The sanctification set forth in the Sacred Scriptures has to do with
the entire being--spirit, soul, and body. Here is the true idea of entire
consecration. Paul prays that the church at Thessalonica may enjoy this
great blessing. "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray
God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23).
There is in the religious world a theory of sanctification which is false in itself and dangerous in its influence. In many cases those who profess sanctification do not possess the genuine article. Their sanctification consists in talk and will worship. Those who are really seeking to perfect Christian character will never indulge the thought that they are sinless. Their lives may be irreproachable, they may be living representatives of the truth which they have accepted; but the more they discipline their minds to dwell upon the character of Christ, and the nearer they approach to His divine image, the more clearly will they discern its spotless perfection, and the more deeply will they feel their own defects.
When persons claim that they are sanctified, they give sufficient evidence
that they are far from being holy. They fail to see their own weakness
and destitution. They look upon themselves as reflecting the image of Christ,
because they have no true knowledge of Him. The greater the distance between
them and their Saviour, the more righteous they appear in their own eyes.
While with penitence and humble trust we meditate upon Jesus, whom our
sins have pierced and our sorrows have burdened, we may learn to walk in
His footsteps. By beholding Him we become changed into His divine likeness.
And when this work is wrought in us, we shall claim no righteousness of
our own, but shall exalt Jesus Christ, while we hang our helpless souls
upon His merits.
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS CONDEMNED
Our Saviour ever condemned self-righteousness. He taught His disciples
that the highest type of religion is that which manifests itself in a quiet,
unobtrusive manner. He cautioned them to perform their deeds of charity
quietly; not for display, not to be praised or honored of men, but for
the glory of God, expecting their reward hereafter. If they should perform
good deeds to be lauded by men, no reward would be given them by their
Father in heaven.
The followers of Christ were instructed not to pray for the purpose
of being heard of men. "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matt. 6:6).
Such expressions as this from the lips of Christ show that He did not regard
with approval that kind of piety so prevalent among the Pharisees. His
teachings upon the mount show that deeds of benevolence assume a noble
form and acts of religious worship shed a most precious fragrance when
performed in an unpretending manner, in penitence and humility. The pure
motive sanctifies the act.
True sanctification is an entire conformity to the will of God. Rebellious
thoughts and feelings are overcome, and the voice of Jesus awakens a new
life, which pervades the entire being. Those who are truly sanctified will
not set up their own opinion as a standard of right and wrong. They are
not bigoted or self-righteousness; but they are jealous of self, ever fearing
lest, a promise being left them, they should come short of complying with
the conditions upon which the promises are based.
SUBSTITUTING FEELING FOR REASON
Many who profess sanctification are entirely ignorant of the work of
grace upon the heart. When proved and tested, they are found to be like
the self-righteous Pharisee. They will bear no contradiction. They lay
aside reason and judgment, and depend wholly upon their feelings, basing
their claims to sanctification upon emotions which they have at some time
experienced. They are stubborn and perverse in urging their tenacious claims
of holiness, giving many words, but bearing no precious fruit as proof.
These professedly sanctified persons are not only deluding their own souls
by their pretensions, but are exerting an influence to lead astray many
who earnestly desire to conform to the will of God. They may be heard to
reiterate again and again, "God leads me! God teaches me! I am living without
sin!" Many who come in contact with this spirit encounter a dark, mysterious
something which they cannot comprehend. But it is that which is altogether
unlike Christ, the only true pattern.
Bible sanctification does not consist in strong emotion. Here is where
many are led into error. They make feelings their criterion. When they
feel elated or happy, they claim that they are sanctified. Happy feelings
or the absence of joy is no evidence that a person is or is not sanctified.
There is no such thing as instantaneous sanctification. True sanctification
is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall last. Those who are battling
with daily temptations, overcoming their own sinful tendencies, and seeking
for holiness of heart and life, make no boastful claims of holiness. They
are hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Sin appears to them exceedingly
sinful.
There are those claiming sanctification who make a profession of the
truth, like their brethren, and it may be difficult to make a distinction
between them; but the difference exists, nevertheless. The testimony of
those claiming such an exalted experience will cause the sweet Spirit of
Christ to withdraw from a meeting, and will leave a chilling influence
upon those present, while if they were truly living without sin, their
very presence would bring holy angels into the assembly, and their words
would indeed be "like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Prov. 25:11).
THE TESTING TIME
In summer, as we look upon the trees of the distant forest, all clothed
with a beautiful mantle of green, we may not be able to distinguish between
the evergreens and the other trees. But as winter approaches, and the frost
king encloses them in his icy embrace, stripping the other trees of their
beautiful foliage, the evergreens are readily discerned. Thus it will be
with all who are walking in humility, distrustful of self, but clinging
tremblingly to the hand of Christ. While those who are self-confident,
and trust in their own perfection of character, lose their false robe of
righteousness when subjected to the storms of trial, the truly righteous,
who sincerely love and fear God, wear the robe of Christ's righteousness
in prosperity and adversity alike.
Self-denial, self-sacrifice, benevolence, kindness, love, patience,
fortitude, and Christian trust are the daily fruits borne by those who
are truly connected with God. Their acts may not be published to the world,
but they themselves are daily wrestling with evil, and gaining precious
victories over temptation and wrong. Solemn vows are renewed, and kept
through the strength gained by earnest prayer and constant watching thereunto.
The ardent enthusiast does not discern the struggles of these silent workers;
but the eye of Him who seeth the secrets of the heart, notices and regards
with approval every effort put forth in lowliness and meekness. It requires
the testing time to reveal the pure gold of love and faith in the character.
When trials and perplexities come upon the church, then the steadfast zeal
and warm affections of Christ's true followers are developed.
We feel sad to see professed Christians led astray by the false and
bewitching theory that they are perfect, because it is so difficult to
undeceive them and lead them into the right path. They have sought to make
the exterior fair and pleasing, while the inward adorning, the meekness
and lowliness of Christ, is wanting. The testing time will come to all,
when the hopes of many who have for years thought themselves secure, will
be seen to be without foundation. When in new positions, under varied circumstances,
some who have seemed to be pillars in the house of God reveal only rotten
timber beneath the paint and varnish. But the humble in heart, who have
daily felt the importance of riveting their souls to the eternal Rock,
will stand unmoved amid the tempests of trial, because they trusted not
to themselves. "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Tim. 2:19).
NORMAL FRUIT BEARING
Those who take pains to call attention to their good works, constantly
talking of their sinless state and endeavoring to make their religious
attainments prominent, are only deceiving their own souls by so doing.
A healthy man, who is able to attend to the vocations of life and who goes
forth day after day to his labor with buoyant spirits and with a healthy
current of blood flowing through his veins, does not call the attention
of every one he meets to his soundness of body. Health and vigor are the
natural conditions of his life, and therefore he is scarcely conscious
that he is in the enjoyment of so rich a boon.
Thus it is with the truly righteous man. He is unconscious of his goodness
and piety. Religious principle has become the spring of his life and conduct,
and it is just as natural for him to bear the fruits of the Spirit as for
the fig tree to bear figs or for the rosebush to yield roses. His nature
is so thoroughly imbued with love for God and his fellow men that he works
the works of Christ with a willing heart.
All who come within the sphere of his influence perceive the beauty
and fragrance of his Christian life, while he himself is unconscious of
it, for it is in harmony with his habits and inclinations. He prays for
divine light, and loves to walk in that light. It is his meat and drink
to do the will of his heavenly Father. His life is hid with Christ in God;
yet he does not boast of this, nor seem conscious of it. God smiles upon
the humble and lowly ones who follow closely in the footsteps of the Master.
Angels are attracted to them, and love to linger about their path. They
may be passed by as unworthy of notice by those who claim exalted attainments
and who delight in making prominent their good works, but heavenly angels
bend lovingly over them and are as a wall of fire round about them.
WHY CHRIST WAS REJECTED
Our Saviour was the light of the world, but the world knew Him not.
He was constantly employed in works of mercy, shedding light upon the pathway
of all; yet He did not call upon those with whom He mingled to behold His
unexampled virtue, His self-denial, self-sacrifice, and benevolence. The
Jews did not admire such a life. They considered His religion worthless,
because it did not accord with their standard of piety. They decided that
Christ was not religious in spirit or character; for their religion consisted
in display, in praying publicly, and in doing works of charity for effect.
They trumpeted their good deeds, as do those who claim sanctification.
They would have all understand that they are without sin. But the whole
life of Christ was in direct contrast to this. He sought neither gain nor
honor. His wonderful acts of healing were performed in as quiet a manner
as possible, although He could not restrain the enthusiasm of those who
were the recipients of His great blessings. Humility and meekness characterized
His life. And it was because of His lowly walk and unassuming manners,
which were in such marked contrast to their own, that the Pharisees would
not accept Him.
MEEKNESS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
The most precious fruit of sanctification is the grace of meekness.
When this grace presides in the soul, the disposition is molded by its
influence. There is a continual waiting upon God and a submission of the
will to His. The understanding grasps every divine truth, and the will
bows to every divine precept, without doubting or murmuring. True meekness
softens and subdues the heart and gives the mind a fitness for the engrafted
word. It brings the thoughts into obedience to Jesus Christ. It opens the
heart to the word of God, as Lydia's was opened. It places us with Mary,
as learners at the feet of Jesus. "The meek will he guide in judgment:
and the meek will he teach his way" (Ps. 25:9).
The language of the meek is never that of boasting. Like the child Samuel,
they pray, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth" (1 Sam. 3:9). When Joshua
was placed in the highest position of honor, as commander of Israel, he
bade defiance to all the enemies of God. His heart was filled with noble
thoughts of his great mission. Yet upon the intimation of a message from
Heaven he placed himself in the position of a little child to be directed.
"What saith my lord unto his servant?" (Joshua 5:14), was his response.
The first words of Paul after Christ was revealed to him were, "Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6).
Meekness in the school of Christ is one of the marked fruits of the
Spirit. It is a grace wrought by the Holy Spirit as a sanctifier, and enables
its possessor at all times to control a rash and impetuous temper. When
the grace of meekness is cherished by those who are naturally sour or hasty
in disposition, they will put forth the most earnest efforts to subdue
their unhappy temper. Every day they will gain self-control, until that
which is unlovely and unlike Jesus is conquered. They become assimilated
to the Divine Pattern, until they can obey the inspired injunction, "Be
swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19).
When a man professes to be sanctified, and yet in words and works may
be represented by the impure fountain sending forth its bitter waters,
we may safely say, That man is deceived. He needs to learn the very alphabet
of what constitutes the life of a Christian. Some who profess to be servants
of Christ have so long cherished the demon of unkindness that they seem
to love the unhallowed element and to take pleasure in speaking words that
displease and irritate. These men must be converted before Christ will
acknowledge them as His children.
Meekness is the inward adorning, which God estimates as of great price.
The apostle speaks of this as more excellent and valuable than gold or
pearls or costly array. While the outward adorning beautifies only the
mortal body, the ornament of meekness adorns the soul and connects finite
man with the infinite God. This is the ornament of God's own choice. He
who garnished the heavens with the orbs of light has by the same Spirit
promised that "he will beautify the meek with salvation" (Ps. 149:4). Angels
of heaven will register as best adorned those who put on the Lord Jesus
Christ and walk with Him in meekness and lowliness of mind.
There are high attainments for the Christian. He may ever be rising
to higher attainments. John had an elevated idea of the privilege of a
Christian. He says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). It is
not
possible for humanity to rise to a higher dignity than is here implied.
To man is granted the privilege of becoming an heir of God and a joint
heir with Christ. To those who have been thus exalted, are unfolded the
unsearchable riches of Christ, which are of a thousandfold more value than
the wealth of the world. Thus, through the merits of Jesus Christ, finite
man is elevated to fellowship with God and with His dear Son.