Ministry of John
47
rest upon that subject. She then gave a most stirring exhortation for all
to come to the perfect love of Jesus, where there was no condemnation
to the soul.
This woman did not possess genuine sanctification. It was not God
who told her that she could be sanctified while living in disobedience
to one of His plain commandments. God’s law is sacred, and none
can transgress it with impunity. The one who told her that she could
continue to break God’s law and be sinless was the prince of the powers
of darkness—the same who told Eve in Eden, through the serpent, “Ye
shall not surely die” (
Genesis 3:4
). Eve flattered herself that God was
too kind to punish her for disobedience of His express commands. The
same sophistry is urged by thousands in excuse of their disobedience
of the fourth commandment. Those who have the mind of Christ will
keep all of God’s commandments, irrespective of circumstances. The
Majesty of heaven says, “I have kept my Father’s commandments”
(
John 15:10
).
Adam and Eve dared to transgress the Lord’s requirements, and
the terrible result of their sin should be a warning to us not to follow
their example of disobedience. Christ prayed for His disciples in these
words: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (
John
17:17
). There is no genuine sanctification except through obedience
to the truth. Those who love God with all the heart will love all His
commandments also. The sanctified heart is in harmony with the
precepts of God’s law; for they are holy, just, and good.
[68]
God Has Not Changed
God’s character has not changed. He is the same jealous God
today as when He gave His law upon Sinai and wrote it with His own
finger on the tables of stone. Those who trample upon God’s holy law
may say, “I am sanctified”; but to be indeed sanctified, and to claim
sanctification, are two different things.
The New Testament has not changed the law of God. The sacred-
ness of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is as firmly established
as the throne of Jehovah. John writes: “Whosoever committeth sin
transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And
ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him
is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth