06 - Chapter 6

CHAPTER VI.

ALL BELIEVERS ARE SANCTIFIED. In the further discussion of this subject we are still in the realm of facts. For these we need testimony more than argument. This we present first under the proposition that ALL TRUE BELIEVERS ARE SANCTIFIED.

(1) If the doctrine of sanctification as hitherto maintained is the Bible doctrine, it must follow that all Christians, true believers, are sanctified. If this is the doctrine of the Bible we must find this among its facts. That it is one of the facts of the Bible we hesitate not to affirm. But in studying our Bibles with a view to a correct determination of this question, we need to bear in mind a very important rule. It is to the effect that in all dual natures, rendering two classes of facts possible to the same being, what is true of either nature may be predicated of the being; but what is true of one nature cannot therefore be predicated of the other. Man is a twofold being, composed of matter and spirit. He has a material and a spiritual nature, and these meet in one person. Now, what is affirmed of either nature is true of the person; but what is affirmed of one nature is not true of the other. Nor is that which is true of the person true therefore of either nature by itself. Hence, when we find texts which declare that the believer is sanctified, that being true of him in his spirit, in his higher nature, is true of him in his personality; but it does not hence follow that it is true of his physical nature. And we are sure that it is not true from that fact alone because, as we shall find, he is also at the same time, in other texts, represented as not sanctified. This contradiction is explained by the above cited rule. It is also illustrated in the case of Christ, who is both God and man, two natures in one person. He could therefore say, "Before Abraham was I am" [John 8:58]; and it could be truthfully said, "Thou art not yet fifty years old" [John 8:57]. So of man. He is mortal, and he is immortal; he is sanctified, and he is not sanctified.

1. It were possible to establish the fact that all true believers are sanctified by indirect proof. In whatever we might differ, on this one point there is agreement, that no one not on God’s side is a Christian. We must be for him; must have given ourselves to him; must yield ourselves in willing obedience to him; must be on his side. But this is to he sanctified, dedicated, consecrated. In our personality we must also be free from uncleanness, as God has no fellowship with darkness and sin. But it is a rule of law, that the strongest testimony is to be adduced, and hence we leave argument and proceed to inspired testimony.

2. It is a fact of the Bible, established by a number of independent texts, that believers are addressed as sanctified. So frequently is this done, and with reference to believers in all places, that it may be stated as a general fact that believers indiscriminately are in the Bible addressed as sanctified, and that in utter disregard of the date of their conversion, and so whether they are novices or fathers in Israel.

(1) The Corinthians were addressed as sanctified. "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified" (1 Corinthians 1:2). In like manner the Roman Christians are addressed. "To all that be in Rome, beloved of God called sanctified ones" (Romans 1:7). The word saints in this text, as in all others, is sanctified ones, one who is sanctified. The believers in all Achaia are addressed as sanctified ones. "Unto the church, of God which is at Corinth, with all the sanctified ones which are in all Achaia" (2 Corinthians 1:1). In like manner Paul addresses the Ephesians. "To the sanctified ones which are at Ephesus" (Ephesians 1:1). This letter was sent to the church at Ephesus. The brethren at Philippi were in like manner recognized as sanctified. "To all the sanctified ones in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi" (Php 1:1). To the Colossians Paul wrote, "To the sanctified and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossæ" (Colossians 1:2). The author of Hebrews does not hesitate to address the Hebrew Christians as sanctified. "Wherefore, sanctified brethren" (Hebrews 3:1). The word holy in this text is the same word elsewhere rendered sanctified. Peter in like manner addressed the "scattered" brethren. "Elect . . . through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience" (1 Peter 1:2). And Jude addresses his short Epistle "to them that are sanctified" (Jude 1:1).

(2) It is also affirmed in the most general terms that believers are sanctified. The faith which was once for all delivered was delivered to all believers. Yet Jude says it was "delivered unto the sanctified ones" (Jude 1:3). The "washing of the saints’ feet" is a universal Christian duty, yet these are all sanctified ones, as saint is a translation of the identical word uniformly rendered sanctified. Of the Corinthians in general Paul says, "But ye are sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11). Ananias affirmed of believers at Jerusalem that they were the Lord’s "sanctified ones at Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13). The brethren at Lydda are called "sanctified ones" (Acts 9:32), as also those at Joppa (Acts 9:41). So does Paul call believers at Jerusalem sanctified (Acts 26:10). The Spirit makes intercession for all true believers, yet Paul declares his intercessions are for sanctified persons (Romans 8:27). That this is for all true believers is evident from the fact that the Spirit is given to all, and all are baptized in the one Spirit into one body. Paul also affirms that the branches are sanctified if the root is (Romans 11:16). But the root is; therefore the branches are. In comparing the Christians to a temple Paul says, "The temple of God is sanctified, which temple ye are" (1 Corinthians 3:17). Of the Colossians he affirms that they are "sanctified and beloved" (Colossians 3:12).

(3) Sanctified ones is also a common the for believers. They are spoken of and referred to as sanctified. Thus Paul in writing to the Romans speaks of other Christians as the sanctified ones. "Distributing to the necessities of the sanctified" (Romans 12:13). "Minister to the sanctified ones" (Romans 15:25). "The sanctified ones at Jerusalem" (Romans 15:26-31). Saints in all these instances is the word sanctify. In a general way Paul speaks of all believers as "the sanctified ones" in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6:1,2). And in the most comprehensive manner does he speak of all Christians as sanctified. "In all churches of the sanctified" (1 Corinthians 14:33). And all ministrations to poor Christians are to sanctified ones. "For as touching the ministering to the sanctified" (2 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Corinthians 9:12). And all believers saluting others through his Epistles are called sanctified. "All the sanctified salute you" (2 Corinthians 13:13). Believers elsewhere than at Ephesus are called sanctified. "And love toward all the sanctified" (Ephesians 1:15). As are all believers (Ephesians 1:18Ephesians 3:18). When the Ephesians were converted they became "fellow-citizens with the sanctified" (Ephesians 2:19). The officers of the church, the Apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers, were given "for the perfecting of the sanctified" (Ephesians 4:12). This is a text that is everywhere applied to all true believers. And to the same effect are many other texts.

(4) Our very vocation, calling, is a sanctified one, or the calling of sanctification (2 Timothy 1:9Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 10:291 Peter 1:2, 1 Peter 1:15). Such an array of testimony in favor of the proposition that all true believers, as to their personality, are sanctified is overwhelming. That in the face of it, duly considered under the guidance of the Spirit, anyone can deny that the Scriptures teach that every true believer is sanctified is incredible. If this testimony does not prove the proposition nothing can be proved with Scripture testimony.