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Spirit; not only to justify them; but also to sanctify them。 He is;
thus; not only their 〃righteousness;〃 but their 〃sanctification。〃 (1
Cor。 i。 30。) Let us hear what the Bible says: 〃For their sakes I
sanctify myself; that they also might be sanctified。〃〃Christ loved
the Church; and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse
it。〃〃Christ gave Himself for us; that He might redeem us from all
iniquity; and purify unto Himself a peculiar people; zealous of good
works。〃〃Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree; that we;
being dead to sins; should live unto righteousness。〃〃Christ hath
reconciled (you) in the body of His flesh through death; to present you
holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight。〃 (John xvii。 19;
Ephes。 v。 25; Titus ii。 14; 1 Peter ii。 24; Coloss。 i。 22。) Let the
meaning of these five texts be carefully considered。 If words mean
anything; they teach that Christ undertakes the sanctification; no less
than the justification of His believing people。 Both are alike provided
for in that 〃everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure;〃 of
which the Mediator is Christ。 In fact; Christ in one place is called
〃He that sanctifieth;〃 and His People; 〃they who are sanctified。〃 (Heb。
ii。 11。)
The subject before us is of such deep and vast importance; that it
requires fencing; guarding; clearing up; and marking out on every side。
A doctrine which is needful to salvation can never be too sharply
developed; or brought too fully into light。 To clear away the confusion
between doctrines and doctrines; which is so unhappily mon among
Christians; and to map out the precise relation between truths and
truths in religion; is one way to attain accuracy in our theology。 I
shall therefore not hesitate to lay before my readers a series of
connected propositions or statements; drawn from Scripture; which I
think will be found useful in defining the exact nature of
sanctification。
(1) Sanctification; then; is the invariable result of that vital union
with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian。〃He that abideth in
Me; and I in him; the same bringeth forth much fruit。〃 (John xv。 5。)
The branch which bears no fruit is no living branch of the vine。 The
union with Christ which produces no effect on heart and life is a mere
formal union; which is worthless before God。 The faith which has not a
sanctifying influence on the character is no better than the faith of
devils。 It is a 〃dead faith; because it is alone。〃 It is not the gift
of God。 It is not the faith of God's elect。 In short; where there is no
sanctification of life; there is no real faith in Christ。 True faith
worketh by love。 In constrains a man to live unto the Lord from a deep
sense of gratitude for redemption。 It makes him feel that he can never
do too much for Him that died for him。 Being much forgiven; he loves
much。 He whom the blood cleanses; walks in the light。 He who has real
lively hope in Christ; purifieth himself even as He is pure。 (James ii。
17…20; Titus i。 1; Gal。 v。 6; 1 John i。 7; iii。 3。)
(2) Sanctification; again; is the oute and inseparable consequence
of regeneration。 He that is born again and made a new creature;
receives a new nature and a new principle; and always lives a new life。
A regeneration which a man can have; and yet live carelessly in sin or
worldliness; is a regeneration invented by uninspired theologians; but
never mentioned in Scripture。 On the contrary; St。 John expressly says;
that 〃He that is born of God doth not mit sindoeth
righteousnessloveth the brethrenkeepeth himselfand overeth the
world。〃 (1 John ii。 29; iii。 9…14; v。 4…18。) In a word; where there is
no sanctification there is no regeneration; and where there is no holy
life there is no new birth。 This is; no doubt; a hard saying to many
minds; but; hard or not; it is simple Bible truth。 It is written
plainly; that he who is born of God is one whose 〃seed remaineth in
him; and he cannot sin; because he is born of God。〃 (1 John iii。 9。)
(3) Sanctification; again; is the only certain evidence of that
indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation。 〃If any
man have not the Spirit of Christ; he is none of His。〃 (Rom。 viii。 9。)
The Spirit never lies dormant and idle within the soul: He always makes
His presence known by the fruit He causes to be borne in heart;
character; and life。 〃The fruit of the Spirit;〃 says St。 Paul; 〃is
love; joy; peace; long…suffering; gentleness; goodness; faith;
meekness; temperance;〃 and such like。 (Gal。 v。 22。) Where these things
are to be found; there is the Spirit: where these things are wanting;
men are dead before God。 The Spirit is pared to the wind; and; like
the wind; He cannot be seen by our bodily eyes。 But just as we know
there is a wind by the effect it produces on waves; and trees; and
smoke; so we may know the Spirit is in a man by the effects He produces
in the man's conduct。 It is nonsense to suppose that we have the
Spirit; if we do not also 〃walk in the Spirit。〃 (Gal。 v。 25。) We may
depend on it as a positive certainty; that where there is no holy
living; there is no Holy Ghost。 The seal that the Spirit stamps on
Christ's people is sanctification。 As many as are actually 〃led by the
Spirit of God; they;〃 and they only; 〃are the sons of God。〃 (Rom。 viii。
14。)
(4) Sanctification; again; is the only sure mark of God's election。 The
names and number of the elect are a secret thing; no doubt; which God
has wisely kept in His own power; and not revealed to man。 It is not
given to us in this world to study the pages of the book of life; and
see if our names are there。 But if there is one thing clearly and
plainly laid down about election; it is thisthat elect men and women
may be known and distinguished by holy lives。 It is expressly written
that they are 〃elect through sanctificationchosen unto salvation
through sanctificationpredestinated to be conformed to the image of
God's Sonand chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that
they should be holy。〃Hence; when St。 Paul saw the working 〃faith〃 and
labouring 〃love〃 and patient 〃hope〃 of the Thessalonian believers; he
says; 〃I know your election of God。〃 (1 Peter i。 2; 2 Thess。 ii。 13;
Rom。 viii。 29; Eph。 i。 4; 1 Thess。 i。 3; 4。) He that boasts of being
one of God's elect; while he is wilfully and habitually living in sin;
is only deceiving himself; and talking wicked blasphemy。 Of course it
is hard to know what people really are; and many who make a fair show
outwardly in religion; may turn out at last to be rotten…hearted
hypocrites。 But where there is not; at least; some appearance of
sanctification; we may be quite certain there is no election。 The
Church Catechism correctly and wisely teaches that the Holy Ghost
〃sanctifieth all the elect people of God。〃
(5) Sanctification; again; is a thing that will always be seen。 Like