True Higher Education
355
“And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth.” Teachers may suppose that they can teach
in their own wisdom, retaining their human imperfections; but Christ,
the divine Teacher, whose work is to restore to man that which was lost
through the fall, sanctified Himself for His work. He offered Himself
unto God as a sacrifice for sin, giving His life for the life of the world.
He would have those for whom He paid such a ransom, sanctified
“through the truth,” and He has set them an example. The Teacher is
what He would have His disciples become. There is no sanctification
aside from the truth,—the word. Then how essential that it should be
understood by every one!
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The prayer of Christ embraces more than those who were then His
disciples; it takes in all who should receive Him in faith. He says,
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father,
art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world
may believe that Thou hast sent me. And the glory which Thou gavest
Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in
them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that
the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as
Thou hast loved Me.”
Wonderful, wonderful words, almost beyond comprehension! Will
the teachers in our schools understand this? Will they take the word of
God as the lesson book able to make them wise unto salvation? This
book is the voice of God speaking to us. The Bible opens to us the
words of life; for it makes us acquainted with Christ who is our life.
In order to have true, abiding faith in Christ, we must know Him as
He is represented in the word. Faith is trustful. It is not a matter of fits
and starts, according to the impulse and emotion of the hour; but it is
a principle that has its foundation in Jesus Christ. And faith must be
kept in constant exercise through the diligent, persevering study of the
word. The word thus becomes a living agency; and we are sanctified
through the truth.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us as an aid in the study of
the word. Jesus promises, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said
unto you.” Those who are under the training of the Holy Spirit will