Chapter 38. The 3rd Degree of the Declaration of God's Love: Sanctification
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Chapter 38. The 3rd Degree of the Declaration of God's Love: Sanctification The third degree is Sanctification, by which those who believe, being delivered from the tyranny of sin, are little by little renewed in holiness and righteousness. 1Joh 3.9, Whoever is born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; nor can he sin, because he is born of God. Rom 8.1, There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the spirit.
Sanctification has two parts: Mortification, and Vivification.
The Mortification of sin is the first part of Sanctification, by which the power of sin is abated, and crucified in the faithful. Rom 6.2-4, How shall we who are dead to sin, yet live in it? Do you not know that all we who have been baptized into Jesus Christ, have been baptized into his death, that just as Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life? Ecc 5.6-7; 11-13. Gal
5.24, Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts.
The means that work mortification are the death and burial of Christ, from which — sin being at first nipped in the head by it — proceeds such a virtue that it both suppresses its strength (that it cannot break out as it would), and in man, as though in a grave, it causes sin to die and eke putrefaction. Rom 6.6, Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed.
The power of Christ's death is a certain power issuing into his humanity (his suffering and dying) from his deity — by which, in that same humanity
(concerning the guilt and also the punishment), he
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vanquished our sin that was imputed to him, being our surety — so that, in like manner, he might by the same power, abolish the corruption of sin in us, his members.
Vivification [enlivening] is the second part of Sanctification, by which inherent holiness, having begun, is further augmented and enlarged. First we receive the first fruits of the Spirit, and then a continual increase of them. Eph 4.23-24, Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man which is created after God, in righteousness and true holiness. Eph 2.1,
And you He has quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Gal 2.20, Thus I live, yet not I now, but Christ in me; and in that I now live by the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who has loved me, and given himself for me. Rom 8.23, We who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we sigh in ourselves, waiting for the adoption, even the redemption of our bodies. 1Cor 15.45, The first man Adam was made a living soul, and second man Adam was made a quickening [enlivening] spirit.
The efficient [direct] cause of them both is the Holy Ghost, who by His divine power conveys Himself into the believers' hearts; and in them, by applying the power of Christ's death and resurrection, creates holiness. Job 33.24-25.
Rom 8.9, Now you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, because the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Verse 11, but if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies, because His Spirit dwells in you.
The preservative of vivification is a virtue [power] derived from Christ's resurrection, to those who are quickened, which makes them rise up to newness of life. Phi 3.10, That I may know Him, and the virtue of His resurrection.
The power of Christ's resurrection is that by which — in his own flesh, as conqueror over death and sin — he first began to live with God, and to be exalted above
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every name. And then, by this power in His members, sin being dead and buried, he causes in them a study and purpose to live according to the will of God.
Furthermore, this inherent holiness is to be distinguished into two parts, according to the several faculties of the body and soul of man. 1Th 5.23, The true God of peace sanctify you throughout. And I pray
God, that your whole spirit, soul, and body, may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I. The holiness or Renewing of the Mind, which is the illumination of it, to the knowledge of the will of God. Col 1.9, We do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be fully filled with knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
1Cor 12.8, To one is given by the Spirit, the speech of wisdom, to another the speech of knowledge, by the same Spirit.
Illumination is either spiritual understanding, or spiritual wisdom.
Spiritual understanding is an illumination of the mind, by which it acknowledges the known truth of the word of God.
Spiritual wisdom is also an illumination of the mind, by which the same truth is applied to the good ordering of particular things and actions, as person, place, and time require.
These two things have the following effects:
To discern between good and evil. Heb 5.14, Strong meat belongs to those who are of age, who through long custom have exercised their wits to discern both good and evil. Phi 1.10, That we may discern things that differ from one another.
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To discern spirits. 1Joh 4.1, Dearly beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God. 1Th 5.21, Test all things and keep that which is good. Act 17.11, These were more noble men than those who were at Thessalonica, who received the word with readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
To meditate upon the word and works of God. Psa 1.2, But his delight is in the law of the God, and in that Law exercises himself day and night. Psa
119.15, I will meditate on Your precepts, and consider Your ways. Psa 107, the whole psalm.
To discern and acknowledge man's own inward blindness. Psa 119.33, Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end. Verse 18,
Open my eyes, that I may see the wonders of Your Law.
II. The sanctity of the Memory is an ability to keep a good thing, when it is offered to the mind, and as needs serve, to remember it. Psa 119.11, I have hidden Your promise in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psa 16.7, I will praise the Lord who has given me counsel. My heart also teaches me in the nights. Luk
2.51, His mother kept all these things in her heart.
III. The sanctity of Conscience is a grace of God, by which a man's conscience excuses him for all sins after they are forgiven him in Christ, as also of his upright walking in the whole course of his life. 1Tim 1.19,
Having faith and a good conscience, which some having put away, etc. 1Cor 4.4, I know nothing against myself; yet I am not thereby justified. Act 23.1, Paul said, I have in all good conscience, served God until this day.
Act 24.16, I endeavour to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward men.
Psa 26.1-3, Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence; my trust has also been in the Lord.
Therefore I shall not slide. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; examine my mind and my heart. For your loving
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kindness is before my eyes; therefore I have walked in your truth.
Hence, in all godly men arises the inward peace of God, and the outward alacrity in the countenance. Phi
4.7, The peace of God which passes all understanding, shall preserve your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.
Pro 28.1, The wicked flee when none pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
IV. Sanctity of Will, by which man begins to will that which is good, and to refuse the contrary. Therefore, in this estate the will is partly freed from bondage, partly in bondage, to sin. Phi 2.13, It is God who works in you, both the will and the deed, even of His own pleasure.
Rom 7.18, I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing; for to will is present with me, but I find no means to perform that which is good, etc. vv. 19-22.
V. Sanctity of Affections is the right moving of them.
1Th 5.23; Rom 7.24.
Affections which are of most especial note, are these:
Hope, by which men look with sighs, for accomplishing their redemption. Rom 8.23. This hope, once it is strong and lively, also has her πληροφορία [plerophoria], that is, full assurance, as faith has. Heb 6.11, And we desire that every one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end. 1Pet 1.3, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Fear of offending God, because of His mercy. 1Pet 1.17, If you call him Father, who without respect of person, judges according to every man's works, pass the time of your dwelling here in fear. Psa 130.4,
There is mercy with You, that You may be feared.
A base account of all worldly things, in respect to Christ Jesus. Phi 3.7-8, But the things that were
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advantage to me, I accounted loss for Christ's sake.
Yes, doubtless I think all things are but loss, for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have counted all things loss, and judge them to be dung, that I might win Christ.
The love of God in Christ, which is like unto death, and as a fire that cannot be quenched. Cant. 8.6,
Love is strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave, the coals of it are fiery coals, and a vehement flame.
A fervent zeal for God's glory. Rom 9.3, I would wish myself to be separate from Christ, for my brethren, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh.
An anguish of mind for our own sins and others also.
Psa 119.136, My eyes gush with tears, because men do not keep Your law. 2Pet 2.7-8, And delivered righteous Lot, being vexed with the uncleanly conduct of the wicked. For he being righteous, and dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, they vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.
Exceeding great joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom 14.17, The Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
VI. Sanctity of Body, by which it is a fit instrument for the soul to accomplish what is good. Rom 6.19, As you have given your members as servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity, to commit iniquity, so now give your members as servants to righteousness in holiness.