November 5

NOVEMBER 5.—“For their sakes I sanctify myself, THAT THEY ALSO MIGHT BE SANCTIFIED.”—John 17:19.

HAVING viewed the sanctification of Christ, let me consider the SANCTIFICATION OF CHRISTIANS—“That they also might be sanctified.”

This sanctification differs much from the former. It does indeed take in the notion of dedication. In this sense believers are sanctified, and they wish to regard all they are and all they have, as the Lord’s, not only by claim, but by consecration. And in their experience there has been a time in which they “gave their ownselves unto the Lord,” saying, “Lord, I am thine, save me.” But to dispose them for this surrender, and that they may be vessels unto honour, sanctified and made meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work, a change must pass upon them. Renovation and purification are necessary. New principles must be implanted; and the promise fulfilled; “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Christians therefore are new creatures, concerning whom he says, This people I have formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise. This sanctification therefore is very superior to natural amiableness of temper, and outward reformation, and mere morality. It includes morality, but it includes much more: it includes piety; and while it secures the practice of all good works, it sees that the heart is right with God. At present indeed the work is not complete; but it is begun, and is advancing. The subjects of it love holiness; they mourn over the remains of sin as their greatest burden, and long and pray to be sanctified wholly, body, soul, and spirit.

But let us see what a connexion it has with the sacrifice of Christ—“For their sakes,” says he, “I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified.” Now this clearly shows us the importance of it. We may err in our estimation of things, but his judgment is always according to truth: and here we see his judgment.

And how precious and invaluable must he have deemed this sanctification, since he considered nothing too great or expensive to procure it for us. He well knew that unless we were delivered from the bondage of corruption, and renewed in the spirit of our minds, we could have no meethness for the inheritance of the saints in light, and must be incapable of enjoying or serving God here. This therefore was his aim in dying. “He gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

And we learn hence, That they do not improve his death aright who seek from it hope but not holiness. Such a desire has nothing spiritual in it; neither can it be realized. Jesus came by water as well as by blood: and these are as inseparable in their application to the soul as they were in their effusion from the cross. What then can we think of those who derive from his death even a licence to sin: and who, when reproved for their evil ways, satisfy themselves that Christ has satisfied for them; and not only for their past, but for all their future transgressions—and so they have nothing to fear!