莱尔主教holiness-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃This is the will of God； even jour sanctification。〃1 Thess。 iv。 3。
The subject of sanctification is one which many； I fear； dislike
exceedingly。 Some even turn from it with scorn and disdain。 The very
last thing they would like is to be a 〃saint；〃 or a 〃sanctified〃 man。
Yet the subject does not deserve to be treated in this way。 It is not
an enemy； but a friend。
It is a subject of the utmost importance to our souls。 If the Bible be
true； it is certain that unless we are 〃sanctified；〃 we shall not be
saved。 There are three things which； according to the Bible； are
absolutely necessary to the salvation of every man and woman in
Christendom。 These three are； justification； regeneration； and
sanctification。 All three meet in every child of God： he is both born
again； and justified； and sanctified。 He that lacks any one of these
three things is not a true Christian in the sight of God； and dying in
that condition will not be found in heaven and glorified in the last
day。
It is a subject which is peculiarly seasonable in the present day。
Strange doctrines have risen up of late upon the whole subject of
sanctification。 Some appear to confound it with justification。 Others
fritter it away to nothing； under the pretence of zeal for free grace；
and practically neglect it altogether。 Others are so much afraid of
〃works〃 being made a part of justification； that they can hardly find
any place at all for 〃works〃 in their religion。 Others set up a wrong
standard of sanctification before their eyes； and failing to attain it；
waste their lives in repeated secessions from church to church； chapel
to chapel； and sect to sect； in the vain hope that they will find what
they want。 In a day like this； a calm examination of the subject； as a
great leading doctrine of the Gospel； may be of great use to our souls。
I。 Let us consider； firstly； the true nature of sanctification。
II。 Let us consider； secondly； the visible marks of sanctification。
III。 Let us consider； lastly； wherein justification and sanctification
agree and are like one another； and wherein they differ and are unlike。
If； unhappily； the reader of these pages is one of those who care for
nothing but this world； and make no profession of religion； I cannot
expect him to take much interest in what I am writing。 You will
probably think it an affair of 〃words； and names；〃 and nice questions；
about which it matters nothing what you hold and believe。 But if you
are a thoughtful； reasonable； sensible Christian； I venture to say that
you will find it worth while to have some clear ideas about
sanctification。
I。 In the first place； we have to consider the nature of
sanctification。 What does the Bible mean when it speaks of a
〃sanctified〃 man？
Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus
Christ works in a man by the Holy Ghost； when He calls him to be a true
believer。 He not only washes him from his sins in His own blood； but He
also separates him from his natural love of sin and the world； puts a
new principle in his heart； and makes him practically godly in life。
The instrument by which the Spirit effects this work is generally the
Word of God； though He sometimes uses afflictions and providential
visitations 〃without the Word。〃 （1 Peter iii。 1。） The subject of this
work of Christ by His Spirit is called in Scripture a 〃sanctified〃 man。
＇5＇
He who supposes that Jesus Christ only lived and died and rose again in
order to provide justification and forgiveness of sins for His people；
has yet much to learn。 Whether he knows it or not； he is dishonouring
our blessed Lord； and making Him only a half Saviour。 The Lord Jesus
has undertaken everything that His people's souls require； not only to
deliver them from the guilt of their sins by His atoning death； but
from the dominion of their sins； by placing in their hearts the Holy
Spirit； not only to justify them； but also to sanctify them。 He is；
thus； not only their 〃righteousness；〃 but their 〃sanctification。〃 （1
Cor。 i。 30。） Let us hear what the Bible says： 〃For their sakes I
sanctify myself； that they also might be sanctified。〃〃Christ loved
the Church； and gave Himself for it； that He might sanctify and cleanse
it。〃〃Christ gave Himself for us； that He might redeem us from all
iniquity； and purify unto Himself a peculiar people； zealous of good
works。〃〃Christ bore our sins in His own body on the tree； that we；
being dead to sins； should live unto righteousness。〃〃Christ hath
reconciled （you） in the body of His flesh through death； to present you
holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight。〃 （John xvii。 19；
Ephes。 v。 25； Titus ii。 14； 1 Peter ii。 24； Coloss。 i。 22。） Let the
meaning of these five texts be carefully considered。 If words mean
anything； they teach that Christ undertakes the sanctification； no less
than the justification of His believing people。 Both are alike provided
for in that 〃everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure；〃 of
which the Mediator is Christ。 In fact； Christ in one place is called
〃He that sanctifieth；〃 and His People； 〃they who are sanctified。〃 （Heb。
ii。 11。）
The subject before us is of such deep and vast importance； that it
requires fencing； guarding； clearing up； and marking out on every side。
A doctrine which is needful to salvation can never be too sharply
developed； or brought too fully into light。 To clear away the confusion
between doctrines and doctrines； which is so unhappily mon among
Christians； and to map out the precise relation between truths and
truths in religion； is one way to attain accuracy in our theology。 I
shall therefore not hesitate to lay before my readers a series of
connected propositions or statements； drawn from Scripture； which I
think will be found useful in defining the exact nature of
sanctification。
（1） Sanctification； then； is the invariable result of that vital union
with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian。〃He that abideth in
Me； and I in him； the same bringeth forth much fruit。〃 （John xv。 5。）
The branch which bears no fruit is no living branch of the vine。 The
union with Christ which produces no effect on heart and life is a mere
formal union； which is worthless before God。 The faith which has not a
sanctifying influence on the character is no better than the faith of
devils。 It is a 〃dead faith； because it is alone。〃 It is not the gift
of God。 It is not the faith of God's elect。 In short； where there is no
sanctification of life； there is no real faith in Christ。 True faith
worketh by love。 In constrains a man to live unto the Lord from a deep
sense of gratitude for redemption。 It makes him feel that he can never
do too much for Him that died for him。 Being much forgiven； he loves
much。 He whom the blood cleanses； walks in the light。 He who has real
lively hope in Christ； purifieth himself even as He is pure。 （James ii。
17…20； Titus i。 1； Gal。 v。 6； 1 John i。 7； iii。 3。）
（2） Sanctification； again； is the oute and inseparable consequence
of regeneration。 He that is born again and made a new creature；
receives a new nature and a new principle； and always lives a new life。
A regeneration which a man can have； and yet live carelessly in sin or
worldliness； is a regeneration invented by uninspired theologians； but
never mentioned in Scripture。 On the contrary； St。 John expressly says；
that 〃He that is born of God doth not mit sindoeth
righteousnessloveth the brethrenkeepeth himselfand overeth the
world。〃 （1 John ii。 29； iii。 9…14； v。 4…18。） In a word； where there is
no sanctification there is no regeneration； and where there is no holy
life there is no new birth。 This is； no doubt； a hard saying to many
minds； but； hard or not； it is simple Bible truth。 It is written
plainly； that he who is born of God is one whose 〃seed remaineth in
him； and he cannot sin
