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Sanctification Has Th r e e T en ses
T here are few subjects in all of the Word of God more important to the present life and experience of a believer than the Biblical doctrine of sanctification. Sanctification is not emotionalism. It is not a “ second blessing.” It is not sinless perfection ism, nor does it suggest an eradica tion of the carnal nature. These false views have all been associated with the doctrine to the point that, in some circles, the word sanctifica tion is looked upon with grave sus picion. In the light of First Corin thians 1:30, First Thessalonians 4:3 and a score of kindred verses, neglect of such a doctrine is most unfortun ate, for Christ is made unto us “ wis dom, and righteousness, and sancti fication, and redemption” ; moreover, “ this is the will of God, even your sanctification.” Neglect .a doctrine such as this and the end will be spiritual malnutrition! Sanctification has a past tense which is generally called positional sanctification. The Scriptures teach that the moment a sinner receives Christ as Saviour he is set apart as a peculiar possession of the Lord. It is in this sense that all believers are called “ saints,” wholly irrespective of their spiritual growth or manner of life. Paul declared of the Corinthians that “ ye are sanctified” in spite of the fact that he had just rebuked them, saying “ ye are yet carnal” (1 Cor. 6:11; 3:3). The wonderful truth is that every Christian, from the weak est babe in Christ to the greatest saint in the Christian family, is separated unto God and clothed with the holi ness as well as the righteousness of Christ. “ For by one offering he [Christ] hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14). This is a fact, not a process. No emotionalism, no “ second work of grace” here. God declares “ we are sanctified” (Heb. 10:10) and for this cause all Christians should walk “ as becometh saints” (Eph. 5:3). Sanctification has a present tense, for even as a child grows to resem ble his parents so the Christian is ex horted to “ grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18) and to be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). This is sanctification in its progressive sense. It is a prog ress toward Christ-likeness which should continue through life. It in volves both a “ putting on” and a “ putting off” (Col. 3:8-12). Nega tively, it is a separation from sin and its defilement, but positively and primarily it is a separation or dedi cation unto God. It is not a slavish attachment to some ecclesiastical list of “ blue laws” headed Thou shalt not, but a life of moment by moment dedication to God — a life of loving the Lord Jesus. While it is true that the better things of Christ will auto matically replace the inferior af fections of the old life, true spiritual ity is the product more of what one does do than of what one does not do. Three things in particular will mark the healthy, growing Christian life which is the objective of pro gressive sanctification: (1) The daily study of the Word of God. Earnest Bible study will keep the Christian from sin to such a degree that, as Moody put it, “ A man cannot pos sibly backslide more than twenty- four hours if he reads his Bible every day” (Psa. 119:9, 11). (2) The daily communion with God in prayer. Prayer is not to change God; it is to change us. When we wait upon the Lord in prayer, we remember our shortcomings and are led to confess our sins. As we pray, we are changed and obstacles in the way of an swered prayer are removed; as we are changed it becomes consistent with God to bless us and answer our peti tions (John 15:7). (3) Daily witness. This does not necessarily consist of preaching a sermon or giving a tes timony in prayer meeting. It does in clude the quiet and effective testi mony of a consistent life, but more than that, it means that the Christian will miss no good opportunity given him by the Lord to “ say a good word for Jesus Christ” (Isa. 50:4). If we know Christ and love Him sincerely, “ we cannot but speak the things CONTINUED ►
I when it is material and spiritual | relief dispensed to suffering H Jews in the name of Christ. This ministry is bearing rich ifruit for eternity.
- ^ ^ P ^ T r EWARDIMGWORK Friends o f Israel Missionary & Relief Society, Inc. 728K Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia 7, Pa.
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