p. 8 | Sanctification

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 3, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 22.

Sanctification

No. 585. Sanctification.

DOES sanctification mean that we come to a state of grace that we can not sin? "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." J. R.

Yes and no. If is meant no desire to sin, yes; but if a physical impossibility to sin, no. "Sanctify" means to set apart, to separate. He who is truly sanctified is set apart to the service of God and separated from the world. This is done by his own choice in receiving God's Word, and by the cleansing power of the Spirit in that Word. Every true saint is a sanctified man. He may fail, even as have saints of old. He may let the truth of God, the only power which will keep him, leak out of his heart. He can sin if he desires; what he does not wish to do, God will enable him not to do. But the holiness that any saint has is not his holiness; it is the holiness of Christ by faith. Neither will any true saint boast; in the glory of Christ will he see his own unworthiness, and in the righteousness of Christ will he glory.