Lutherans who are WAY smarter than I am

Over at Pastor Paul McCain's Cyberbrethren blog, there is a discussion going on about antinomianism and sanctification by the Holy Spirit. Regarding the latter, Pastor Bill Cwirla says this:

"It [sanctification by the Holy Spirit] means that God has begun the transformation of the old man in Adam into the new man in Christ, which is now whole and entire by imputation but becomes wholly our own by our death and resurrection. We are becoming what we already are in Christ. Sin ultimately ceases when we die, and the old Adam dies daily by the Holy Spirit working through Baptism, "beginning and growing here on earth and perfecting it beyond, as St. Paul teaches (Rm 6- 7)."

I find this so comforting. God Himself is seeing to my sanctification, just as He saw to my salvation. While I am in this body, I WILL struggle with sin because I have not yet been made perfect. But this is no excuse to throw up my hands and say, "Well there's no point in even trying then! Might as well give myself over to sin." No, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I have the ability - weak thought it may be - to resist the temptation to sin. On the other hand, I may not go over the edge into legalism, viewing my sanctification as "proof" that I'm "really" a Christian. I am really a Christian because God made me so in my baptism; and He is perfecting me in this life according to His good pleasure.