Modern Revivals
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has taken place in the sinner, he has passed from death unto life, from
sin unto holiness, from transgression and rebellion to obedience and
loyalty. The old life of alienation from God has ended; the new life of
reconciliation, of faith and love, has begun. Then “the righteousness
of the law” will “be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit.”
Romans 8:4
. And the language of the soul will be:
“O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”
Psalm 119:97
.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”
Psalm 19:7
.
Without the law, men have no just conception of the purity and holiness
of God or of their own guilt and uncleanness. They have no true
conviction of sin and feel no need of repentance. Not seeing their lost
condition as violators of God’s law, they do not realize their need of
the atoning blood of Christ. The hope of salvation is accepted without
a radical change of heart or reformation of life. Thus superficial
conversions abound, and multitudes are joined to the church who have
never been united to Christ.
[469]
Erroneous theories of sanctification, also, springing from neglect
or rejection of the divine law, have a prominent place in the religious
movements of the day. These theories are both false in doctrine and
dangerous in practical results; and the fact that they are so generally
finding favor, renders it doubly essential that all have a clear under-
standing of what the Scriptures teach upon this point.
True sanctification is a Bible doctrine. The apostle Paul, in his
letter to the Thessalonian church, declares: “This is the will of God,
even your sanctification.” And he prays: “The very God of peace
sanctify you wholly.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3
;
5:23
. The Bible clearly
teaches what sanctification is and how it is to be attained. The Saviour
prayed for His disciples: “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy
word is truth.”
John 17:17
. And Paul teaches that believers are to be
“sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:16
. What is the work of
the Holy Spirit? Jesus told His disciples: “When He, the Spirit of
truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.”
John 16:13
. And the
psalmist says: “Thy law is the truth.” By the word and the Spirit of
God are opened to men the great principles of righteousness embodied
in His law. And since the law of God is “holy, and just, and good,” a
transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character formed
by obedience to that law will be holy. Christ is a perfect example of
such a character. He says: “I have kept My Father’s commandments.”