"IF YE WILL INQUIRE, INQUIRE YE."
By Editor
This Inquirers' Department is conducted for the purpose of helping those who are studying the Bible. The answers are oftentimes only suggestive. They are never to be considered infallible, only as they agree with the infallible Word. The writer who may answer them does not consider that his opinion is infallible. He will simply give the best that he has, and plead with the inquirer to search the Word. Such questions only will be answered as, to the editors, seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. No letters are answered which do not contain the name of the writer. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply. Can any one be sanctified on earth, and if so, in what sense? Yes, one can, and every one should be. We get many times an utterly wrong idea of the Bible meaning of sanctification. Sanctify in the Bible sense means set apart. Those whom God has sanctified are those whom He has set apart for Himself. The work is twofold. It is on man's part in yielding himself to God, utterly giving up all in purpose; in will he is sanctified to God. He consecrates himself. The Lord accepts of that consecration, and sets apart that individual to His own work. This does not mean that he is perfect; does not mean that he will not sin, or can not sin; it does mean that he is given to God for a definite work, a definite field; he is to train for larger and still larger usefulness. Every one who starts out in the Christian life and yields to God, turns away from sin to God, is by the Lord forgiven. If his faith grasps God's power he is regenerated, born again; and then when he gives himself to God, that is consecration on his part, and sanctification, or setting apart to God's work, on the part of himself and the Lord. So far as the will is concerned, it is done instantaneously when the man forms that purpose. So far as carrying it out is concerned, that occurs every day of his life. Sanctification is therefore an instantaneous work so far as purpose is concerned; it is a constantly progressive work in its carrying out.