Objection 11

From Sovereign Grace and the Scope of Election: A Comparative Examination of Attainment Theology and Grace Theology, with Particular Attention to the Question of Whether God's Elect Are Found Among All Nations and Religions

Hebrews 12:14, 'holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord', proves final salvation is conditioned on attained sanctification.

Answer. The holiness without which none sees the Lord is, first, the imputed and imparted holiness every regenerate person possesses, "by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14); we are "made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Every born-again soul has this holiness; it is not a graduation requirement but a birthmark. The exhortation to "follow" it addresses the visible congregation, urging the family conduct proper to children, a time-salvation exhortation. If the verse meant attained sinless holiness, no man in Scripture would see the Lord, including the apostle of Romans 7.