Untitled article by A. S. Hutchins

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 11, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 43.

Sanctification.—No. 1.

By A. S. Hutchins

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." 1 Thess. 4:3.

SANCTIFICATION, as applied to a moral agent, signifies "to cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin; to make holy by detaching the affections from the world and its defilements, and exalting them to a supreme love of God."—Webster. It is the will of God that his people should attain unto this high and holy state; it is our privilege to have our hearts stablished, unblamable, "in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."

The pardon of sin, or justification from past transgressions, may be an instantaneous work. It may be effected as suddenly as the light from Heaven shone upon Paul while on his way to Damascus. "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," may secure peace and happiness without long and mournful delay. And when these priceless blessings are obtained, when one has passed from death unto life, he enters the school of Christ as "a babe" in his new life to develop into a man in Christ Jesus. Says Peter, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."

In the spiritual birth and life, the Scriptures recognize childhood, youth, and "full age." 1 John 2:12-14; Heb. 5:13, 14. As the work of growth in the Christian's experience progresses, sanctification of heart and life is developed. In this the individual must act a part, which he cannot do in justification, as is clearly proved by the following texts: "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them; I am the Lord which sanctify you." Lev. 20:7, 8. But in all the word of God there is no such command as, Justify yourselves. Yet man cannot sanctify himself, cannot be holy, cannot keep God's statutes, without divine aid; nor will God sanctify any man without his concurrence. He who says, "Sanctify yourselves," has provided the means for the accomplishment of this high and holy work; and in their use we act in harmony with his will.

Buck, in his theological dictionary, in speaking of sanctification, says: "It is distinguished from justification thus: Justification changeth our state in law before God as Judge; sanctification changeth our heart and life before him as our Father. Justification precedes, and sanctification follows as the result and evidence of it. The surety righteousness of Christ imputed is our justifying righteousness; but the grace of God implanted is the matter of our sanctification. Justification is an act done at once; sanctification is a work which is gradual; justification removes the guilt of sin; sanctification the power of it. Justification delivers us from the avenging wrath of God; sanctification conforms us to his image."

Archbishop Usher said: "Sanctification is nothing less than for a man to be brought to an entire resignation of his will to the will of God, and to live in the offering up of his soul continually in the flames of love, and as a whole burnt offering to Christ." "Sanctification," says another, "is nothing less than a daily dying to self, and daily conformity to the will of God."

But the subject of the progressive character and work of God in the heart sanctifying the entire being, mentally and physically, is clearly elucidated in the third chapter of Paul's letter to the Colossians: "If ye then be risen with Christ [i. e., if you have put on Christ by baptism. Chap. 2:12], seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Then follows the injunction as to where to set the affection, as to mortifying the "members which are upon the earth," putting off the "old man," putting on the "new man," gaining victories over the carnal mind, and becoming spiritually minded; "and above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

Peter also presents this important theme in a clear and convincing light. Addressing those who had fled from "the corruption that is in the world through lust," he says: "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. 1:5-11.

Now who can fail to see that if the Christian does not work by this rule of addition with respect to the graces of the Spirit, that his justification is rendered futile and unavailing?

The agencies for the accomplishment of sanctification, are the truth, the Holy Spirit, faith, and obedience. "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth," is the petition of the Son to the Father. Error, however venerable from age, cannot sanctify men. Again, says Jesus, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

We may emphatically say of the law of God proclaimed upon Mt. Sinai, that it is his truth. "Thy law is the truth." "All thy commandments are truth." Ps. 119:142, 151. By means of the law Paul was convinced of sin. Rom. 7:7. And he affirms, "By the law is the knowledge of sin." "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

It is difficult to comprehend how one who rejects the law of God can have a knowledge of sin which would lead him to fly from it to the Saviour. Now can we conceive how one can attain unto sanctification without the truth? and if it could be so, why the prayer of the Saviour, "Sanctify them through thy truth"?

Says Charles G. Finney, president of Oberlin (Ohio) College, "I have long been satisfied that the higher forms of Christian experience are attained only as a result of a terribly searching application of God's law to the human conscience and heart." Adam Clarke says, "Man cannot have a true notion of sin but by means of the law of God." Professor Brown, of Brown University (Baptist) says, "You can no more change the moral law than attempt to change God himself."

But this finishing work of the grace of God upon the heart to prepare men for the kingdom of glory, is not accomplished by the law alone—the Holy Spirit must act its part. Paul says, "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." 2 Thess. 2:13.

The steps here are, men must hear the truth, believe the truth, receive the Spirit, and experience its sanctifying power; thus connecting with the truth or the word of God, faith, and the purifying and elevating influence of that divine power which "beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God," "being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." Rom. 15:16.

Again, says Peter, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." 1 Pet. 1:2.

Here the subject of obedience is introduced as an important factor in the work of sanctification. So we have the fact before us that the truth (the word of God), the operation of the Holy Spirit, the energizing, vitalizing power of faith, with cheerful obedience, are the warp and woof of the agencies of Bible sanctification.

And here let it be remarked, the Spirit of God and his word do not lead nor work in opposite directions in the accomplishment of sanctification. As well might the telegraph agent talk of dispensing with the long lines of wires stretching themselves over the earth, and declare that he could control the electric current sending his messages everywhere through the air, as for one to claim sanctification by the Spirit while the teachings of God's word are repudiated.

A. S. HUTCHINS.