SANCTIFIED BY GOD THE HOLY GHOST.
As already intimated all the persons of the adorable Trinity are
concerned in the work of entirely sanctifying a human soul. And this is
naturally to be expected, because God is one Trinitarianism is not
Tritheism. In essence one, in personality three, such is the revelation
of Holy Scripture in regard to the eternal Godhead. The Bible reveals
the fact, but does not reveal the how. We bow in adoring gratitude and
love before an incomprehensible mystery, and rejoice in believing even
without understanding.
Now the Holy Spirit is regarded by nearly all Christians as
distinctively and specially the Sanctifier, "The renewing of the Holy
Ghost which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our
Saviour," is spoken of in the epistle to Titus in direct connection
with the "washing of regeneration," and seems intended to be
experienced just after it. Possibly the renewing here spoken of, may
signify only the change of heart wrought by the Holy Ghost at the new
birth, but possibly, also, the apostle had in mind the entire cleansing
of the heart from sin. And in that case the renewing need not be any
more gradual or progressive than the washing, which all admit to be
instantaneous.
Peter, in describing, to the Church at Jerusalem, the occurrences which
he had witnessed at the house of Cornelius in Cesarea, used this
language: "And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving
them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us, and put no difference
between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." Evidently here
the chief of the apostles gives us to understand that the giving of
the Holy Ghost, and the purifying of the heart by faith, are
co-instantaneous and identical experiences. And if this be so, the Holy
Ghost, who is a Divine person, and not a mere influence, must be the
effective agent in purifying the heart, that is to say, it is He who by
His Divine energy sanctifies us wholly.
And with this agree the words of John the Baptist: "I indeed baptize
you with water, unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is
mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." For what purpose is this fiery
baptism with the Holy Ghost? Most certainly that it may consume the
inbred sin of our nature, as fire consumes the chaff, or destroys the
alloy that the gold may be left pure.
Paul in his epistle to the Romans uses the following language, viz:
"That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
ministering the gospel of God that the offering up of the Gentiles
might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." This great
apostle was the first to clearly understand the perfect equality
between Jew and Gentile in the gospel of salvation, and as he made
hundreds of Gentile converts in His extensive missionary journeys, and
offered them up with their own consent and co-operation in entire
consecration to God, they were sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
The same apostle says to the Thessalonians, "We are bound to give
thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." This is the true
election and the true salvation, a salvation from sin, through
sanctification of the Spirit and this is to be obtained by faith.
And the apostle of the circumcision uses language very similar in
addressing the Jewish Christians who are scattered abroad, and whom he
addresses as "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of
the blood of Jesus Christ." Comparing these two citations we observe
again, that the blood of Jesus Christ is the ground of our
sanctification, and by a continuous sprinkling we may have a
continuous cleansing, and also that the Holy Spirit is the effective
agent in applying that precious blood, and in sanctifying our souls, on
condition that we believe the truth. God help all Christians to be not
faithless, but believing.