Sanctification # 2

Sanctification # 2

The nature of sin is discovered and hated, the practice of sin is deplored and avoided, the consequences of sin are feared, and full salvation from sin is sought.

The ways of the Lord appear pleasant, the time and talents are employed in His service, the Bible becomes the daily companion, the saints appear the excellent of the earth, and the ordinances of the gospel yield profit and pleasure.

Jesus is now the object of faith, the subject of meditation, and appears altogether lovely.

No sanctified person ever thinks lightly either of sin or the Saviour; but the heart rests on His atonement, the tongue pleads His name, the soul thirsts for His grace, and the whole person seeks shelter and safety in His perfect righteousness. He is now trusted, loved, and obeyed. He is all in all.

The sanctified man generally enjoys prayer; but he feels that he must pray when he does not; for prayer is the vital breath of his soul, the vent of his sorrows, the expression of his desires, and the utterance of his feelings.

He daily feels more and more his need of Jesus, observes his numerous defects, grieves over his departures from God, repents of every sin, and longs to be exactly like his dear Redeemer.

He often mourns because he sins against God so gracious - and yet rejoices because he is saved in Jesus with an everlasting salvation. He can only maintain a peaceful, happy conscience by frequent application to the open fountain. Nor does he feel quite satisfied, unless he enjoys the witness of the Spirit in his heart. He walks with God, and habitually aims to please Him. The bent of his mind is to spiritual things, and they become natural to him - he pursues, loves, and enjoys them.

Sanctification includes all the graces and fruits of the Spirit - as faith, hope, love, patience, humility, meekness, fidelity, and temperance. It is the desire of the truly sanctified, to do the whole will of God from the heart, and to suffer all his sovereign will with resignation.

His pattern is the life of Jesus; His rule is the precepts of the gospel; and his aim is to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

He is spiritually minded. He lives upon Jesus, and lives to Jesus. As God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved - he longs to clothe himself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col 3:12, 13). His daily business is to "add to his faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love" (2 Peter 1:5-7).

He daily renounces all dependence on his doings and feelings, and rests on the finished work of Jesus alone, for his acceptance with God, and title to eternal life. To him the gospel, which proclaims a full and free salvation by faith alone - is good news; holiness is the only element in which his soul enjoys health; sin and sinners are a constant cause of grief; and freedom from all impurity is the reigning desire of his heart.

He mortifies his members, crucifies the flesh, puts off the old man with his deeds, and lives by faith on the Son of God.

Such is sanctification, as set forth in God's holy Word, and experienced by the Lord's people.

The AGENT in this great work is the HOLY SPIRIT - to Him, and to Him alone, it is to be attributed. It is His office and work to sanctify; and all real sanctification is the effect of His indwelling, the proof of His power, and the display of His grace.

The Father's love chose us unto salvation; the Son's blood redeemed us from damnation; and the Spirit's power sanctifies and makes us fit for glory.

Thus the whole Godhead is manifested, engaged, and glorified, in our salvation: and Father, Son, and Spirit, are alike known, loved, believed, and adored.

~James Smith~

(continued with # 3)