June, 1941
T H E K I N G ’ S ‘ B U S I N E S S
218
f The Basis of Progressive Sanctification
By RUTH PAXSON
t
D IVIDING men by their relation ship to it, the Cross of Christ splits all mankind between the Satan, the world, and the flesh, as con trasted with that of Christ, the Church, and the Spirit. Thè soul that has trusted Christ for salvation has passed from Satan’s do minion into the sphere of Christ by the atoning blood of Christ, and this be liever occupies a new position wherein he is sanctified—wholly "set apart”—in God’s sight, positionally sanctified. This sanctification is a c h i e v e d through the blood of Christ and through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This baptism is the experience of all true believers at the time of their regenera tion, not a specially sought subsequent gift. N ext.in order comes the appeal to the Christian to enter into progressive sanctification, to be in actuality what he already is in God’s sight by reason of his position in Christ Jesus. Utterly New Relationships To all of us who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour there comes, through the blood Of the Saviour and through the baptism with the Holy Spirit, a radical reversal in our rela tionship to Satan, to the world, and to the flesh. There is also a radical re versal in our relationship to Christ, to the Church, and to the Spirit. That
be refused and rejected. So I say again that our concern is twofold: that we be rightly and fully related to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we be rightly and fully adjusted to the Holy Spirit. Oh, friends, this makes for simplicity instead of complexity in our Christian life! The reason that we wonder so often how we are going to meet the at tacks of the devil and the enticements of the world and how we are going to deal with that inner traitor, the flesh, is that we are trying to deal with these enemies instead of just keeping our selves in a right relationship to Christ and in a right adjustment to the Holy Spirit. There are three looks that a Christian should have. He should always be look ing up with his eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He should always be look ing in, but listen! never unto self, never! As he looks in, he should be look ing in only to that wonderful, blessed Third Person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit. And then he should be looking around, not at circumstances, not at difficulties, but only at the world around him that is to be won to the Lord Jesus Christ. . And only then can a Christian have leisure from himself! Don’t you want it? Perhaps there are some of you who have thought that your chief difficulty was in your circumstances; that it was because of some person in your home, and that if you could get away from your home, if you could have a change
change could be summed up in two words: "crucified” and “sanctified.” “Crucified” : the world is crucified unto us and we are crucified unto the world. "I have been crucified with Christ.” Through that Co-crucifixion with the Lord Jesus Christ, you and I, who once were alive to Satan and to the world and to. the flesh, have come now to be dead to Satan, the world, and the flesh. Then consider the word "sanctified.” As sinners, we were dead to Christ, dead to the Church, and dead to the Spirit. But now through the baptism with the Holy Spirit we have been sep arated unto Christ, unto the Church, and unto the Spirit. We have been made one in and with Christ. We have been made one with every other mem ber of the Body of Jesus Christ, and we have been made one with the Holy Spirit. We should not be concerned now with the world, the devil, and the flesh. Our chief concern is that we be in a right and a full relationship to Christ, and that we be in a right and a full adjust ment to the Holy Spirit. If this right relationship and adjustment has taken place, there will be continuous victory over the attacks of the devil; there will be a screen thrown up between us and the world, so that its allurements and enticements will mean nothing whatso ever to us; and there will be the domina tion of the Spirit so completely and fully that as the flesh continues to make its claims upon us these demands will
two realms indicated by the sphere of
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