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Wholly Sanctified: Body, Soul, and Spirit, September 1
Sanctification
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 Thessalonians 5:23
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 Thessalonians 5:23
....
True sanctification is an entire conformity to the will of God. Re-
bellious 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-righteous; 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....
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, over-coming 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.
* * * * *
Genuine sanctification ... is nothing less than a daily dying to self
and daily conformity to the will of God.
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