06. The truth of sanctification

The truth of sanctification The effect of killing the passover was, that the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves (2 Chronicles 30:15). It is very important rightly to divide the Word of life, as to the subject of sanctification. There are three kinds of sanctification in Scripture:

(1) Firstly, the absolute, immutable sanctification of every believer by the one offering of Christ. Immutably perfect, this can never change. This, as we have noticed, is abundantly seen in Hebrews 10:10-19. This is what He has done; and what He has done must he perfect.

(2) Secondly, there is sanctification in wickedness; separating ourselves in wickedness — abomination in the sight of the Lord. ’They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens, behind one in the midst [or, one after another], eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord’ (Isaiah 66:17).

’But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my Word’ — in contrast with those who ’have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions’ etc. (Isaiah 66:2-4). No doubt this applies to the Jews, and their cleaving to the man of sin. But it also has a solemn voice to us in these last days. It shows the very last and worst marks of these last days. Can anything be worse than pretentious separation from others, but only to worse evil? Beware of these mockers of the last time: ’These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit’ (Jude 1:19).

(3) Thirdly, there is ’sanctification in holiness’. This is not what we are by the work of Christ, but practical sanctification — sanctifying ourselves. Have you noticed how much there is in our chapters on Hezekiah about this, over and over again? ’They could not keep the passover at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently’ (2 Chronicles 30:3). This is not merely a question of gross sins, but defilement by touching the unclean. This we noticed in Numbers 9:1-23. Those who had touched a dead body were unclean. You could not say it was gross sin to do so. Neither could you say: ‘True, that dead body is unclean, but I am alive, and not unclean’. This would be to deny the Word of God. All these types show that before the Lord, contact with evil, is evil. To touch the dead body is to be unclean. But then, what is to be done in the present defiled state of Christendom? If the true ground of being gathered to the name of the Lord to keep the passover, the Lord’s supper, as it is written, be equal to the reconciliation, as we have seen; and if the invitation is also equal, does it not follow that all ought to be together, no matter what defilement? Is there an express word of the Lord to us on this, in the midst of all the circumstances of these last days? There is, and it is very plain: ’Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood: and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work’ (2 Timothy 2:19-21). And then, after describing the very corruptions of these days, of that which bears the name of Christendom around us — ’having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof’ — what is the mind of the Lord? Does He say: Keep in it, try to mend it, use your influence for good in it? No, but ’from such turn away’ (2 Timothy 3:1-5). This is to sanctify ourselves, to purge ourselves, to turn away from all known evil. But let it not be to a worse thing, but in holiness. The Lord search our hearts, and, by His precious Word and Spirit, enable us to sanctify ourselves from all iniquity. Let us test ourselves by the precious words of Jesus: ’They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world’ (John 17:14).