The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-12-28

And Tor their sakes l sanctify myself,
that they also might be sanctifed through
the truth. And in Heb. 1929, we read
OF the blood of the covenant wherewith
he was sanctifed." Not that Christ was
made holier or purer, or freer from sin.
for he was always perfect in this respect
but that by the shedding of his blood he
had furnished an offering by which the
world might. have life, and by which he
was set apart as the wisdom, righteous
ness, sanctifcation and redemption of
those who should believe in him." 1st
Cor. 13O
Peter exhorts US to "sanctify the Lord
God in our hearts" Peter 3:l5. Not
to make God more holy of course, but to
set apart in our affections as the only OBJ
ject of worship.
Paul informs us that "every creature of
God is good and nothing to be refused,
if it be received with thanksgiving, for it
is sanctifed by the word of God and
prayer" Tim. A, 5. This sanctif-
cation does not affect the material of
these temporal blessings, but simply sets
them apart for our use.
Thus the apostle regards the Corinthi-
ans as being sanctiied. See l Corinthi-
ans l 2; Gil. But he does not mean
to say that they had reached a state of
complete or entire holiness. He knew
they were very far from that There
were divisions among them on account of
which they were "carnal and walked as
men," Indeed he could not speak unto
them "as unto spiritual but as unto car
nal, even as unto babes" ch. 81. They
were tolerating an incestuous man among
them; andwere even puffed upon account
of him, ch. 5. Brother was going to law
with brother, ch. 6. They were profaning
the Lords supper, and the Lord day, chs.
10 and IL. La what sense then were
sanctifed? Only in this: they had been
set apart to the service of the Lord. In
that service they were committing many
blunders, but that does not interfere with
the fact of their having been set apart, or
sancti6ed.
We might continue to read passages
from the New Testament in which only
this lower meaning of the word is to be
found, but it is not necessary. We have
already seen that such is the general use
of the word in the Scriptures in both the
Old and New Testaments.
But now wish to invite your atten-
ton to few occurrences of the word in
which higher and more spiritual mean
ing must be understood.
I'd Tim. 2:2l: "If man therefore
purge himself from these, he shall be a
vessel unto honor, sanctifed and meet
for the Masters use" Paul here regards
the sanctifcation as being found in a
Christian purging himself from wrong.
Rom. 6:l9. yield your members
servants to righteousness unto holiness"
sanctifcation; v.22. aye have your
fruit unto. holiness (sanctifcation) and in
the end everlasting life" Thus again
their holiness is not state or condition
free from evil thoughts, but is found in
righteous living.
1t must have that meaning in our text.
The apostles had been set apart to serve
the Lord. Hence, then, sanctifcation
must have reference to further attain
ments in holiness of heart and life.
Paul says to the Thessalonians, (who
had been sanctifed in the sense of being
set apart to the service of God): "For
this is the will of God, even your sancti-
fcation, that ye should abstain from for
nication; thateyery oneof you should know
how to possess his vessel in sanctifcation
and honor; not in the lust of concupiscence,
even as the Gentiles which know not
God; that no man go beyond and de-
fraud his brother in any matter; because
that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as
we also have forewarned you and testified.
For God hath not called US to unclean-
ness but unto holiness, "-sanctifcasion.
l Chess 4:3-7.
Now it is plain that their sanctifcation
according to Pauls view of it, should
consist, not in being freed from all
temptation to wrong, but in their success
full effort in battling against such temp
tatiOn. In the following particulars were
they to contend against inclinations to
evil: l. Abstaining from fornication;
2. Possessing his vessel in honor; 3.
Turning away from the lust of concupis-
cenee, or passionate desire; 4. Not de-
frauding a brother in any matter; 5.
Avoiding every species of uncleanness; 6.
But exercising himself in that holiness of
heart and righteousness Of life to which
they had been called.
Again Paul prays for their success in
this effort to abstain from every appear
ance of evil He says, "And the very
God of peace sanctify you wholly; and
pray God your whole spirit and soul
and body be preserved blameless unto
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. !"
l Thess 5 :23.
In this sense again we find this word
in Heb. 12:l4. Follow peace with all
men, and holiness, (sancti6cation) without
which no man shall see the Lord" Thus
again their sanctifcation is found in right
doing, in carefully guarding themselves
against all that was wrong: "Looking
diligently, lest any man fail of the grace
of God, lest any root of bitterness spring
ing up trouble you, and thereby many be
defled" Verse l5.
We have now given a pretty thorough
investigation, so far as the meaning OF the
word is concerned. We find that it
means to set apart to the service of God,
and also, when persons are sanctified, it
may have the extended meaning of that
culture and life in keeping with such u
purpose. But nowhere does it mean
either in the dictionaries or in the bible,
state of holiness, in which the sanctifed
can neither think nor do that which is
wrong, such meaning does not belong TO
the word Hence our exhortation is that
those who have not been sanctifed in the
sense OF being set apart unto the service
of the Lord, will come tonight and begia
This new life, in which they may grow in
grace, till in this sancti6cation, they may
be fit for the Masters use.
l. n