| Christian Life and Doctrine | September 1965 |
The Sanctifying Power of the Truth
JESUS petitioned his Heavenly Father on behalf of his followers, saying, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.” (John 17:17) The Apostle Peter describes these sanctified ones as being “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit.” (I Pet. 1:2) The Word of God has reached us through the operation of the Holy Spirit, so these two expressions indicating the manner in which we are sanctified, or set apart to the doing of the holy will of our Heavenly Father, are both descriptive of the same process.
We frequently refer to the truths of God’s Word as “the divine plan,” and the Lord’s purpose in revealing this plan to his people is that they might co-operate with him in its out-working on behalf of humanity. Sanctification implies the renouncing of our own will and way, and being conformed to the will and way of the Lord. Peter speaks of our election being according “to the foreknowledge of the Father,” and Paul wrote, “Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.”—Rom. 8:29
In the final analysis, true sanctification means to be conformed to the character-likeness of God’s dear Son, who himself reflected so perfectly the likeness of his Father; so completely, in fact, that he could say, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Jesus’ likeness to his Father was based upon his obedience to the divine Word. He declared himself as having come to do his Father’s will as revealed “in the volume of the Book.” (Ps. 40:6-8; Heb. 10:5-10) Jesus said, “The words that I speak … I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me.” (John 14:10,24) While conducting his earthly ministry Jesus was guided by the Old Testament outline of the Father’s will for him. This was true even with respect to the “due time” for him to surrender himself to his enemies to be put to death. This information he gained from the time prophecy of the “seventieth week,” in the midst of which he was to be cut off in death, “not for himself,” but “for the sins of the whole world.”—Dan. 9:24-26; I John 2:2
All Truth
In meeting Satan’s temptation to use his God-given power to turn stones into bread to satisfy his personal hunger, Jesus, quoting from Moses, said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4) We note here Jesus’ emphasis on “every” word. This indicates that the influence of all the great truths of the divine plan are essential to accomplish our setting apart to the doing of our Heavenly Father’s will. We are not at liberty, as dedicated children of God, to select those portions of the truth which specially appeal to us, and by emphasizing these suppose that we can be sanctified by the truth. “Every word” of the divine plan, as recorded in the Scriptures, has a bearing on the work of sanctification which is being accomplished in our lives.
We speak of the main teachings of the divine plan as the “doctrines.” The word “doctrines” simply means teachings, and through his Word God is teaching us his will, and encouraging us to be conformed to it. Each of the doctrines has a lesson or lessons which we need to learn, and to which we should give all diligence to be conformed. Even the prophetic teachings of the Bible have a bearing on the manner in which we live our consecrated lives. The Apostle Peter, referring to the fulfillment of the Bible’s prophecies pertaining to the passing away of the symbolic heavens and earth which are largely under the control of Satan, the prince of this world, wrote, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.”—II Pet. 3:11
In this connection Peter also calls attention to the promises and prophecies of God in connection with the establishment of “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness,” and then observes, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (II Pet. 3:13,14) We rejoice that the Lord has taken us into his confidence and revealed the progressive steps in the outworking of his plan, but this knowledge will fail in its purpose unless it stimulates us to greater diligence in being transformed into the image of our God, and of his beloved Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Creation, Fall, and Ransom
The truth concerning the creation and fall of man into sin and death is clearly set forth in the Bible. Those to whom the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven have been revealed have no difficulty in understanding what the Bible says concerning man’s creation in the image of God, nor are they deceived by Satan’s lie to mother Eve which asserted that she would not die if she transgressed the divine law. It is a great satisfaction to know these simple truths, but are they exerting a sanctifying power in our lives? Have we learned from Satan’s great deception the folly of putting our trust in anyone except the Lord, and his inspired Word? This is fundamentally important if we are to be sanctified by God’s Word of truth.
The Scriptures are explicit that in Adam, and as a result of his transgression, all die. (I Cor. 15:21,22) This means that by nature we are members of a fallen and dying race. It means that we are imperfect, and could have no communion with God, and could not expect favors from him upon the basis of our own righteousness. This is a lesson of fundamental importance for us to learn if we are to be in the proper attitude of heart and mind to accept God’s provision of redemption through the blood of Christ. It is a truth which should help greatly to keep us humble before the Lord. When we were first drawn to the Lord and to the point of making a full consecration to him of all that we have and are, we recognized that our offering could be accepted by him only through the merit of Christ’s righteousness. And it is essential to continue in our recognition of this basic truth if our sanctification is to progress.
How thankful we are that by the grace of God Jesus gave himself to be a satisfaction for our sins, and also for the sins of the whole world. We see in this provision a wonderful manifestation of divine love, a love displayed by sacrifice. Thus our knowledge of the ransom, not only leads to reconciliation with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, but the motive behind this loving provision becomes an incentive for us to be like our Heavenly Father, and like our Lord Jesus Christ. John made a practical application of this great doctrine of the ransom when he wrote, “Hereby perceive we the love of God [the words, of God, are not in oldest MSS], because he [Jesus] laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”—I John 3:16
The Abrahamic Covenant
One of the important teachings of the Bible, and a very definite part of the divine plan, is what we often refer to as “the Abrahamic Covenant.” (Gen. 12:3; 22:5-18) This covenant, or promise, was that through Abraham’s seed all the families of the earth were to be blessed. Paul identifies Jesus as, primarily, being that “Seed” of promise, and explains that all who are baptized into Christ, and who have “put on” Christ, are also a part of that blesser seed, and heirs according to the promise.—Gal. 3:8,16,27-29
We rejoice in this covenant, and in the manner in which it is fulfilled, because it helps to reveal more clearly the great divine plan for human salvation and redemption. And this promise, properly understood and appreciated, should be doing a sanctifying work in our lives. For one thing, it should increase our faith and confidence in the Lord and in his promises. Paul makes this application. We quote:
“When God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of the promise, the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by [margin, Gr. interposed himself by] an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.”—Heb. 6:13-20
The way of sanctification is a difficult one. It is opposed by the world, by the flesh, and by the Devil. We need the Lord’s many assurances, the “strong consolation” which he provides in order to keep our affections set on things above, and not to be overwhelmed by all the forces which oppose our walk with God, and our efforts to be like him. God’s covenant with Abraham, sealed with his oath, is one of the doctrines through which we are given assurance of victory as we follow in the footsteps of our Forerunner, even Jesus, who has already entered within the veil. Now our faith in him as our Advocate, and in the oath-bound covenant concerning him, is as an anchor which entereth beyond the veil and is fastened to him, and to the promises which enabled him to be faithful in laying down his life in sacrifice, that all of God’s promises might be made sure.
God asked Abraham to offer up his beloved son as a burnt offering, and Abraham demonstrated his willingness to obey. Then a lamb was provided as a substitute for Isaac on the altar. Isaac was a type of Christ, and the lamb which was substituted for Isaac on the altar pointed forward to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Paul wrote, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” (Gal. 4:28) Jesus as the antitypical Isaac laid down his life in sacrifice, and we, as members of the Isaac class, are invited to lay down our lives in sacrifice.
It is satisfying, indeed, to understand these implications of the Abrahamic Covenant, but are these great facts of the covenant accomplishing their proper sanctifying work in our lives? Are we being influenced by them to sacrifice our all in the cause of our God? Are we continuing to heed the call to present our bodies a living sacrifice, with the assurance that our offering will continue to be holy, and acceptable to God through the merit of Jesus Christ our Lord? (Rom. 12:1) This is another way in which our knowledge of the Abrahamic Covenant should be contributing to the work of sanctification, as daily we are being more and more conformed to the image of God’s dear Son.
The Heavenly Calling
The Bible speaks of the “heavenly calling,” or the “high calling,” in contrast to the opportunity of restoration to life as humans here on the earth. (Heb. 3:1; Phil. 3:13,14) The teachings of the Word pertaining to this high, or heavenly calling, have their application during the Gospel Age in the divine plan. It is a satisfaction to rightly divide the Word of truth, and to know what the work of God in the earth throughout the present age has been. Many, not knowing this, mistakenly suppose that the Lord has been trying to convert the world during the Gospel Age, whereas the Bible teaches that this will be God’s work, through the agencies of the kingdom, during the age to come. It will be then that the divine invitation will be to partake of the waters of restored human life.—Rev. 22:1-3,17
But, as with the other doctrines of the divine plan, the teachings of the Word pertaining to the “high calling” should be accomplishing the work of sanctification in our hearts and lives. The high calling involves exaltation, in the resurrection, to the divine nature. Peter refers to the promises of this high exaltation as being “exceeding great and precious,” and indicates that it is through their influence that we will actually attain the position which the Lord has designed for us in his plan.—II Pet. 1:4
And for this to be true, our faith in God’s promises of the divine nature must bear fruit, or manifest itself. Peter wrote that we should add to our 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 love. Peter explains that if we do these things, we shall never fall, but shall have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.—II Pet. 1:4-11
What a sweeping work of sanctification Peter thus describes, and how clearly he shows that only by having this work accomplished in our hearts can we hope to have an abundant entrance into the kingdom, to live and to reign with Christ. And this work is shown by Peter to be the proper result, or outgrowth of our knowledge of the promises pertaining to the divine nature. It is “by these,” by their power in our lives, that we are transformed into the image of the Lord, and made meet for the “inheritance of the saints in light.”—Col. 1:12
Paul presents a similar thought when he reveals his own great desire to attain to the “high calling.” We quote: “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended: but 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.”—Phil. 3:8-14
Such is the great inspiration to zeal in doing God’s will which is contained in the doctrine of the “high calling.” Presenting it from a slightly different standpoint, Paul wrote, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.”—Col. 3:1-5
The Time Element
Sanctification involves much more than moral and upright living. It includes our service of the Lord, and if our service is to be acceptable to our Heavenly Father it must be in harmony with his will and ways. Throughout the Jewish Age the Lord’s people were called upon to obey the Law given to Israel at the hands of Moses. This arrangement does not apply to the disciples of Christ during the Gospel Age. We are under a new commandment of love, which calls for the laying down of life in sacrifice.
We are to lay down our lives for the brethren, and we are to sacrifice time, strength, and means in obeying the Master’s commission to be his witnesses far and wide—indeed throughout the whole world. True sanctification includes obedience to this commission. The Lord did not expect that the world would be converted by the faithful witness work of his people during the Gospel Age, but he knew that a few would be reached, and would respond to the Gospel of love, and dedicate themselves to the doing of his will. He knew also that a wide witness would be given, and that this would have a bearing on the attitude of the people when the Lord’s due time came for their enlightenment and blessing.
Those who know the plan of God also understand that the Lord’s work in the earth today is in the nature of a “harvest,” rather than merely a general sowing. This, of course, has a bearing on the manner in which we present the kingdom message, which, in turn, has a bearing on our life of sanctification. We no longer announce that the Lord will return, but rather that he has come, and is now present as the Chief Reaper in the “harvest,” which is the end of the age.
Fundamentals
All the teachings, or doctrines, of the Bible are fundamental, and therefore important. It is well, however, to distinguish between the clearly stated teachings of the Bible, and any interpretations which we might place upon given passages. The truly important teachings of the Bible are those which have a bearing on our relationship to the Lord, and the manner in which we live our consecrated lives. One brother might interpret a certain prophecy one way, and another brother might interpret the same prophecy quite differently. Perhaps both would be wrong, but in any case these speculative interpretations of prophecy have no bearing on the manner in which we serve the Lord, unless, of course, one makes prophecy a hobby, and neglects the great fundamental doctrines of the Word by which he is sanctified. This would indeed be serious for the brother involved.
The doctrine of “restitution” is fundamental, and while we are not expecting restitution blessings for ourselves, our hope of restitution for the world exerts a powerful influence in our hearts and lives, in that it helps us the better to understand the great love of God for his human creatures. The real purpose of the Christian life can be understood and appreciated only in the light of the great hope of restitution for the world, for we are suffering and dying with Jesus in order that we might live and reign with him in the blessing of all the families of the earth.
Jeremiah wrote, “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 9:23,24) It is only the vision of present truth which has been revealed to us through the doctrines of the divine plan, and particularly the doctrine of restitution, that enables us to know God as One who delights to exercise loving-kindness in the earth. More than six thousand years of human suffering and death seem to belie this fact. But as his children, it is given to us to understand and appreciate the Creator’s plan to restore his fallen human creatures to happiness and life during the coming “times of restitution of all things.”
“The Same Image”
Our knowledge of all the doctrines comes to us through the written Word of truth, which Paul likens to a mirror in which we see the glory of God reflected. He wrote, “We all, with unveiled face reflecting as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (II Cor. 3:18, R.V.) Are we allowing the image of God’s glory, and the image of Christ’s glory, as we see that image reflected in the Word, to transform our lives, as Paul suggests? If so, then we are being sanctified by the truth, set apart to do God’s holy will.
The great objective of the Creator’s entire plan is to restore his will throughout the whole earth. Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.” (Matt. 6:10) Our hope is to reign with Christ in the great work of establishing God’s will throughout the earth. But if we are to attain to this high position it is essential that we now submit ourselves fully to his will. We could not teach others to obey God’s will unless we had first learned to love and to do that will ourselves. And the doing of God’s will is the true way of sanctification.