Practical Sanctification

by Bennison, J. | Category: For Young Believers | Jul 1957

Sanctification is both a finished act and a continuing process. Every believer is sanctified, set apart, in his relationship to God through the sacrificial work of Christ. The sinner plays no active part in this aspect of sanctification. He hears, believes, and rejoices in it through faith in Christ alone. This can never be repeated it is once for all. Such an one has been "sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10.10).

Though that is the privileged position of every born-again soul through the precious blood of Christ, there is the other aspect, that practical sanctification whereby we become vessels "unto honour sanctified, meet for the Master's use." I was very interested in the' experience of a dear friend who had recently accepted the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour. You will probably be amused, but my friend had been a heavy smoker: on the night of his decision he brushed his mouth out with common salt and thereafter bathed himself completely. To use his own words, he said-" I was- anxious in my new life to be clean inside and out." You ask, Is that essential? and I would answer, no! But does it not indicate a real desire to be well-pleasing to the Lord? Indeed my thoughts went immediately to David's exercise of heart when he cried, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Granted there is a spiritual significance, nevertheless it does indicate a desire to be clean inside as well as outside.

Sanctification then is used of the believer's daily life and walk. This can only be learned from God through His word. The Lord Jesus said, "Sanctify them in the truth, Thy word is truth" (John 17.17). The word of God will furnish us with all the help and guidance that we require. "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" The simple answer is, "By taking heed to the word of God." It both cleanses and keeps us clean. There is ever the danger of turning towards the old life, unless we are constantly following after holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit. What a dishonour to go back to the beggarly elements of the world! Paul wrote of Demas having forsaken him, having loved this present world.

God has a purpose for each of us and our members are the instruments with which He has provided us for the accomplishing of this. He says emphatically, "Ye are not your own, ye were bought with a price"; or, to quote another verse from 1 Corinthians 6, "The body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body." One would naturally hesitate to use such an ugly word, apart from the fact that it is in the inspired writings, but having quoted it I do wish to be straight on this solemn subject. Here is the truth that one has

been endeavouring to present. "The body is not for fornication, but for the Lord." It is the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, in which we are to glorify God. You may be shocked and possibly offended that I should mention such a matter. I know that it is a delicate matter and one certainly does not wish to hurt anyone's feelings, but we must remember that the Holy Spirit through Paul is raising a warning note. It may not be necessary to name such a matter to many of the Lord's dear children, but this evil had crept into the Church of God in Corinth. Some had already been caught in the snare of the evil one, having been drawn aside from the pursuit of holiness.

James in his forthright and practical manner tells us, when dealing with the subject of temptation, "Each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust." The devil appeals to the lusts of the flesh by the enticements of the world. The world, the flesh, and the devil operate together, and that means for every one of us constant conflict. The body is a good servant but a bad master. Paul wrote, "I keep under my body." In his letter to the Thessalonians, he clearly sets forth the use and the abuse of the body. "Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, ... that ye abound more and more. For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication " (1 Thessalonians 4.1-3). It is abundantly clear that we are to be holy in all manner of living. "Be ye holy; for I am holv," is the unchanging demand of our God.

Then our Lord left us an example, that we should follow His steps. He makes it clear beyond doubt that such a walk of holiness is possible. Listen to what He says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." What an objective! What a possibility! To be like Him. " Like Thee in faith, in meekness, love, in every heavenly grace." " Surely this should be the desire of every redeemed heart, a longing that we should be all that He would desire us to be! Our bodies arc the temple of the Holy Spirit, moreover they are the Lord's and it is only right that they should be used for His glory; sanctified, meet for the Master's use."

In closing let me remind you of that veteran of spiritual conflict, Paul, scarred with the wounds of battle. He uses these significant words " Henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus." There is no doubt that he is referring to the actual brands which his poor, scarred body bore; marks inflicted by the enemies of the Lord, and evidences of his faithfulness. Ah, yes, but surely there is something deeper, and more indelible than the brands on his body; they are the marks of ownership, and proofs of possession. He belonged to that One of whom he said, "I am ready, not to be bound only, but also to die, ... for the name of the Lord Jesus."

" Take time to be holy,

The world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret,

With Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus,

Like Him thou shalt be,

Thy friends in thy conduct,

His likeness shall see."

Bennison, J. | Jul 1957
For Young Believers