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result of communion with Christ。 There may be marked defects in the
character of an individual； yet when he becomes a true disciple of Christ；
the power of divine grace transforms and sanctifies him。 Beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord； he is changed from glory to glory； until he is
like Him whom he adores。
John was a teacher of holiness； and in his letters to the church he laid
down unerring rules for the conduct of Christians。 〃Every man that hath this
hope in him；〃 he wrote； 〃purifieth himself； even as He is pure。〃 〃He that
saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk； even as He walked。〃 1
John 3：3； 2：6。 He taught that the Christian must be pure in heart and life。
Never should he be satisfied with an empty profession。 As God is holy in His
sphere； so fallen man； through faith in Christ； is to be holy in his sphere。
〃This is the will of God；〃 the apostle Paul wrote； 〃even your
sanctification。〃 1 Thessalonians 4：3。 The sanctification of the church is
God's object in all His dealings with His people。 He has chosen them from
eternity； that they might be holy。 He gave His Son to die for them； that
they might be sanctified through obedience to the truth； divested of all the
littleness of self。 From them Her requires a personal work； a personal
surrender。 God can be honored by those who profess to believe in Him； only
as they are conformed to His image and controlled by His Spirit。 Then； as
witnesses for the Saviour； they may make known what divine grace has done
for them。
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True sanctification comes through the working out of the principle of love。
〃God is love； and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God； and God in him。〃
1 John 4：16。 The life of him in whose heart Christ abides； will reveal
practical godliness。 The character will be purified； elevated； ennobled； and
glorified。 Pure doctrine will blend with works of righteousness； heavenly
precepts will mingle with holy practices。
Those who would gain the blessing of sanctification must first learn the
meaning of self…sacrifice。 The cross of Christ is the central pillar on
which hangs the 〃far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory。〃 〃If any
man will come after Me；〃 Christ says； 〃let him deny himself； and take up his
cross； and follow Me。〃 2 Corinthians 4：17； Matthew 16：24。 It is the
fragrance of our love for our fellow men that reveals our love for God。 It
is patience in service that brings rest to the soul。 It is through humble；
diligent； faithful toil that the welfare of Israel is promoted。 God upholds
and strengthens the one who is willing to follow in Christ's way。
Sanctification is not the work of a moment； an hour； a day； but of a
lifetime。 It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling； but is the result
of constantly dying to sin； and constantly living for Christ。 Wrongs cannot
be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble； intermittent
efforts。 It is only by long； persevering effort； sore discipline； and stern
conflict； that we shall overcome。 We know not one day how strong will be our
conflict the next。 So long as Satan reigns； we shall have self to subdue；
besetting sins to overcome； so long as life shall last； there will be no
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stopping place； no point which we can reach and say； I have fully attained。
Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience。
None of the apostles and prophets ever claimed to be without sin。 Men who
have lived the nearest to God； men who would sacrifice life itself rather
than knowingly commit a wrong act； men whom God has honored with divine
light and power； have confessed the sinfulness of their nature。 They have
put no confidence in the flesh； have claimed no righteousness of their own；
but have trusted wholly in the righteousness of Christ。
So will it be with all who behold Christ。 The nearer we come to Jesus； and
the more clearly we discern the purity of His character； the more clearly
shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin； and the less shall we feel
like exalting ourselves。 There will be a continual reaching out of the soul
after God； a continual； earnest； heartbreaking confession of sin and
humbling of the heart before Him。 At every advance step in our Christian
experience our repentance will deepen。 We shall know that our sufficiency is
in Christ alone and shall make the apostle's confession our own： 〃I know
that in me （that is； in my flesh；） dwelleth no good thing。〃 〃God forbid that
I should glory； save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ； by whom the
world is crucified unto me； and I unto the world。〃 Romans 7：18； Galatians
6：14。
Let the recording angels write the history of the holy struggles and
conflicts of the people of God； let them record their prayers and tears； but
let not God be dishonored by the declaration from human lips； 〃I am sinless；
I am
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holy。〃 Sanctified lips will never give utterance to such presumptuous words。
The apostle Paul had been caught up to the third heaven and had seen and
heard things that could not be uttered； and yet his unassuming statement is：
〃Not as though I had already attained； either were already perfect： but I
follow after。〃 Philippians 3：12。 Let the angels of heaven write of Paul's
victories in fighting the good fight of faith。 Let heaven rejoice in his
steadfast tread heavenward； and that； keeping the prize in view； he counts
every other consideration dross。 Angels rejoice to tell his triumphs； but
Paul makes no boast of his attainments。 The attitude of Paul is the attitude
that every follower of Christ should take as he urges his way onward in the
strife for the immortal crown。
Let those who feel inclined to make a high profession of holiness look into
the mirror of God's law。 As they see its far…reaching claims； and understand
its work as a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart； they will
not boast of sinlessness。 〃If we；〃 says John； not separating himself from
his brethren； 〃say that we have no sin； we deceive ourselves； and the truth
is not in us。〃 〃If we say that we have not sinned； we make Him a liar； and
His word is not in us。〃 〃If we confess our sins； He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins； and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness。〃 1 John
1：8； 10； 9。
There are those who profess holiness； who declare that they are wholly the
Lord's； who claim a right to the promises of God； while refusing to render
obedience to His
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commandments。 These transgressors of the law claim everything that is
promised to the children of God； but this is presumption on their part； for
John tells us that true love for God will be revealed in obedience to all
His commandments。 It is not enough to believe the theory of truth； to make a
profession of faith in Christ； to believe that Jesus is no impostor； and
that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable。 〃He that
saith； I know Him； and keepeth not His commandments；〃 John wrote； 〃is a
liar； and the truth is not in him。 But whoso keepeth His word； in him verily
is the love of God perfected： hereby know we that we are in Him。〃 〃He that
keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him； and He in him。〃 1 John 2：4； 5；
3：24。
John did not teach that salvation was to be earned by obedience； but that
obedience was the fruit of faith and love。 〃Ye know that He was manifested
to take away our sins；〃 he said； 〃and in Him is no sin。 Whosoever abideth in
Him sinneth not： whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him； neither known Him。〃 1
John 3：5； 6。 If we abide in Christ； if the love of God dwells in the heart；
our feelings； our thoughts； our actions； will be in harmony with the will of
God。 The sanctified heart is in harmony with the precepts of God's law。
There are many who； though striving to obey God's commandments； have little
peace or joy。 This lack in their experience is the result of a failure to
exercise faith。 They walk as it were in a salt land； a parched wilderness。
They claim little； when they might claim much； for there is no
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limit to the promises of God。 Such ones do not correctly represent the
sanctification that comes through obedience to the truth。 The Lord would
have all His sons and daughters happy； peaceful； and obedient。 Through the
exercise of faith the believer comes into possession of these blessings。
Through faith； every deficiency of character may be supplied； every
defilement cleansed； every fault corrected； every excellence developed。
Prayer is heaven's ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and
the development of Christian character。 The divine influences that come in
answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant
all for which he pleads。 For the pardon of sin； for the Holy Spirit； for a
Christlike temper； for wisdom and strength to do His work； for any gift He
has promised； we may ask； and the promise is； 〃Ye shall receive。〃
It was in the mount with God that Moses beheld the pattern of that wonderful
building that was to be the abiding place of His glory。 It is in the mount
with Godin the secret place of communionth