Sanctification # 4

Sanctification # 4

Who will say that he is completely sanctified? Rather, what believer will not readily acknowledge that there is in his heart and life - room for more seriousness, humility, zeal for God, thankfulness, prayerfulness, faith, hope, love, patience, and meekness? Surely every Christian will say, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect - but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus!" (Philippians 3:12-14).

Reader, are you sanctified?

What are your views of sin? Is it in your estimation, the abominable thing? What are your feelings towards sin? Do you hate it? Do you mourn over it? Do you confess it with sorrow before God? Do you turn away from it with disgust?

What think you of Christ?  How do you feel toward Him? What know you of fellowship with God? What is it makes heaven desirable to you? Is it the holiness of the place, employments, and society? Unless you hate sin, loathe self, prize the open fountain, cling to Jesus as your only hope, and pant for holiness as the sick man for health - your sanctification is very doubtful!

Remember, no holiness - no heaven! You must be born again. You must be washed, sanctified, and justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God - or you will be found "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity."

But we would not distress the weak believer, or wound the feeble-minded; and therefore we observe, that the most thoroughly sanctified, still feel the warfare within; the law in the members still wars against the law of the mind, and at times prevails. Corruption will work, satan will tempt, and darkness at times gathers over the soul. The work of sanctification is not perfect, and at times it appears very feeble; but do not yield to fear, do not give way to despondency. The principles of  grace are immortal, they must live, and shall overcome at the last. Seek more grace. Seek holiness. Seek it at the Cross - at the throne of grace, from the God of all grace. Seek it by prayer - seek it by faith - seek it with hope. "The Lord will give grace," (Psalm 84:11); He will give more grace," (James 4:6).

Let nothing satisfy you but holiness, or entire consecration to God. Heaven requires it, the law demands it, atoning blood gives a title to it, the promise secures it to every believing applicant, the throne of grace is accessible, that we may seek it, the Spirit works it, trials deepen it, and the resurrection will complete it.

Your heavenly Father is holy, and He says, "Be holy - for I am holy." "As He, therefore, who has called you is holy - so be holy in the whole of your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15, 16).

The more you are sanctified...the deeper will be your humility, the more vivid your views of sin, and the stronger your confidence in God.

And yet, perhaps, while others are admiring the consistency of your life, and, it may be, even envying your attainments - you will be lying low before God, as the chief of sinners, and occasionally crying out, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death!" (Romans 7:24).

For the nearer we are to the Lord... the more vivid and painful our views of sin, the stronger our desires after perfect holiness, and the more we value and trust in the finished work of Jesus.

Then the mouth is shut, in point of boasting; but is opened wide to praise and pray.

Do not then be discouraged or mistaken - but pour out your heart before the Lord, and cry mightily to God.

"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

~James Smith~

(The End)