20 Sanctify Them
Sanctify Them The Lord has set apart the godly for himself; and as set apart for God — they ought to stand out in bold relief from the world. As consecrated to God — they should live for him, and for him alone. This is the design of grace, and this is the desire of Jesus; hence he prays for his disciples, "Sanctify them through your truth; your Word is truth"
Having by himself purged their sin — he sends the Holy Spirit to purify their souls, and to stamp his own image upon them. That Spirit . . .
convinces of sin,
sets the heart against sin,
delivers from the power of sin, and
ultimately purges away every stain of sin!
Therefore Paul, speaking of some of the foulest crimes which could disgrace humanity, and of some of the greatest criminals to be found in the heathen world, and having testified that as such they could not inherit the kingdom of God, adds, to the glory of God’s free grace, and the Spirit’s sanctifying power: "And such were some of you; but you are washed — but you are sanctified — but you are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." The sanctification of God’s people includes also the adorning of their persons with all the fruits of the Spirit. The Spirit of Christ whom they receive, produces in them love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance — along with every moral virtue and Christian grace which can perfect or adorn an intellectual and immortal being.
When, therefore, Jesus prayed that his disciples may be sanctified, he prayed that they may be . . .
wholly and entirely set apart for God and his glory;
delivered from the guilt and power of sin; and
adorned with every moral virtue and Christian grace.
Observe, None but God can sanctify us. It requires a divine right in us — and absolute control over us. He who claims us, and can get easy access to the heart, changing and controlling it — he alone can set us apart for himself, and make us like himself.
Sanctification is the glory of an intelligent creature. What can be a greater honor than to be set apart for God, and conformed to the moral likeness of God — to be devoted to the service and glory of the all-glorious Creator?
God’s aim in all he does for us, is our sanctification.
He chose us in Christ — that we might be holy.
Jesus gave himself for us — that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
He called us with a holy calling; and on the ground of it Peter says, "As the One who called you is holy — you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy."
Sanctification was imperfect, even in the apostles. Sanctification is a progressive work, begun in regeneration, carried on through life, and completed at the resurrection of the just. For though we were set apart in the decree of God, and actually set apart by God when he called us by his grace — yet our characters are not perfectly formed, our likeness to Christ is not complete, nor shall we be entirely holy in body, soul, and spirit — until Jesus comes.
Sanctification should be sought as a favor from God. Jesus sought it at the hands of his Father, for his immediate disciples as such, and so should we seek it for ourselves. May the Lord sanctify us wholly; and I pray God that our whole body, and soul, and spirit may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The MEDIUM Through Which Sanctification Flows: "Sanctify them through your truth — your Word is truth." The Bible is not only true — but it is the truth; only in a little lower sense than the Lord Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life; and of whom John testified, "We beheld his glory, full of grace and truth." God’s truth, in its purity, simplicity, and perfection — is to be found in God’s book.
God works by the truth. Are we begotten of God? It is "by the Word of truth." Are we born again? It is "by the Word of God which lives and abides forever." Are we quickened? "Your Word has quickened me." Are we enlightened? "The entrance of your Word gives light." Are we comforted? It is by the "comfort of the Scriptures." By his Word, God . . .
forms the judgment,
disposes the mind,
directs the feet, and
preserves from falling. The great truth by which God sanctifies, is the gospel — the good news . . .
of his amazing love to us,
of the sacrifice of his Son for us,
of his Spirit’s work within us, and
of the glorious provision he has made for us.
God’s order is:
first the truth of the gospel,
then the illumination of the Spirit,
then the bestowal of saving faith, and
then holiness of life and conduct. As holiness flows in the channel of truth — so sin flows in the channel of error. As God sanctifies by the truth — so the devil degrades and debases by error. It was by believing the devil’s lie in preference to God’s truth — that man fell at first; and it is by preferring error to truth — that man continues in opposition to God, alienated from the life of God.
Truth is precious — error is pernicious.
Truth is medicinal — error is poisonous. That alone is the truth of God . . .
which tends to purify and make us like God, and
which sets us apart from the world for the service and glory of God. The truth, therefore, should be valued, preserved, and used. We cannot value truth too highly — unless we put it in the place of Christ. Hence, when Solomon exhorts us to buy the truth, he puts no price upon it — but would have us buy it at any price, cost what it may.
Having the truth, we should carefully preserve it. The martyrs laid down their lives to preserve the truth; and if necessary, so should we. "Contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints."
We should use the truth; for as food will not strengthen except it is eaten, as medicine will not cure except it be taken — so truth will not sanctify, unless it is applied and employed.
We should daily pray for God to confirm, carry on, and complete his work of sanctification in us. We need that the testimony of Christ be confirmed in us; that He who has begun the good work should carry it on, and complete it in the day of Christ. This being the case, we should pray for it, even as Jesus did for his disciples. The grace which began the work — must complete it; and the completion of it will be to the praise of his glorious grace.
We should look for the effect of truth in our deeper sanctification. There are diseases in the physical system which prevent a man increasing in size, or in strength — eat what he may; and there is something very like this in some professors of religion. But if the truth works effectually and properly in us, it will produce . . .
firmer trust,
stronger love,
steadier zeal, and
more complete obedience to the divine will. The truth will more thoroughly . . .
devote us to God,
conform us to the image of God, and
set us apart for the service and praise of God.
Beloved, are you sanctified? Is your heart set upon the entire and thorough sanctification of your person, that you may be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and prepared for the Master’s use? The truth must sanctify you; but it will only sanctify you as you mix faith with it, and have communion with God through it. And you will only be able to mix faith with the truth, as you enjoy the aid and assistance of the Holy Spirit. Seek, therefore, to enjoy more of the presence, power, and operation of the Holy Spirit in your soul. The Spirit will . . .
lead you to the truth,
unfold the truth to your mind,
show you Jesus in the truth, and
lead you to have personal dealings with him as the great Refiner.
Jesus’ heart is set upon your sanctification, and as you drink into his mind — your heart will be set upon it too. He wishes you to be like himself in holiness, even as he is like his Father; and you will wish above all things to resemble him too.
Holy and ever blessed God, as you sanctify your people through your truth — be pleased thus to sanctify me. Give me a growing love to the truth, a fuller and more correct knowledge of the truth, and may I feel more of its cleansing, separating, and elevating power!