God has made it possible for man to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

THE new birth is the groundwork and foundation of the Christian life, and upon it are built all the principles of Christ. The joy of salvation is so wonderful that, as a rule, the new convert thinks he has everything God has for him. Salvation is truly a marvelous thing, but the saved person soon finds that there is something needed, and he hungers and thirsts for more of God.

Although the new birth is such a glorious experience that it can scarcely be told even by the one who is born again, there still remains in the heart the inbred sin. We do not lower the standard of salvation to preach sanctification, but sanctification requires deeper consecration than when one comes for pardon. When we come for pardon we feel the awful pressure of condemnation in our heart, and consecrate our lives to get pardon. But when we come to Him for sanctification there must be a deeper consecration still, which means that one is wholly resigned to the will of God. More light has dawned, and one finds that he will have to do things and part with things he did not think of before he began to seek  sanctification. It is through consecration and faith that this holy work is wrought in the heart, and it is the hub on which our perfection in God hinges.  Sanctification is the perfection or the purity of the Bride of Christ.

Sin Entered

Adam and Eve not only disobeyed God but they left the power and dominion of God for the dominion of Satan. Therefore, the virus of sin entered the heart and “death passed upon all men.” The terrible result of the fall was not only the actual sin but the sin-nature that came from the fall, which causes one to sin.

A child will become angry and act in a way that shows anyone that there is in him an inbred sin-nature. That nature is not peaceable, lacks the purity that comes into the heart at sanctification. But God, looking through Christ, justifies that child until he comes to the age of accountability. If that child should die, he would go immediately to the Father.

Purity Required

God wants us to reach that perfection of grace in our lives that we might be able to make the rapture when Jesus comes. And the only way to be ready is to have in the secret chamber of the heart that life which communes with God, that draws from Heaven the grace of God. One must have purity of heart, a heart wholly in tune with Heaven.

“For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11).

There was threefold work done on the cross, through the Blood. Our Saviour made possible the salvation of our souls, sanctification from inbred sin, and the healing of our bodies.

Jesus prayed for his disciples:

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

He set Himself apart. There are two parts to sanctification: the setting apart, and the cleansing. It was not necessary for Jesus to be cleansed; He was already holy. But it was necessary for us to be cleansed, sanctified, and be set apart, to have the Adamic nature destroyed in our heart. It was so necessary that Jesus prayed that the Father would sanctify those whom He had chosen out of the world, and whom He was sending into the world.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17: 18-21).

The Fruits of Holiness

A sanctified heart is filled with love, faith, and loyalty towards God. And when the heart is loyal to God, it will be loyal to every Blood-bought soul on earth. He will love God with all his heart and soul, and will love his neighbor as himself, which he cannot do before he is sanctified. He will have brotherly kindness, patience, virtue, and the graces of the Spirit overflowing from his heart. There will be no selfish desire in his heart for himself or for his own.

Those who are offended, put out, have not had the Word of God hidden in their soul and fully wrought out in their life. They have not been fully made perfect in love.

If you are not sanctified, why not open your heart to God and let the Blood of Jesus Christ flow all through your life? And your very touch, your very looks, your walk and manner will become a blessing. As the heart is the fountain of life, so is the Word of God, planted in the heart, the source out of which flows the love of Christ. It flows out through your very presence, through your eyes and lips. The consecrated life becomes a channel of blessing.