The following excerpts about sanctification are from chapter 2 of, Ryle, J. C.. Holiness [Annotated, Updated]: For the Will of God Is Your Sanctification – Hebrews 6:1 . Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.
The purpose of this series of posts from Ryle’s book is to provide biblical teaching to readers, about essential doctrines of the faith, because it is so difficult to find such information in the church of our day.
The following excerpts may lack meaningful transitional statements, examples, and illustrations…that give more meaning to his words. I have excerpted kernels of truth from most of the chapter to give readers an understanding of sanctification and an idea about the value of this book. I believe it should be part of a Christian’s reference library, as it should be read occasionally, as one grows in grace from studying scripture.
Furthermore, since this chapter on sanctification is so important, two posts will be done on it. The second will be a shorter post about the visible signs of sanctification.
Begin Ryle’s book:
Sanctification
Sanctify them in thy truth. (John 17:17) For the will of God is your sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
The subject of sanctification is one that many Christians, I am afraid, greatly dislike. Some even turn from it with scorn and disdain. The very last thing they would like is to be a “saint,” or a “sanctified” person. Yet the subject does not deserve to be treated in this way. It is not an enemy, but a friend. It is a subject of the utmost importance to our souls. If the Bible is true, it is certain that unless we are sanctified, we will not be saved.
There are three things that, according to the Bible, are absolutely necessary to the salvation of every man and woman in Christendom. These three things are justification, regeneration, and sanctification. All three meet in every child of God; he is born again, justified, and sanctified. He who lacks any one of these three things is not a true Christian in the sight of God, and will not be found in heaven and glorified in the last day if he dies in that condition.
It is a subject that is especially relevant in our day. Strange doctrines have lately arisen upon the subject of sanctification….
In a day like this, a calm examination of the subject as a main doctrine of the gospel may be of great use to our souls.
First, let us consider the true nature of sanctification. [The topic of this post, part 3A]
Second, let us consider the visible marks of sanctification. [The topic of post, 3B]
Finally, let us consider how justification and sanctification agree and are similar to one another, and how they differ and are unlike one another. [This topic will be covered by links to three 4 minute videos]
First, we must consider the nature of sanctification. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of a sanctified person? Sanctification is that inward spiritual work that the Lord Jesus Christ works in a person by the Holy Spirit when He calls him to be a true believer. He not only washes him from his sins in His own blood, but He also separates him from his natural love of sin and the world, puts a new principle in his heart, and makes him practically godly in life. The instrument by which the Spirit effects this work is generally the Word of God, though He sometimes uses afflictions and providential visitations without a word (1 Peter 3:1). A sanctified person according to Scripture is one upon whom Christ Jesus works in this way by His Spirit.
He who thinks that Jesus Christ only lived and died and rose again in order to provide justification and forgiveness of sins for His people has much yet to learn. Whether he knows it or not, he is dishonoring our blessed Lord and making Him only a half Savior. The Lord Jesus has undertaken everything that His people’s souls require – not only to deliver them from the guilt of their sins by His atoning death, but also to deliver them from the dominion of their sins by placing the Holy Spirit in their hearts, not only to justify them, but also to sanctify them. He is, thus, not only their righteousness, but their sanctification. Of him ye are reborn in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Let us hear what the Bible says: For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified in the truth (John 17:19). Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself for her, that he might sanctify and cleanse her (Ephesians 5:25-26). Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a people of his own, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14)….
Sanctification, then, is the unchanging result of that vital union with Christ that true faith gives to a Christian. He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit (John 15:5). The branch that bears no fruit is not a living branch of the vine. The union with Christ that produces no effect on one’s heart and life is a mere formal union, and it is worthless before God. The faith that does not have a sanctifying influence on one’s character is no better than the faith of demons. Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in and of itself (James 2:17)….
Simply put, where there is no sanctification of life, there is no real faith in Christ. True faith works by love. It compels a person to live unto the Lord from a deep sense of gratitude for redemption….
Sanctification is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration. He who is born again and is made a new creation receives a new nature and a new creed, and he always lives a new life….
[At the end of this post will be links to posts that explain regeneration and justification via 4 minute videos by Sproul and MacArthur, for those who desire more information.]
Basically, where there is no sanctification there is no regeneration, and where there is no holy life there is no new birth. This is, no doubt, a difficult saying to many people, but difficult or not, it is simple Bible truth. It is written plainly, that he who is born of God is one whose seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God (1 John 3:9).
Sanctification is the only certain evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is essential to salvation. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, that person is not of him (Romans 8:9). The Spirit never lies dormant and idle within the soul. He always makes His presence known by the fruit He causes to be borne in heart, character, and life. The fruit of the Spirit, says Paul, is this: Charity, joy, peace, tolerance, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and such like (Galatians 5:22-23)….
Everyone has power to lose his own soul (Matthew 16:26). But while I believe this, I maintain that believers are particularly and especially responsible, and have a specific responsibility, to live holy lives. They are not as others, dead and blind and unrenewed. They are alive unto God and have light and knowledge and a new principle within them. Whose fault is it except their own if they are not holy? Who can they blame except themselves if they are not sanctified? God, who has given them grace and a new heart and a new nature has deprived them of all excuse if they do not live for His praise….
Sanctification is something that occurs by growth and degrees. A person may climb from one step to another in holiness and be far more sanctified at one period of his life than another. He cannot be more pardoned and more justified than he is when he first believes, though he may feel it more, but he can certainly be more sanctified, because every grace in his new character can be strengthened, enlarged, and deepened. This is the evident meaning of our Lord’s last prayer for His disciples when He used the words, Sanctify them (John 17:17), and of Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians, The very God of peace sanctify you (1 Thessalonians 5:23)….
…If there is any point on which God’s holiest saints agree, it is that they see more, know more, feel more, do more, repent more, and believe more as they continue in their spiritual lives, and in proportion to the closeness of their walk with God. They grow in grace, as Peter exhorts believers to do (2 Peter 3:18), and they continue to grow, according to the words of Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:1).
Sanctification depends greatly on a diligent use of scriptural means. When I speak of “means,” I am referring to Bible reading, private prayer, regular attendance on public worship, regular hearing of God’s Word, and regular reception of the Lord’s Supper. I lay it down as a simple matter of fact that no one who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much progress in sanctification.
I can find no record of any eminent saint who ever neglected them. They are appointed channels through which the Holy Spirit conveys fresh supplies of grace to the soul and strengthens the work that He has begun in the inward man….
Sanctification is not something that keeps a person from having a great deal of inward spiritual conflict. By conflict, I mean a struggle within the heart between the old nature and the new, between the flesh and the spirit, which are to be found together in every believer (Galatians 5:17). A deep sense of that struggle and a vast amount of mental discomfort from it are no proof that a person is not sanctified. Rather, I believe they are healthy symptoms of our condition, and they prove that we are not dead, but alive.
A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but has war within. He may be known by his warfare as well as by his peace. In saying this, I do not forget that I am contradicting the views of some well-meaning Christians who hold the doctrine called “sinless perfection.” I cannot help that. I believe that what I say is confirmed by the language of Paul in the seventh chapter of Romans….
The holiest actions of the holiest saints who ever lived are all more or less full of defects and imperfections. They are either wrong in their motive or defective in their performance, and in themselves are nothing better than “splendid sins,” deserving God’s wrath and condemnation. To suppose that such actions can stand the severity of God’s judgment, atone for sin, and deserve heaven is simply absurd. By the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified in his sight (Romans 3:20). We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Romans 3:28). The only righteousness in which we can appear before God is the righteousness of another – the perfect righteousness of our Substitute and Representative, Jesus Christ the Lord. His work, and not our work, is our only title to heaven. This is a truth that we should be ready to die to maintain.
For all this, however, the Bible distinctly teaches that the holy actions of a sanctified person, although imperfect, are pleasing in the sight of God. With such sacrifices God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:16). Obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord (Colossians 3:20). We . . . do those things that are pleasing in his sight (1 John 3:22). Let this never be forgotten, for it is a very comfortable doctrine.
Just as a parent is pleased with the efforts of his little child to please him, even though it is only by picking a daisy or walking across a room, so our Father in heaven is pleased with the poor performances of His believing children. He looks at the motive, principle, and intention of their actions, and not merely at their quantity and quality. He regards them as members of His own dear Son, and for His sake, wherever there is a single purpose of obeying and glorifying Him, He is very pleased….
The idea of a purgatory after death that will turn sinners into saints is a lying invention of man and is nowhere taught in the Bible. We must be saints before we die if we are to be saints afterward in glory. The treasured idea of many that dying people need nothing except a quick confession and forgiveness of sins to make them ready for their great change is a profound delusion. We need the work of the Holy Spirit as well as the work of Christ….
***The following link is to a post in this blog that contains a 4 minute video by each, R C Sproul and John MacArthur wherein they explain regeneration and other elements of conversion:
https://sheeplywolves.com/decisionism-vs-the-doctrines-of-regeneration-and-faith-repentance/
***The following link is to a post in this blog that contains several very brief videos, the third is a 4 minute video by John Piper that provides a wonderful explanation of justification:
https://sheeplywolves.com/study-helps-a-checklist/
For other posts on doctrines of the faith, see CATEGORIES: Doctrine; Salvation; Sanctification; Sin; Mortification of sin; Gospel Message….