The case of our correspondent “W. H.” is by no means an uncommon one. Numbers have passed through his painful experience, from not having fully and unreservedly accepted Christ, and cast themselves, in simple, artless trust, on Him, as their “wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” I am as thoroughly cast upon Christ for the control of an irritable temper, as for the pardon of all my sins. I could no more govern my tongue, or my temper, for five minutes, than I could create a world, or work out a righteousness for myself, in the sight of God. Christ must be all in all to me every moment. Apart from Him, I can do nothing. It is easy to say this; but oh! to live in the habitual sense of it. This is the secret of peace and power. “The just shall live by faith.” We not only get life by faith, but also live, moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, by faith. Here is just where hundreds break down. They are truly converted. They find peace and pardon in the precious blood of Christ, where alone they can be found. They are filled with joy for a time. But by and by indwelling sin, in some one or other of its ten thousand shapes, begins to work. Then the grand and important question of sanctification, or practical holiness, is raised in the conscience, and they know not how to answer it. This is a solemn crisis in one’s spiritual history; and, if we understand our correspondent’s case, he failed at this crisis.
Now, what is the answer to this question of sanctification? Simply this, Christ is “made of God unto us sanctification” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)). True, it is by the Spirit, and through the word, that we lay hold of Christ, whether for sanctification, or righteousness, or anything else; but, then, it is Christ that is our sanctification. We are as completely cast on Him for sanctification, as for wisdom, righteousness, or redemption. As I get one, so I get all. I do not get righteousness in one way, and sanctification in another. I get both by simple, naked trust in Christ. The Holy Spirit teaches us this, out of the Bible, else we could know nothing about it; but what does the Holy Spirit teach us out of the Bible? That Christ is made of God unto us sanctification. He sends us to Christ for all. Am I doing away with, or dishonoring the work of the Holy Spirit, because I look for sanctification where He tells me to look? Clearly not. It might just as well be said, that I dishonor the Holy Spirit, by looking to Christ for righteousness. It is impossible, in the face of 1 Corinthians 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30), to separate the two things. Many do separate them. We think our correspondent separates them. It is just here he has failed. If he had looked to Christ, He would have subdued his irritable temper, as thoroughly as He blotted out his sins. Here is the mistake. People bring their sins to Christ, but try to control self, partly in their own strength, and partly by praying for the influences of the Spirit. Thus, they break down, again and again. We must be brought to see that we are as completely “without strength” in the matter of “sanctification,” as in the matter of “righteousness.” The apprehension of this by the Spirit, is the real spring of holiness and happiness.
We earnestly pray, that our correspondent may be led to the end of self, in every shape and form, and find Christ as his all. Then, but not until then, he will find all he really needs. Then he will know the true blessedness of victory over his lusts, passions, and tempers. Christ, by His Spirit, will work in him, “to will and to do of His good pleasure,” and God, in all things, will be glorified.