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 ." By the word and the Spirit of God are opened to men the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law . 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 fullness of Christ ." Says the apostle Paul : " This one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind , and reaching forth unto those things which are before , I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus ." Philippians 3:13 , 14 . And Peter sets before us the steps by which Bible sanctification is to be attained : " Giving all diligence , add to your faith virtue ; and to virtue knowledge ; and to knowledge temperance ; and to temperance patience ; and to patience godliness ; and to godliness brotherly kindness ; and to brotherly kindness charity . . . . If ye do these things , ye shall never fall ." 2 Peter 1:5-10 .
Those who experience the sanctification of the Bible will manifest a spirit of humility . Like Moses , they have had a view of the awful majesty of holiness , and they see their own unworthiness in contrast with the purity and exalted perfection of the Infinite One . The prophet Daniel was an example of true sanctification . His long life was filled up with noble service for his Master . He was a man " greatly beloved " ( Daniel 10:11 ) of Heaven . Yet instead of claiming to be pure and holy , this honoured prophet identified himself with the really sinful of Israel as he pleaded before God in behalf of his people : " We do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness , but
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