LESSON 2.
SANCTIFICATION'
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17) It is God's will that you should be sanctified (1 Thes.4:3)
This is a subject of the utmost importance. Unless we are sanctified, according to the Bible we shall not be saved. There are three things necessary to our salvation - justification, regeneration and sanctification. For a person to lack any one of these three means that in God's sight they are not true believers. None dying in that condition will be found in heaven. So a careful examination of the subject as a great doctrine of the gospel is necessary for our soul's welfare.
1. The true nature of sanctification
Sanctification is the working of the Holy Spirit in anyone called to be a believer. The Spirit works to create an awareness of sinfulness and then an awareness of God's goodness in wiping away guilt by the work of Jesus Christ. The Spirit works through the Scripture to separate believers from a natural love of sin and worldliness and to make them Christ-like in daily life.
Jesus not only lived and died and rose again to provide justification and forgiveness for the sins of his people, but also undertook to provide everything that his people's spiritual life requires. He sends the Holy Spirit to their hearts to replace the desire for sin by a desire for holiness. Christ has said; For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified (John 17:19) and Paul writes, Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water through the word (Ephesians 5:25,26). Believers, reading these verses with understanding, will realise that Christ both justifies and sanctifies us also. And I want to put to you now a number of statements which will define the exact nature of sanctification.
a) Sanctification is the invariable result of the vital union with Christ which faith gives to every true believer. Christ has said, If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit (John 15:5). Whoever bears no spiritual fruit in daily life is not in Christ. Any supposed union with Christ which produces no effect in the daily life is worthless. Whoever claims to live in him (i.e. in Christ) must walk as Jesus did (1 John 1:7).
b) Sanctification is the inseparable consequence of regeneration. Whoever is born again and made a new creature lives a new life. Where there is no holy life there has been no rebirth; where there is no sanctification there is no regeneration. Everyone who does what is right has been born of him (1 John 2:29). Those who are born of God will not continue to sin ... they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God (1 John 3:9) .
c) Sanctification is the only certain evidence of the indwelling Spirit which is essential for the salvation of a true believer. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, that person does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9) The Spirit is never idle but always makes his presence known by the `fruit' he causes to develop in the character and life (Galations 5:22,23).
If this fruit is missing then the presence of spiritual life must be in doubt. Just as we know there is wind by the effects it produces, so we may know the Spirit is in a person by the effects fie produces in their life. Those who are led by the Spirit of God (and only they) are the children of God (Romans 8:14).
d) Sanctification is the only sure mark of those who are the elect of God. The names and number of God's elect people are secrets known only to him. But one thing is clear from the Scripture; elect men and women may be distinguished by holy lives. For he (i.e. God) chose us in him (i.e. in Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4). Of course, many who make a fair show of religion may turn out at last to be hypocrites. But where there is not at least some appearance of sanctification we may be certain there is no election.
e) Sanctification is a thing that will always be seen. A tree is known by its fruit. A truly sanctified believer will be clothed with humility even though he or she may be conscious of defects in their spiritual lives. A so-called `saint' in whose life nothing can be seen but worldliness is a kind of monster not recognised in the Bible.
f) Sanctification is a thing for which every believer is responsible. Believers, as children of God, have the knowledge of the gospel message and a new life and hope within themselves. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us (2Peter 1:3). If Christians nevertheless are not holy, whose fault is it but their own? If they are not sanctified on whom can they throw the blame but themselves? If the Saviour of sinners gives us renewing grace may we not be sure that he expects us to use his gifts? Not to do so is to be among those who, sadly, grieve the Spirit.
g) Sanctification is a thing which is capable of growth and development. More pardoned, more justified than when first believing, a Christian cannot be; more sanctified he or she may certainly be. (God's holiest saints all agree: they see more, and know more, and feel more, and do more, and repent more, and believe more, as they go on in the spiritual life and walk more and more closely with God. We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
h) Sanctification is a thing which depends upon the diligent use of scriptural means, sometimes called `the means of grace'. I have in view, when I speak of `means', Bible reading, private and public prayer times, public worship, hearing the Bible explained, and regular reception of the Lord's supper. I can find no record of any eminent saint who ever neglected these things. I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them again till harvest, as expect a believer to attain holiness who was not regularly paying attention to these means.
i) Sanctification is a thing which does not prevent much spiritual struggle. By spiritual struggle I mean that the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other (Galatians 5:17). A sense of spiritual struggle and mental discomfort are no proof that a person is not sanctified; rather the reverse - they prove that a person is spiritually alive. A believer may have a peaceful conscience, while there is a war raging within! I believe what I say is confirmed by the language of Paul in Romans chapter seven. I am quite satisfied that he does not describe there the experience of an unconverted person, or of a young Christian, but of an old established saint in close communion with God. (This was also the view of the Reformers, the Puritans including Haldane and Owen, and a number of Bible scholars since - Ed.)We can look forward to the absence of this struggle in heaven, but never will enjoy freedom from it in this life. Even after regeneration our souls are still infected by the remains of sin.
j) Sanctification can never justify a person, yet it pleases God. The holiest actions of the saintliest person still suffer from defects and imperfections; they are only `splendid sins' as one has said. The motive may be wrong, the performance defective. The only righteousness by which we can present ourselves to God is a perfect righteousness, and such is found in our Lord alone. His perfection and not ours, his work and not ours, are our justification and our only right to heaven!
At the same time we are assured that the right actions of believers are pleasing to God even though imperfect. As a parent is pleased with the imperfect efforts of a little child to please, so is our Father pleased even with the imperfect efforts of his children. He looks at the intention of our actions, not merely their quantity and quality.
k) Sanctification is a thing which will be absolutely necessary in the great day of judgment. When God calls us to the final judgment, evidence that our faith in Christ is genuine will be the only thing that will save us from condemnation. The question will not be how we talked and what we professed, but how we lived and what we did. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive what is due then for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10).
1) Sanctification is necessary to prepare us for heaven. Most people hope to go to heaven when they die, but few take the trouble to consider if they would enjoy being there! Heaven is essentially a holy place --- its inhabitants are holy, its occupations are holy. To be happy in heaven it is obvious that we should have prepared for being there while here on earth. When an eagle is happy in an iron cage, when a sheep is happy in the water, when an owl is happy in the blaze of the noonday sun, when a fish is happy on dry land, then, and not till then, can I admit that an unsanctified person could be happy in heaven.
2. What are the visible marks of a sanctified person?
a) Sanctification is more than talking about religion. Some people are so familiar with the words and phrases of the gospel, and talk so fluently about them, that they convince others they are believers. God does not want his people to be mere empty tubs, echoing gongs or clashing cymbals. Let its not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).
b) Sanctification is not just enjoying temporary religious feelings. Special services and revival meetings can attract a lot of attention and we ought to thank God when they present the gospel message to so many people. But these things have attendant dangers as well as advantages. Wherever wheat is sown the devil will sow tares. We need to beware of religious excitement causing people to feel a temporary attraction to the Lord. After a little while they can fall back, and then are harder and worse than before. Let us urge everyone who shows a new interest in Christianity to be content with nothing short of a deep sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
c) Sanctification is not just the occasional performance of right actions. Many sincere people take pleasure in doing what they feel are religious acts from time to time. But I am afraid that in many cases this external religiosity is no substitute for inward holiness. I feel that there is need of very plain speaking on this subject. There may be an immense amount of `bodily service' while there is not the least real sanctification.
d) Sanctification does not consist in retiring from daily life in the world. In every age there have been those who believe that to retire into seclusion from the world is a highway to sanctification. But wherever we go we carry with us that source of evil - our hearts. True holiness is not a frail plant which can only survive in a plant nursery, but is a strong, hardy thing which can flourish in normal daily life. True holiness does not make a Christian evade difficulties, but face and overcome them.
e) Sanctification shows itself in a continual respect for what God requires of us. Whoever pretends to be a saint, while sneering at the Ten Commandments and thinks nothing of breaking any of them, is seriously deluded and will find it hard lo prove he or she is a saint in the last day!
f) Sanctification will show itself in a constant effort to do Christ's will. His practical requirements are found throughout the Gospels, and in the Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord continually taught what his disciples ought to be and do. You are my friends if you do what I command you (John 15:14) were his words. We still serve this same Lord.
- g) Sanctification will show itself in a desire to live up to the standard which Paul set before the churches. That standard is to be found in the closing chapters of nearly all his letters. I defy anyone to read Paul's writings carefully without finding in them a large number of plain, practical directions about the Christian's duty in every relation of life. These directions were written down by the inspiration' of God for the guidance of pr professing Christians.
h) Sanctification will show itself in attentiveness to all the spiritual graces which our Lord so beautifully displayed. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples (John 13:34,35). Peter, writing lo believers, makes the same point: ... if you suffer for doing good ... to this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (I Peter 2:20,21). Paul names nine graces in his list of the fruit of" the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. It is nonsense to pretend to sanctification unless we show these things in our lives. Not all believers exhibit equally all these marks, but they are the biblical standard to which every believer should aim.
3. Lastly, I wish to consider the difference between justification and sanctification, showing how they agree and how they differ.
- How do they agree?
a) Both originate as free gifts from God to believers.
b) They are the result of the work of Christ, from which justifying pardon and sanctifying holiness both flow.
c) Both are to be found in the same believer; the justified are always sanctified, the sanctified are always justified.
d) Both begin at the same time. The moment a person is justified, he or she also begins to be sanctified.
e) Both are alike necessary to salvation. No one reaches heaven without holiness as well as pardon.
(ii) How do they differ?
a) Justification is reckoning a person to be righteous for the sake of Jesus Christ. It is something done for the believer. Sanctification is actually making a person inwardly righteous by the Holy Spirit; it is something done in the believer.
b) The righteousness believers have in justification is not their own but Christ's. The righteousness of sanctification is the believer's own.
c) In Justification religious works that we do have no significance. Simple faith in Christ is all. In sanctification we act; we fight, watch, pray, strive, and labour!
d) Justification is something that is complete and finished. Sanctification is never completed until we reach heaven.
e) Justification does not grow or increase. Believers are as much justified in the hour of first belief as they will ever be. Sanctification is a movement in our souls; it grows and increases throughout this life.
f) Justification has to do with our standing in God's sight; sanctification has to do with our state of soul.
g) Justification gives us authority to enter heaven; sanctification prepares us to enjoy the life of heaven.
h) Justification is God's work outside us; it is invisible to other people. Sanctification is God's work within us; it will be obvious to people around us.
I commend these distinctions to my readers. Never let the two words be confused or the distinctions between them be forgotten. They are two separate things; yet whoever has the one must have both.
4. What practical thoughts ought this matter of sanctification bring to our minds?
Without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
a) For one thing, let us awake to the peril of not being holy! Without sanctification there is no salvation. What an enormous amount of so-called religion is perfectly useless, lacking true holiness! What are our tastes, our choices, our desires? This is the great testing question.
b) If we want to be sanctified we must go to Christ as sinners, and tell him of our desperate need.
c) We must continue as we began - we must come to Christ again and again. He is the head from which every member of his body must be supplied. Believers who seem at a standstill in sanctification are generally neglecting regular communion with Christ.
d) We must not expect too much from our hearts in this life. Sinners we were when we began this road, sinners we shall find we still are as we continue: renewed, pardoned, justified certainly - yet sinners to the very last.
e) Let us, nevertheless, make much of striving for the highest standard of holiness. Holiness is happiness, and those who get through life most comfortably are believers who are sanctified. Great peace have they who love your law; and nothing can snake them stumble (Psalm 119:165).
DEFINITIONS
Sanctification, in Scripture, has a twofold significance. The first is a separation and dedication of things for the use of God only, as in the Old Testament priesthood and the utensils used in tabernacle and temple. The second is a sanctification or holiness which is the result of a person being dedicated to God. It is the obedient actions of such a person toward God. It is this latter which is the subject of this chapter.
Inspiration of Scripture means that the original Scriptures were 'breathed out' by God (2 Tim.3:16) so that the words that were written were the words God wanted written.
Righteous/righteousness. The Hebrew word translated 'righteous' originally meant 'straight'. The corresponding Greek word referred to anything, which conformed to the law. Christ is the only person who has perfectly kept God's law, and because he is also God his righteousness is infinite and can be credited to those who believe in him.
(Definitions from A Dictionary of Theological terms Published by Grace Publication)
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