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God’s Law Is The Standard Of Character, February 3
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Psalm 119:142
.
Erroneous theories of sanctification ... have a prominent place in the religious
movements of the day. These theories are both false in doctrine and dangerous
in practical results; and the fact that they are so generally finding favor renders it
doubly essential that all have a clear understanding of what the Scriptures teach
upon this point.
True sanctification is a Bible doctrine. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the
Thessalonian church, declares: “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.”
And he prays: “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly” (
1 Thessalonians 4:3
;
5:23
). The Bible clearly teaches what sanctification is and how it is to be attained.
The Saviour prayed for His disciples: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word
is truth” (
John 17:17
). And Paul teaches that believers are to be “sanctified by the
Holy Ghost” (
Romans 15:16
).
What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Jesus told His disciples: “When he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (
John 16:13
). And the
psalmist says: “Thy law is the truth.” ... And since the law of God is “holy, and
just, and good,” a transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character
formed by obedience to that law will be holy.
Christ is a perfect example of such a character. He says: “I have kept my
Father’s commandments.” “I do always those things that please him” (
John 15:10
;
8:29
). The followers of Christ are to become like Him—by the grace of God to
form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law. This is Bible
sanctification.
This work can be accomplished only through faith in Christ, by the power of
the indwelling Spirit of God. Paul admonishes believers: “Work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will
and to do of his good pleasure” (
Philippians 2:12, 13
). The Christian will feel the
promptings of sin, but he will maintain a constant warfare against it. Here is where
Christ’s help is needed. Human weakness becomes united to divine strength, and
faith exclaims: “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ” (
1 Corinthians 15:57
).
The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is progressive.
When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the blood of the
atonement, the Christian life has but just begun. Now he is to “go on unto
perfection”; to grow up “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”—
The Great Controversy, 469, 470
.
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