mercy is to be granted , it is presumption ; for genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures . Let none deceive themselves with the belief that they can become holy while willfully violating one of God ' s requirements . The commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit and separates the soul from God . " Sin is the transgression of the law ." And " whosoever sinneth [ transgresseth the law ] hath not seen Him , neither known Him ." 1 John 3:6 . Though John in his epistles dwells so fully upon love , yet he does not hesitate to reveal the true character of that class who claim to be sanctified while living in transgression of the law of God .
" He that saith , I know Him , and keepeth not His commandments , is a liar , and the truth is not in him . But whoso keepeth His word , in him verily is the love of God perfected ." 1 John 2:4 , 5 . Here is the test of every man ' s profession . We cannot accord holiness to any man without bringing him to the measurement of God ' s only standard of holiness in heaven and in earth . If men feel no weight of the moral law , if they belittle and make light of God ' s precepts , if they break one of the least of these commandments , and teach men so , they shall be of no esteem in the sight of Heaven , and we may know that their claims are without foundation .
And the claim to be without sin is , in itself , evidence that he who makes this claim is far from holy . It is because he has no true conception of the infinite purity and holiness of God or of what they must become who shall be in harmony with His character ; because he has no true conception of the purity and exalted loveliness of Jesus , and the malignity and evil of sin , that man can regard himself as holy . The greater the distance between himself and Christ , and the more inadequate his conceptions of the divine character and requirements , the more righteous he appears in his own eyes .
The sanctification set forth in the Scriptures embraces the entire being--spirit , soul , and body . Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that their " whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23 . Again he writes to believers : " I beseech you therefore , brethren , by the mercies of God , that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice , holy , acceptable unto God ." Romans 12:1 . In the time of ancient Israel every offering brought as a sacrifice to God was carefully examined . If any defect was discovered in the animal presented , it was refused ; for God had commanded that the offering be " without blemish ." So Christians are bidden to present their bodies , " a living sacrifice , holy , acceptable unto God ." In order to do this , all their powers must be preserved in the best possible condition . Every practice that weakens physical or mental strength unfits man for the service of his Creator . And will God be pleased with anything less than the best we can offer ? Said Christ : " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart ." Those who do love God with all the heart will desire to give Him the best service of their life , and they will be constantly seeking to bring every power of their being into harmony with the laws that will promote their ability to do His will . They will not , by the indulgence of appetite or passion , enfeeble or defile the offering which they present to their heavenly Father .
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