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Sanctification the Work of a Lifetime, April 20
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be
sanctified through the truth.
John 17:19
.
The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed; the righ-
teousness by which we are sanctified is imparted. The first is our title to
heaven, the second is our fitness for heaven.
Many commit the error of trying to define minutely the fine points of
distinction between justification and sanctification. Into the definitions
of these two terms they often bring their own ideas and speculations.
Why try to be more minute than is Inspiration on the vital question of
righteousness by faith?
As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s atone-
ment in his behalf, and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this
life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by
faith.
Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a
lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result
of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs
cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble,
intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline,
and stern conflict, that we shall overcome.
It [sanctification] is not merely a theory, an emotion, or a form of
words, but a living, active principle, entering into the everyday life. It
requires that our habits of eating, drinking, and dressing be such as to
secure the preservation of physical, mental, and moral health, that we
may present to the Lord our bodies—not an offering corrupted by wrong
habits but—“a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.”
The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of char-
acter.... If studied and obeyed, the Word of God works in the heart,
subduing every unholy attribute.
There is no such thing as instantaneous sanctification. True sanctifi-
cation is a daily work, continuing as long as life shall last.
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