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Office
Of The Holy Spirit--Sanctification
Sanctification,
baptism of the Holy Spirit, and heart purity are
synonymous terms used in the New Testament to signify the
same work. This work wrought in the heart subsequent to
regeneration is the express work of the Holy Spirit, and
that it is obtainable in this life seems almost useless to
say, as it is so clearly taught in the Bible: but there
are many who doubt that we may enjoy it in this life, and
for the sake of such we will add a few texts to prove that
it is for us.
SANCTIFICATION OBTAINABLE IN THIS LIFE.—Christ
died for men, and not for angels; and God is a God of the
living, and not of the dead. Christ came to the world to
save and sanctify. Heaven is not a place to save people,
but a place for saved people to dwell. Paul in writing to
the church at Corinth gives us to understand that some of
them were sanctified. "To them that are SANCTIFIED in
Christ Jesus." 1 Cor. 1:2. The apostle Jude also
wrote to some who were sanctified (Jude 1). "For by
one offering he hath perfected forever them that ARE
SANCTIFED." Heb. 10:14. "Wherefore Jesus also,
that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,
suffered without the gate." Heb. 13:12.
Where
did Jesus shed His blood?—On earth. For what did He shed
His bloody.—To sanctify people. Then where are we
sanctified? On earth, now, or never. In heaven there will
be no blood; flesh and blood cannot enter there, and as
sanctification comes through the blood we must be
sanctified where the blood was shed. The apostles were
sanctified while they were yet living and they wrote
letters to others who were sanctified; neither did they
write to those who were dead, but to living men and women
who were sanctified.
We
are sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:16), and Peter
said on the day of Pentecost, "For the promise is
unto you, and to your children, and to ALL that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Acts 2:39. This is conclusive evidence that we all may be
sanctified. Why suppose that we cannot attain to it, when
it is promised? Why expect it in death, which has no power
to cleanse? nor is there any virtue in the grave.
PROVISIONS FOR SANCTIFICATION.
1. God has provided a way by which we might know of
sanctification and understand how to obtain it. This
provision is the truth, the Holy Bible. Hence Jesus says,
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is
truth." John 17:17.
2. We
are sanctified with the blood. "Wherefore Jesus also,
that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,
suffered without the gate." Heb. 13:12.
3. We
are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In other words, it is
the special office work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify
believers. "That the offering up of the Gentiles
might be acceptable, being sanctified BY THE HOLY
GHOST." Rom. 15:16. "But ye are washed, but ye
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus, and BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD." 1 Cor.
6:11. These texts clearly prove that it is the work of the
Spirit to sanctify. The truth is the instrument used by
the Spirit to convey to our intelligence the necessity of
being sanctified. The blood is the cleansing agent by
which the Spirit purifies our hearts and fits them for His
indwelling.
So
then we are sanctified THROUGH the truth, WITH the blood,
and BY the Spirit. When, either by the reading of the Word
or by hearing it preached, a justified soul is awakened to
the fact, that sanctification is a necessary grace, and
that it is obtainable in this life, and the consecration
is made, then the Holy Spirit applies the blood, purifies
the heart, and takes up His abode as an abiding comforter.
We receive the Holy Spirit today the same as did the
apostles, and He accomplishes for us the same work He did
for them; viz., sanctification, or heart purity. Peter
tells us that the Lord put no difference between the Jews
and Gentiles. "And God, which knoweth the hearts,
bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he
did unto us; and put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith." Acts 15: 8, 9.
How
blessed and glorious to know that the heart of man may be
the blest abode of the eternal Spirit of God! What
condescension that the Holy Spirit, the third person in
the Trinity, and indeed a part of the triune God, would
deign to dwell with humble man! "Know ye not that ye
are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you? E any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are." 1 Cor. 3:16, 17.
SANCTIFICATION A SECOND WORK.—The
apostles were first converted (John 17:6,14) and had their
names written in heaven (Luke 10:20), after which on the
day of Pentecost they received the Holy Spirit, who is the
sanctifier. Rom. 15:16. The baptism of the Holy Spirit,
the seal of the Spirit, the reception of the Spirit, the
earnest of the Spirit, and sanctification are one and the
same work, and are only different in the way we think of
the operation of the Spirit and illustrate it to the mind
by different natural illustrations. So if we can prove
that any one of the above named operations is subsequent
to regeneration, we shall have proved them all to be so.
The
Samaritans first believed on Christ and were baptized
neither were they baptized before they were converted.
"But when they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts
8:12. Now they were converted and after a while the
apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Philip had
preached at Samaria, and that many of them had accepted
Christ; and deeming it necessary that they should have a
second grace they sent unto them Peter and John,
"who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that
they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was
fallen upon none of them." Acts 8:15, 16.
Paul
was first chosen of the Lord and brought into humble
submission at his feet (Acts 9:15), after which he was
filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:17.
While
Apollos was at Corinth in 55 A.D., Paul visited Ephesus,
"and finding certain disciples, he said unto them,
Have ye received the Holy Ghost SINCE YE BELIEVED? And
they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether
there be any Holy Ghost." Acts 19:1, 2. After this
Paul inquired into their baptism and found that they had
not yet been baptized properly, or had not heard that the
baptism of John did not suffice. Paul immediately preached
to them of the baptism of Christ and the reception of the
Holy Spirit, and "when they heard this, they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had
laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon
them." Acts 19:5, 6. Nine years later Paul wrote a
letter to the church at Ephesus in which he mentions the
way in which they were saved, in the following language:
"In whom (Christ) ye also trusted, after that ye
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in
whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THAT
HOLY SPIRIT of promise." Eph. 1:13.
Paul
in writing this to them doubtless had in mind the time he
visited them, and he knew that they were first converted
and afterwards sealed or sanctified. The entire work of
sanctification is carried on and completed by the
operation of the Holy Spirit subsequent to conversion. We
are sanctified, or we receive the Holy Spirit, after we
believe, not when we believe.
THREE SUCCESSIVE STEPS.—There
are three successive works wrought in the heart by the
Holy Spirit, which stand out more clearly than all other
things that He accomplishes for us. These are: (1)
Conviction, (2)Justification, (3)Sanctification. In other
words, the Holy Spirit first comes TO us; second, goes
WITH us, and, third, dwells IN us.
"And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will
reprove (margin, convince) the world of sin." John
16:8. This is the first work the Holy Spirit does for a
man; that is, to come to him and convince him that he is a
sinner. After a man is convinced and convicted of sin to
the extent that he is willing to forsake the wrong and ask
God's forgiveness and meet every Bible requirement, he is
adopted into the family of God. He becomes acquainted with
God, and the Holy Spirit goes with him, leads and guides
him in the way of life.
But
there is yet a nearer relation, a higher attainment for
the justified soul to gain, a more abundant life to enjoy.
John 10:10 Jesus in speaking to His disciples of the Holy
Spirit before the day of Pentecost, said to them, "He
dwelleth WITH you, and shall be IN you." John 14:17.
On the day of Pentecost this promise was fulfilled,
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."
Acts 2:4. All who believe in conversion acknowledge that
conviction must precede conversion, and that conversion is
a separate, instantaneous work of grace subsequent to
conviction: and yet the same persons will deny that
sanctification is subsequent to conversion, when the Bible
is as clear on the latter as on the former. In fact, if
there is any difference the Bible draws the line of
demarcation clearer between justification and
sanctification than between conviction and forgiveness.
However, both are separate and distinct works of divine
grace. Neither does a justified man grow into
sanctification any more than a convicted man grows into
conversion. Each of the two latter steps is an
instantaneous work of God's grace.
PREREQUISITES TO SANCTIFICATION.—Sanctification
being a second work there must of necessity be some
prerequisite conditions; these we will attempt to set
forth in this chapter.
1.
Those who obtain sanctification first be fruit bearing
branches in Christ the true vine. "Every branch in me
that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth
more fruit." John 15:2. Some suppose that the
branches in the above text refer to the multiplicity of
so-called churches: but this is false, because Jesus said,
"If a MAN abide not in me, HE is cast forth as a
branch." John 15:6. The purging referred to is the
same as sanctification, or cleansing, and he who would
obtain the cleansing must be in the vine Jesus Christ. The
promise, then, is not to the world, but to the branches of
the true vine, which have the life-giving power of the Son
of God flowing through their veins. Jesus said in another
place, "I am come that they might have life, and that
they might have it more abundantly." First a
fruit-bearing branch in the vine, then the purging and the
more fertile state. First life, then life more abundantly.
2.
God gives the Holy Spirit "to them that obey
him." "And we are His witnesses of these things;
and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them
that obey him." Acts 5:32.
3.
The blood cleanses those who walk in the light. "But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin" 1 John 1:7.
4.
Those who are to be sanctified must first be believers; or
in other words, they must be justified or converted.
"He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But
this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on
him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;
because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" John
7:38, 39. In accordance with this Paul says, "AFTER
that ye BELIEVED, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of
promise." Eph. 1:13.
Only
those who are fruit-bearing branches in the true vine,
living in obedience to God, and walking in the
light—only those who are converted believers and have
spiritual life are fit subjects for sanctification.
HOW TO ATTAIN--
Possibly the most necessary thing after the foregoing
prerequisites are complied with is to feel the need of the
experience and realize its importance. However, it is not
necessary to wait for feelings or great emotions; but it
is very necessary to see that sanctification is a second
work, and that it is not only a privilege but a duty to
seek and obtain it.
Since
the fall of Adam the human family is depraved, and every
child born into this world inherits a fallen nature; as
Paul says, "We are by nature the children of
wrath." However, a child before it reaches the age of
accountability is not guilty of sin, and should it die in
this state it would be saved. Christ tasted death for
every man (Heb. 2:9); so all who are lost will be so on
their own account, and of their own accord, and not on
account of Adam's sin We being depraved and by nature the
children of wrath, as soon as we know right from wrong it
is natural for us to dive into sin; hence Paul said,
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of
God." Rom. 3:2. And for the same reason Jesus said,
"Ye must be born again" John 3:3. So when the
sinner comes repenting to God, he repents of the sins he
has of his own will, under the influence of the carnal
nature and the power of temptation, committed against God.
He does not repent of his depravity, for he is not guilty
of it. The things for which he is sorry are the sins he
has committed; and for these God forgives him. Here many
stop without ever thinking of the blessed experience of
sanctification Or if it is thought of it is supposed to be
only for very old people who are almost ready to die, or
supposed to be enjoyed only after death. Dear reader, have
you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? If not,
may the Lord awaken a desire in your heart to seek this
most blessed grace. After a soul is made to realize the
need of this experience the next thing which arises for
consideration is
THE CONSECRATION.—In
the first place, we surrender all to become a disciple.
"Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that
he hath, he can not be my disciple." Luke 14:33. The
question then arises, If we forsake all in conversion, how
can we forsake or consecrate more in sanctification? It is
only natural to suppose that after we are saved from sin,
raised from the dead, and awakened from the spiritual
sleep of iniquity, we can see the will of God more
perfectly and realize the depths of a consecration better.
So the consecration for sanctification is not so much a
consecration of new things, as a more perfect consecration
of old things, together with a presentation of ourselves
to God for the cleansing. "I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1. When
the consecration is complete, the next thing is to ask in
faith for the cleansing blood to be applied and for the
Holy Spirit to be given, "and I say unto you, Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you." Luke 11:9. Paul
says that the Gentiles were to be "sanctified by
faith." Acts 26:18. So when we ask we must have
faith, and our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit
to them that ask Him. Luke 11:13. Sometimes it seems hard
to exercise faith, but when such is the case there is
always a cause for it. However, there is more than one
cause. Sometimes it is because the seeker is not in the
proper condition to seek sanctification, or in other
words, is not justified. Sometimes it is because the
consecration is not complete, and the heart is clinging to
something that should be given up. And after all, it may
be that it is only the devil that is hindering. In such
cases the life and consecration should be examined
thoroughly, and if found below the Bible standard the only
way to succeed is to measure up, but if the life and
consecration is found to measure to the standard, then the
way to proceed is to resist the devil and all doubts and
take a stand on the Word and "have faith in
God."
When
the life is measured by the Word of God and found to be
acceptable to God, and the death to all selfish motives is
wrought in the soul, and the consecration fully made, all
doubts and fears resisted steadfastly in the faith,
something must be accomplished; for He is true that
promised.
"If
thy all is on the altar laid,
Guard it from each vain desire;
When thy soul the perfect price hath paid,
God will send the holy fire."
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