understanding of what the Scriptures teach upon this point。
True sanctification is a Bible doctrine。 The apostle Paul； in his letter to
the Thessalonian church； declares： 〃This is the will of God； even your
sanctification。〃 And he prays： 〃The very God of peace sanctify you wholly。〃
1 Thessalonians 4：3； 5：23。 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 Himby 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
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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
honored 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 for Thy great mercies。〃
〃We have sinned； we have done wickedly。〃 He declares： 〃I was speaking； and
praying； and confessing my sin and the sin of my people。〃 And when at a
later time the Son of God appeared； to give
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him instruction； Daniel says： 〃My comeliness was turned in me into
corruption； and I retained no strength。〃 Daniel 9：18；
15；20； 10：8。
When Job heard the voice of the Lord out of the whirlwind； he exclaimed： 〃I
abhor myself； and repent in dust and ashes。〃 Job 42：6。 It was when Isaiah
saw the glory of the Lord； and heard the cherubim crying； 〃Holy； holy； holy；
is the Lord of hosts；〃 that he cried out； 〃Woe is me！ for I am undone。〃
Isaiah 6：3； 5。 Paul； after he was caught up into the third heaven and heard
things which it was not possible for a man to utter； speaks of himself as
〃less than the least of all saints。〃 2 Corinthians 12：2…4； margin； Ephesians
3：8。 It was the beloved John； who leaned on Jesus' breast and beheld His
glory； that fell as one dead before the feet of the angel。 Revelation 1：17。
There can be no self…exaltation； no boastful claim to freedom from sin； on
the part of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary's cross。 They feel that
it was their sin which caused the agony that broke the heart of the Son of
God； and this thought will lead them to self…abasement。 Those who live
nearest to Jesus discern most clearly the frailty and sinfulness of
humanity； and their only hope is in the merit of a crucified and risen
Saviour。
The sanctification now gaining prominence in the religious world carries
with it a spirit of self…exaltation and a disregard for the law of God that
mark it as foreign to the religion of the Bible。 Its advocates teach that
sanctification is an instantaneous work； by which； through faith alone； they
attain to perfect holiness。 〃Only believe；〃 say they； 〃and the blessing is
yours。〃 No further effort on the part of the receiver is supposed to be
required。 At the same time they deny the authority of the law of God； urging
that they are released from obligation to keep the commandments。 But is it
possible for men to be holy； in accord with the will and character of God；
without coming into harmony with the principles which are an expression of
His nature and will； and which show what is well pleasing to Him？
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The desire for an easy religion that requires no striving； no self…denial；
no divorce from the follies of the world； has made the doctrine of faith；
and faith only； a popular doctrine； but what saith the word of God？ Says the
apostle James： 〃What doth it profit； my brethren； though a man say he hath
faith； and have not works？ can faith save him？ 。 。 。 Wilt thou know； O vain
man； that faith without works is dead？ Was not Abraham our father justified
by works； when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar？ Seest thou how
faith wrought with his works； and by works was faith made perfect？ 。 。 。 Ye
see then how that by works a man is justified； and not by faith only。〃 James
2：14…24。
The testimony of the word of God is against this ensnaring doctrine of faith
without works。 It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without
complying with the conditions upon which 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
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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
beingspirit； 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