01 - Chapter 1
CHAPTER I. THE BIBLE DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION.
1. The subject of Sanctification is naturally one which arrests the attention of every sincere believer. When brought under conviction of sin by the agency of the Holy Spirit, through the word or truth, his first inquiry is, "What shall I do to be saved?" How shall I secure my safety? The removal of guilt and condemnation and his justification before God are the prominent wants of his soul. The former separates him from God, the latter reconciles and brings him near to God. It effects a union between God and himself. The guilt and condemnation pass away, a new life is implanted, and the man is at peace with God.
2. Up to this point his experience conforms to Paul’s testimony. "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have obtained access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and triumph in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2). But he does not advance far beyond this initial experience, nor study to any extent the Epistle to the Romans, and other parts of Scripture, until he realizes that he has entered upon a new domain--that of the preservation of the new life, the domain of sanctification. He may not understand it. He may be perplexed. He may not know its nature, nor its relation to justification. And yet he finds a need in his own soul, and a doctrine in God’s word which has not come to realization in his own life, so that he begins to look upon this doctrine as the thing that his soul needs. And the marked prominence which the subject of sanctification has accorded to it in all Scripture relating to post-conversion experiences indicates the importance of the doctrine.
3. Herein lie in part the reasons which have led us to a long-continued, laborious, earnest and painstaking investigation of the subject of sanctification. Not for purposes of instruction, for we have at no time preached or written specifically, systematically and at length on the subject, though a large proportion of our editorial writing has had an essential bearing on it; but that we might know and experience the truth, on this subject, as taught in God’s word. At this time we are induced to elaborate this subject editorially by the urgent request of our readers. We shall canvass the question thoroughly, and bring to its solution every means and power that we can. We have gone again from beginning to end over the whole question, seeking first of all a complete and thorough induction of all the facts found in the word of God which reflect any light upon it. We ask our readers to follow us with patient care, and to test every position taken by the word of God in the most critical, but unbiased, manner, and with a supreme view of ascertaining the mind of the Spirit as expressed in the word. Sentiments, preferences, prejudices and preconceived notions must have no weight in the determination of a doctrine of sacred Scripture. What is the mind of the Spirit? What is the teaching of inspiration? These are the questions to be solved.