Church of God, Carmichael, CA
D. O. Teasley, May 15, 1903
[Original Page Numbers]
PA R T I.—THE HOLY SPIRIT
Office Work of the Holy Spirit
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification, baptism of the Holy Spirit, and heart purity are synonymous terms used in the New Testament to signify the same work. This work wrought in the heart subsequent to regeneration is the express work of the Holy Spirit, and that it is obtainable in this life seems almost useless to say, as it is so clearly taught in the Bible: but there are many who doubt that we may enjoy it in this life, and for the sake of such we will add a few texts to prove that it is for us.
SANCTIFICATION OBTAINABLE IN THIS LIFE.—Christ died for men, and not for angels; and God is a God of the living, and not of the dead. Christ came to the world to save and sanctify. Heaven is not a place to save people, but a place for saved people to dwell. Paul in writing to the church at Corinth gives us to understand that some of them were sanctified. "To them that are SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus." 1 Cor. 1:2. The apostle Jude also wrote to some who were sanctified (Jude 1). "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that ARE SANCTIFED." Heb. 10:14. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Heb. 13:12.
Where did Jesus shed His blood?—On earth. For what did He shed His bloody.—To sanctify people. Then where are we sanctified? On earth, now, or never. In heaven there will be no blood; flesh and blood cannot enter there, and as sanctification comes through the blood we must be sanctified where the blood was shed. The apostles were sanctified while they were yet living and they wrote letters to others who were sanctified; neither did they write to those who were dead, but to living men and women who were sanctified.
We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:16), and Peter said on the day of Pentecost, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to ALL that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:39. This is conclusive evidence that we all may be sanctified. Why suppose that we cannot attain to it, when it is promised? Why expect it in death, which has no power to cleanse? nor is there any virtue in the grave. [55]
PROVISIONS FOR SANCTIFICATION. 1. God has provided a way by which we might know of sanctification and understand how to obtain it. This provision is the truth, the Holy Bible. Hence Jesus says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17.
2. We are sanctified with the blood. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Heb. 13:12.
3. We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In other words, it is the special office work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify believers. "That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified BY THE HOLY GHOST." Rom. 15:16. "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD." 1 Cor. 6:11. These texts clearly prove that it is the work of the Spirit to sanctify. The truth is the instrument used by the Spirit to convey to our intelligence the necessity of being sanctified. The blood is the cleansing agent by which the Spirit purifies our hearts and fits them for His indwelling.
So then we are sanctified THROUGH the truth, WITH the blood, and BY the Spirit. When, either by the reading of the Word or by hearing it preached, a justified soul is awakened to the fact, that sanctification is a necessary grace, and that it is obtainable in this life, and the consecration is made, then the Holy Spirit applies the blood, purifies the heart, and takes up His abode as an abiding comforter. We receive the Holy Spirit today the same as did the apostles, and He accomplishes for us the same work He did for them; viz., sanctification, or heart purity. Peter tells us that the Lord put no difference between the Jews and Gentiles. "And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." Acts 15: 8, 9.
How blessed and glorious to know that the heart of man may be the blest abode of the eternal Spirit of God! What condescension that the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity, and indeed a part of the triune God, would deign to dwell with humble man! "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? E any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. [56]
SANCTIFICATION A SECOND WORK.—The apostles were first converted (John 17:6,14) and had their names written in heaven (Luke 10:20), after which on the day of Pentecost they received the Holy Spirit, who is the sanctifier. Rom. 15:16. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, the seal of the Spirit, the reception of the Spirit, the earnest of the Spirit, and sanctification are one and the same work, and are only different in the way we think of the operation of the Spirit and illustrate it to the mind by different natural illustrations. So if we can prove that any one of the above named operations is subsequent to regeneration, we shall have proved them all to be so.
The Samaritans first believed on Christ and were baptized neither were they baptized before they were converted. "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12. Now they were converted and after a while the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Philip had preached at Samaria, and that many of them had accepted Christ; and deeming it necessary that they should have a second grace they sent unto them Peter and John, "who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: for as yet he was fallen upon none of them." Acts 8:15, 16.
Paul was first chosen of the Lord and brought into humble submission at his feet (Acts 9:15), after which he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:17.
While Apollos was at Corinth in 55 A.D., Paul visited Ephesus, "and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." Acts 19:1, 2. After this Paul inquired into their baptism and found that they had not yet been baptized properly, or had not heard that the baptism of John did not suffice. Paul immediately preached to them of the baptism of Christ and the reception of the Holy Spirit, and "when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them." Acts 19:5, 6. Nine years later Paul wrote a letter to the church at Ephesus in which he mentions the way in which they were saved, in the following language: "In whom (Christ) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT of promise." Eph. 1:13. [57]
Paul in writing this to them doubtless had in mind the time he visited them, and he knew that they were first converted and afterwards sealed or sanctified. The entire work of sanctification is carried on and completed by the operation of the Holy Spirit subsequent to conversion. We are sanctified, or we receive the Holy Spirit, after we believe, not when we believe.
THREE SUCCESSIVE STEPS.—There are three successive works wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, which stand out more clearly than all other things that He accomplishes for us. These are: (1) Conviction, (2)Justification, (3)Sanctification. In other words, the Holy Spirit first comes TO us; second, goes WITH us, and, third, dwells IN us.
"And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove (margin, convince) the world of sin." John 16:8. This is the first work the Holy Spirit does for a man; that is, to come to him and convince him that he is a sinner. After a man is convinced and convicted of sin to the extent that he is willing to forsake the wrong and ask God's forgiveness and meet every Bible requirement, he is adopted into the family of God. He becomes acquainted with God, and the Holy Spirit goes with him, leads and guides him in the way of life.
But there is yet a nearer relation, a higher attainment for the justified soul to gain, a more abundant life to enjoy. John 10:10 Jesus in speaking to His disciples of the Holy Spirit before the day of Pentecost, said to them, "He dwelleth WITH you, and shall be IN you." John 14:17. On the day of Pentecost this promise was fulfilled, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:4. All who believe in conversion acknowledge that conviction must precede conversion, and that conversion is a separate, instantaneous work of grace subsequent to conviction: and yet the same persons will deny that sanctification is subsequent to conversion, when the Bible is as clear on the latter as on the former. In fact, if there is any difference the Bible draws the line of demarcation clearer between justification and sanctification than between conviction and forgiveness. However, both are separate and distinct works of divine grace. Neither does a justified man grow into sanctification any more than a convicted man grows into conversion. Each of the two latter steps is an instantaneous work of God's grace.
PREREQUISITES TO SANCTIFICATION.—Sanctification being a second work there must of necessity be some prerequisite conditions; these we will attempt to set forth in this chapter. [58]
1. Those who obtain sanctification first be fruit bearing branches in Christ the true vine. "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." John 15:2. Some suppose that the branches in the above text refer to the multiplicity of so called churches: but this is false, because Jesus said, "If a MAN abide not in me, HE is cast forth as a branch." John 15:6. The purging referred to is the same as sanctification, or cleansing, and he who would obtain the cleansing must be in the vine Jesus Christ. The promise, then, is not to the world, but to the branches of the true vine, which have the life giving power of the Son of God flowing through their veins. Jesus said in another place, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." First a fruit bearing branch in the vine, then the purging and the more fertile state. First life, then life more abundantly.
2. God gives the Holy Spirit "to them that obey him." "And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Acts 5:32.
3. The blood cleanses those who walk in the light. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" 1 John 1:7.
4. Those who are to be sanctified must first be believers; or in other words, they must be justified or converted. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" John 7:38, 39. In accordance with this Paul says, "AFTER that ye BELIEVED, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." Eph. 1:13.
Only those who are fruit bearing branches in the true vine, living in obedience to God, and walking in the light—only those who are converted believers and have spiritual life are fit subjects for sanctification.
HOW TO ATTAIN TO THE Possibly the most necessary thing after the foregoing prerequisites are complied with is to feel the need of the experience and realize its importance. However, it is not necessary to wait for feelings or great emotions; but it is very necessary to see that sanctification is [59] a second work, and that it is not only a privilege but a duty to seek and obtain it.
Since the fall of Adam the human family is depraved, and every child born into this world inherits a fallen nature; as Paul says, "We are by nature the children of wrath." However, a child before it reaches the age of accountability is not guilty of sin, and should it die in this state it would be saved. Christ tasted death for every man (Heb. 2:9); so all who are lost will be so on their own account, and of their own accord, and not on account of Adam's sin We being depraved and by nature the children of wrath, as soon as we know right from wrong it is natural for us to dive into sin; hence Paul said, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2. And for the same reason Jesus said, "Ye must be born again" John 3:3. So when the sinner comes repenting to God, he repents of the sins he has of his own will, under the influence of the carnal nature and the power of temptation, committed against God. He does not repent of his depravity, for he is not guilty of it. The things for which he is sorry are the sins he has committed; and for these God forgives him. Here many stop without ever thinking of the blessed experience of sanctification Or if it is thought of it is supposed to be only for very old people who are almost ready to die, or supposed to be enjoyed only after death. Dear reader, have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? If not, may the Lord awaken a desire in your heart to seek this most blessed grace. After a soul is made to realize the need of this experience the next thing which arises for consideration is
THE CONSECRATION.—In the first place, we surrender all to become a disciple. "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he can not be my disciple." Luke 14:33. The question then arises, If we forsake all in conversion, how can we forsake or consecrate more in sanctification? It is only natural to suppose that after we are saved from sin, raised from the dead, and awakened from the spiritual sleep of iniquity, we can see the will of God more perfectly and realize the depths of a consecration better. So the consecration for sanctification is not so much a consecration of new things, as a more perfect consecration of old things, together with a presentation of ourselves to God for the cleansing. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1. When the consecration is complete, the [60] next thing is to ask in faith for the cleansing blood to be applied and for the Holy Spirit to be given, "and I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Luke 11:9. Paul says that the Gentiles were to be "sanctified by faith." Acts 26:18. So when we ask we must have faith, and our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Luke 11:13. Sometimes it seems hard to exercise faith, but when such is the case there is always a cause for it. However, there is more than one cause. Sometimes it is because the seeker is not in the proper condition to seek sanctification, or in other words, is not justified. Sometimes it is because the consecration is not complete, and the heart is clinging to something that should be given up. And after all, it may be that it is only the devil that is hindering. In such cases the life and consecration should be examined thoroughly, and if found below the Bible standard the only way to succeed is to measure up, but if the life and consecration is found to measure to the standard, then the way to proceed is to resist the devil and all doubts and take a stand on the Word and "have faith in God."
When the life is measured by the Word of God and found to be acceptable to God, and the death to all selfish motives is wrought in the soul, and the consecration fully made, all doubts and fears resisted steadfastly in the faith, something must be accomplished; for He is true that promised.
"If thy all is on the altar laid,
Guard it from each vain desire;
When thy soul the perfect price hath paid,
God will send the holy fire." [61]