p. 530 | SANCTIFICATION by B. J. Ferciot

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1900

SANCTIFICATION

By B. J. Ferciot

B. J. FERCIOT. (Canton, Ohio.)

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17: 17. In order for us to understand how we can be sanctified through the truth, it is necessary for us to understand the nature of truth, and how received.

We read, in 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17, these words: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Let us consider the words “inspiration of God:” first, God breathed; second, inspiration is a breathing in. Into whom?—Into you and me if we will receive it.

In Gen. 2: 7 we have a beautiful illustration of this breathing in of God: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” “And the inspiration [the breathing in] of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Job 32: 8. And the same mighty power that created man at first is used through the Word to create him anew in Christ Jesus. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth” (James 1: 18); “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2: 10.

Jesus, after his resurrection, when he appeared unto his disciples, said unto them: “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20: 21, 22. Now, as “the gospel . . . is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1: 16); as “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2: 11); and as the gospel is committed to Christ’s followers,—how important that we receive the Holy Spirit, through whom all Scripture as well as prophecy is given. For concerning prophecy we read: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time [“at any time,” margin] by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1: 20, 21. And the Spirit of God through the apostle Paul gives us these words: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20: 32.

Now in order for us to inherit, we must belong to the family of God. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3: 29. As we are thus adopted into the family of God and have been made partakers of the inheritance through faith, God gives us, or places upon us, his sign, seal, or mark, which shows that we are members of his family, and have become partakers of the inheritance “through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2: 13.

In order for a will, or testament, which conveys an inheritance to be of force, it must have the sign, seal, or mark, of the testator. And so it becomes necessary for us to inquire what is God’s sign, seal, or mark, which designates “them that are sanctified”? We read in Eze. 20: 12: “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, . . . that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom 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, which is the earnest [or pledge] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [purchased by his own blood, Acts 20: 28], unto the praise of his glory.” Eph. 1: 11–14. “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Eph. 1: 18.

How important, then, that we heed the instruction given in 1 Peter 2: 2: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby;” and also that we appreciate the gifts in the church, and understand their purpose as set forth in Eph. 4: 11–14: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Therefore “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Now by what acts did Christ make it possible for us to attain unto perfection? We find our answer in Heb. 10: 14–17: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

We are perfected when we are sanctified through the truth, and not until then. And in 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17, we find that the object of God in giving all Scripture through inspiration was, and is, our perfection. Let us now consider

the definite character of God’s sign, seal, or mark, which he gives us. When was it established? and by what definite acts?—It was established at the completion of creation. Thus God gave his Sabbath as a memorial of his perfected creation; and he gives it to us as a sign, seal, or mark of a perfected re-creation in Christ. “For if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. . . . For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor. 5: 17–21. And as we attain unto this through faith, believing, we can enter into his rest only by ceasing from our own works as did God from his. Heb. 4: 10. Then for anyone to claim sanctification, or holiness, who has refused to receive his Sabbath, is to claim that which is false; for there is no other way but God’s way to true sanctification, and that is through his truth, of which the Sabbath is the seal. And if we refuse truth, it is certain that we can never be sanctified through it.