By J. B. Chapman
Man, since his fall, and as we now find him without grace, is a sinner by practice, and is sinful by nature. In order to please God and live happily with Him, both now and in heaven, man must be holy. This requires that man must be saved from guilt for sins committed and cleansed from sinful defilement within. Two distinct acts are involved here: one is pardon and the other is cleansing. The grace and power of God is needed for both of these acts.
God is able to do both of these miracles in everyone who will come to Him through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we say that sanctification always follows justification, we are stating a fact, the basis of which is found in the human limitation and not in the power or will of God. Men cannot meet the conditions for being sanctified until after they have been freely justified.
When God justifies, He justifies freely and fully. When He sanctifies, He likewise sanctifies freely and fully. When He justifies there is no more guilt for sin. When He sanctifies the pollution of sin is gone. When one is justified freely, and sanctified wholly, he is free from all outward and inward sin. But just as the obtainment of this state of grace is entirely dependent upon the response of God to our needs, so the continuation of it is dependent upon our keeping the conditions for the abiding presence of the indwelling Spirit; for if we grieve the Spirit away, spiritual decay will follow. There is no holiness apart from the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier. While He dwells and reigns within us, the devil and sin must stay out. But if He is grieved away, we are then no match for our enemies. This whole life, until death, or until Jesus comes the second time, is a state of probation, a time of trial and testing. Our character is not established, and our destiny is not sealed, until we actually get to heaven. Keep running the heavenly race until you win the prize. The race is not finished until we get to heaven. – Revised
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. – 1 Cor. 9:24
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16
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