. Paul the Apostle wrote:
2 Tim 4:6 "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."
At this point, he knew he had received the Grace of Perseverance and was going to Heaven. He had run the race, he had kept the Faith, he had fought the Good Fight. Hence, he said, there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness.
As for when the Gift is given, sooner or later it will be given, if we persist in asking God for it. In Our Lord's Prayer, He taught us to Pray, along with asking for our daily bread:
"Do not lead us into temptation/testing, but deliver us from the evil one". When we pray that, we pray to be kept safe from temptation/evil etc and falling into sin. So, as Our Lord said, everyone who asks will receive etc, and told us to pray perseveringly giving the example of the Widow and the Unjust Judge etc, sooner or later, when we pray, we will receive this Gift of Perseverance, and after that, we will never fall away from the Faith, and so we will be Saved.
God Bless.