QUESTION.—Is it Scriptural to view the sanctification (or holiness) of the people of God as progressive? N. O. L.
ANSWER.—It is well to see that the personal holiness of God's people, their entire separation from all manner of uncleanness, flows out of their relationships to Him. It is in every way worthy of God that His people should be holy. The more we contemplate the divine character, and enter into the power of our relationship to God in Christ, by the energy of the Holy Ghost, the holier we must of necessity be. There can be no progress in the condition of holiness into which the believer is introduced; hut there is, and ought to be, progress in the apprehension, experience, and practical exhibition of that holiness. These things should never be confounded. All believers are in the same condition of holiness or sanctification; but their practical measure may vary to any conceivable degree. This is easily understood. The condition arises out of our having been brought nigh to God by the blood of the cross; the practical measure will depend upon our keeping nigh by the power of the Spirit. It is not a man setting up for something superior in himself, for a greater degree of personal sanctity than is ordinarily possessed, for being in any wise better than his neighbors. All such pretensions are utterly contemptible in the judgment of every right-thinking person. But if Gods in His exceeding grace, stoops down to our low estate, and lifts us into the holy elevation of His blessed presence in association with Christ, has He not a right to prescribe what our character is to he as thus brought nigh? Who would think of calling in question a truth so obvious: And are we not bound to aim at the maintenance of the character which He prescribes? Are we to be accused of presumption for so doing? C.H.M.