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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
support of the gospel. If all who profess to be followers of Christ
were truly sanctified, every channel of needless expense would be
turned into the Lord’s treasury, and Christians would set an example
of temperance, self-denial, and self-sacrifice. Then they would be
the light of the world.
The world is given up to self-indulgence. The lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, control the masses of the
people. But Christ’s followers have a holier calling. “Come out
from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not
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the unclean; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” [
2
Corinthians 6:17, 18
.]
It is the privilege and the duty of every Christian to maintain a
close union with Christ, and to have a rich experience in the things
of God. Then his life will be fruitful in good works. When we read
the lives of men who have been eminent for their piety, we often
regard their experiences and attainments as beyond our reach. But
this is not the case. Said Christ: “Herein is my Father glorified, that
ye bear much fruit.” “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except
it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” “He
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.”
[
John 15:8, 4, 5
.] The prophets and apostles did not perfect Christian
character by a miracle. They used the means which God had placed
within their reach, and all who will put forth a like effort will secure
a like result.
Paul addressed his Corinthian brethren as “them that are sanc-
tified in Christ Jesus;” and he thanked God that in everything they
were enriched by him, “in all utterance and in all knowledge,” so
that they came behind in no gift. [
1 Corinthians 1:2, 5, 7
.] In his
epistle to the Colossians he set forth the glorious privileges granted
to the children of God. Said the apostle: We “do not cease to pray
for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might
walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every
good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened
with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience
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and long-suffering with joyfulness.” [
Colossians 1:9-11
.] Such are
the fruits of Bible sanctification.