As the Lord would help me this
evening and grant you prayer for attention, I direct you to
a text you'll find in the chapter we read together, the Gospel
of John, chapter 17, and we'll commence to read again at verse
14. The Gospel of John, chapter 17,
and we'll commence to read again at verse 14. I have given them
thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are
not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not
that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth,
thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for
their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified
through the truth. The words especially upon my
mind to speak to you from this evening are those in verse 17.
Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. The subject
before us this evening, friends, is sanctification. And anything
that Jesus found to pray for in John 17 deserves our special
attention. It's not something we can consider
as a light matter if it was something that our Lord, in his dying hours,
should pray for on our behalf. And here we find him praying
that we might be sanctified, that his people might be sanctified,
and they might be sanctified by thy word. Thy word is truth. Now, friends, I don't want to
speak down to you this evening, but first of all, just a few
words on sanctification. Because left to ourselves, I
fear sometimes we muddle up sanctification, justification. We can muddle
up all the benefits that flow from the redeeming work of Christ. Ah, because they have a common
source, and they have a common end. And the common end, friends,
is found here. Ah, in verse 24, Father, I will
that they also now has given me, be with me where I am. Now
that's the end, as it concerns us in our salvation. Of course,
friends, the end of salvation in its entirety, its final end,
ah, is that which is also set before us in this prayer, the
glory of God. Ah, that's why we're saved, friends.
that God might be glorified. That's the primary aim, the primary
end of all the work of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the
glory of God. As we quoted together in prayer,
those beautiful words in Philippians 2, that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
And in Ephesians 3, the Apostle also sums up beautifully this
end, the end of all the work of grace in this. Now unto Him
that is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we
ask or think, that's the Father. According to the power that worketh
in us, that's the Spirit. Unto Him, that's the Father,
be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end. Ah, friends, the end. The end
of the work of God is the glory of God. And God is glorified,
not only in our redemption, not only in our justification, not
only in our calling, not only in his predestinating love, but
in his sanctification, in our glory which is to come. And therefore,
friends, as it pertains unto the glory of God, it bears us
to take notice of it this evening as being important. And now I
just for the young people here want for a moment to try and
separate out these things. We use these terms sometimes,
we ban them about from the pulpit. But let's come down to simple
things. Let's take an illustration. You can go into a shop, or you
used to be able to go into a shop and buy things on account. And
you could go in and you could put things on the counter, and
having put them on the counter, they'd write them down in a book,
and at the end of the month they'd send you a bill for them. You
didn't pay anything, you went out of the shop with them, you
paid at the end of the month. If you failed to pay, you became
a debtor. A red mark was put next to your
name in the book. Ah, you've got a mark there against
you in the book, you're a debtor. When you try to go into the shop
to buy something else, they'll tell you. Ah, you can't buy,
you're a debtor. Now friends, somebody can come
along and pay off the debt. But friends, though the account
is settled, there's still a mark next to your name, you're a debtor.
And therefore, though the account is settled, the shopkeeper has
a right to say, ah, you're a debtor, I can't let you have anything
else. But friends, if that mark was erased, ah, if that mark
was taken away, if there was no evidence there in the shopkeeper's
book that you'd ever been in debt, then you could go and you
could buy freely and the shopkeeper would treat you just like any
one of his other faithful customers. But, friends, there's another
factor in this, isn't there? And that factor is why you got
into debt in the first place. Some people just have a propensity
to debt, a natural propensity. They live beyond their means.
They've got high ideals and therefore they spend. They can't afford
it. Ah, friends, whether there was a mark in the book, whether
that mark had been erased, it wouldn't change your propensity
to get into debt. Now friends, in that illustration
we see something of the aspects of salvation which I just want
to briefly speak of. First of all, we are indebted
under the law. The wages of sin is death. And
having sinned, we have a price put over our head and that price
is death. That price is death. Now Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
paid that price for us. He redeemed us. He paid the redemption
price. He gave his own life through
his life. Giving of his life through his
death. Ah, he died in our place, and
therefore, ah, the debt is paid. The account is settled in that
account. Ah, but friends, we've still got on record. Ah, we've
still got on record the fact that we're debtors. We're debtors
against the law. We have been debtors though the
account is settled. Ah, and that's what we call justification. Ah, when Christ's righteousness
is imputed unto us, all His keeping of the law is accounted ours.
There in the court of God's justice, where it's written against us
that we are debtors under the law, ah, there Christ's righteousness
being imputed unto us. That record, as it were, is settled,
is taken away, remade, just as if we'd never sinned in the record
of God. Ah, the law can have no demands upon us. Because in
the eyes of the Lord we're seen as perfect. But friends, that
still leaves your old nature. That still leaves your old nature,
your propensity to sin. And this is what causes the Lord's
people so much grief. Ah, when the Lord first passes
by, when he grants them faith, and faith lays hold upon Christ
as he's found in the Gospel. Ah, as we receive the remission
of our sins, as we're justified by faith. As we see cancelled,
written over all the debt. Ah, sinners on death row, expecting
death, we find life in the death of Christ. Ah, we sing amazing
grace, but friends, what happens when we get up the next morning?
We prove we still were in old nature, we still sin. Ah, we're
unholy. Our cry is that we're unholy,
needs no proof, we don't need to be told it. Ah, friends, you
don't need to be told it this evening if you know anything
of grace. Ah, you'll know that you're unholy, you'll feel that
you're unholy. Ah, Paul did, didn't he? Oh,
wretched man that I am, was what Paul said. Oh, wretched man that
I am, who can deliver me from this body of death? Why did Paul
feel wretched? Because he still had a body of
sin. There was still that propensity in him to sin, despite grace.
Oh, despite finding forgiveness out there in Christ. Oh, being
delivered in his Damascus Road experience. Paul still had a
body of sin. Paul still had a body of sin.
The good that he would, he did not. The evil that he would,
not that he did. Ah, Paul had an old nature. And friends, have
you got an old nature this evening? And is there a soldier this evening
that's having to say with the hymn writer, Ah, the old man
struggles hard to gain the conquest over grace. And often seems to
gain the field when Jesus hides his face. Now friends, sanctification
Sanctification is that whereby a sinner is made holy. Why is it so important friends?
Because holiness without which no man can see the Lord. There's no room in heaven for
anything that's unholy. No room in heaven for anything
that's unholy. Ah, friend, if we have any hope
of glory this evening, it must be in this doctrine, the doctrine
of sanctification. Sanctify them through thy truth,
thy word is truth. Because, friends, except we're
made meat for glory, except we're fitted and prepared there, ah,
except we know something of this sanctifying work of God, ah,
we can have no hope of seeing Jesus' face in glory. No hope,
friends, of this prayer being answered concerning us. Father,
I will that thy also now has given me, be with me where I
am. Ah, but you see, friends, blessed be God, these things
are both in the same prayer, aren't they? Both in the same
prayer. You can't have the one without
the other. God can't answer part of Jesus' prayer and forget about
the other part. No, He answers completely, fully,
perfectly. And that begins, friends, here.
Keep them. Sanctify them. Preserve them
in Christ, in the day of Jesus Christ. Prepare them for glory. That where He is, there we might
be. Now, friends, that's very briefly.
what the work of sanctification is. The work of justification,
it takes place outside of us, in the court of heaven, at the
bar of justice. The work of sanctification takes
place within us. Our friend's righteousness is
imputed unto us in justification. Christ's righteousness is put
in our place. are there in the court of heaven,
and we are declared righteous in Christ. But in sanctification,
our friends, it's a work that goes on within us. Holiness,
holiness has to be imparted unto us by the working of the Holy
Ghost. Now friends, I want to be very
clear. Our articles of faith, they make some very clear statements
concerning sanctification. And the chief of them is that
we deny the doctrine of progressive sanctification. And that has
been an error, and it still is an error. Among some churches,
you'll find some friends out there, they believe they're holy.
Perhaps you've come across some of them, they say, why are you
concerned about sin? Our sin's been put away, I'm no longer
a sinner. Our friends, they've got a spurious view of sanctification,
haven't they? And then there will be those
who will tell you, oh, we've become progressively more and more holy,
and you should be fighting against sin within you, and mortifying
daily the deeds of the flesh and frenzies of scriptural terms.
They're the language of the New Testament. Ah, don't shut them
away. just because we don't believe
in progressive sanctification. But, friends, never think, never
think that you'll get to a stage in your life where you'll be
independent of grace, where you'll be holy. Ah, without the constant
in-working of the Holy Spirit. Ah, friends, without the old
nature with us down to the gates of death, there on our deathbed.
Ah, we'll have to wrestle against the powers of sin and hell till
Jesus bids us go. Ah, you see, friends, we will
not be delivered from these things here below. will not be delivered
from these sins here below. No, as the Shorter Catechism
says, the souls of the righteous are at death, they pass immediately
into glory, and there they're made perfect in holiness. That's
the end of the work of sanctification, it's glorification. You'll notice,
friends, in Romans 8, in that golden chain, whom he predestinated,
them he also called. Whom he called, them he also
justified. whom he justified, then he also
glorified, he doesn't mention this term sanctification, but
he mentions the end of sanctification, which is glorification. And our
friends, we're only truly sanctified, fully sanctified there when we
enter into glory, our soul at death. our body at the resurrection
of the just, when this mortal shall put on immortality, this
corruption incorruption, although we know not what we shall be,
yet we know when he shall appear we shall be like him, and we
shall see him." That's the end of sanctification. Oh, you see,
friends, if that's what you desire after this evening, if your experience
is weary of earth, myself, and sin, did Jesus set me free? and to thyself come take me in
for there I long to be you will be earnestly seeking after the
fulfilment of this word sanctify them through thy truth thy word
is truth prepared for our end prepared for our end a prepared
people for the glory which is to come ah friends you see there's
no sin in heaven there's no sin in heaven No imperfections. Made perfectly holy. This work,
friends, is a complete work. It's an entire work. It's a perfect
work. I was preaching earlier this
day on another aspect of sanctification there in that first epistle of
Paul to Thessalonians. and the very God of peace sanctify
you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." There,
friends, we see the nature of this sanctification, body, soul
and spirit entirely holy. that we might be preserved blameless,
chargeless. Ah, Paul says proceed in that,
to abstain from all appearance of evil. You know, friends, there
won't even be the shadow of a spot there in glory. No shadow of
evil. Ah, we'll be more than conquerors.
Conquerors all ere long, and more than conquerors too. Ah,
friends, everything that pertains to sin we put away. I was asked
the other day, will we know one another in glory? Well, friends,
that's a question that affects many righteous souls, and I'm
not going to give you an answer this evening. Friends, we'll
only fully know. I have to go as far as John.
Neither know we what we will be, but we know that when he
should appear, we shall be like him, and we shall see him. But,
friends, I do believe this, that they're in glory. Ah, you see,
there'll be no imperfections that pertain unto sin here. And
so much, friends, of our natural character is bound up with sin.
Ah, some are known for their quick tempers, but, friends,
there'll be no quick temper in glory. Ah, you see, every part
of us will be so sanctified, so holy, all the vestiges of
sin, the effects of sin that ravages our body in disease and
in affliction, all those things we put away with. Can you imagine,
friends, what you'll be like in the sanctified state? I can't. But we fondly dream sometimes,
don't we, of that place where we shall never, never sin. But
from the rivers of His grace drink endless pleasures in. That's
what's so important, friends. Not whether we'll know one another.
Will we be there? Have we got a part in this text
this evening? Sanctify them. Through thy truth,
thy word is truth. If we have friends, then we've
certainly got a place there in glory. And we'll be made perfect
in righteousness. Ah! And there, we shall see the
Lamb, which is all the glory, in Emmanuel's hand. Now that's
the end, friends, of perfections of sanctification. Just to notice
a few things from our text. Firstly, ah, this is a divine
work. It's a divine work. You see,
friends, so many churches today, they preach sanctification. That's
something you do. Something you work at. Well,
friends, I mentioned that we deny progressive sanctification,
but let's just be clear before I go any further. Oh, friends,
that doesn't mean that we sit there. It doesn't mean that we
sit down and we become content with the fact we're sinners.
You know, I've come across some in our churches that come very
close to that. I'm a sinner. I'm a sinner. Oh, friends, where
is the striving for holiness? Where is the desire to be like
Christ? Ah, where is the desire for the renewing of the mind?
Ah, they mustn't read half the New Testament. You read the letters
of Paul. Paul's constantly stirring us up to holy living. They shove
all those things under the carpet. They say they're legal. Ah, but
friends, they're part of the gospel, aren't they? They're
gospel precepts. I tell you, if you've got anything
of grace, grace must make a difference in your life. Oh, there must
be the sanctifying effects of grace. Ah, yes, you'll wrestle
with sin. Ah, yes, friends, but there must
be separation from the things of this world. There must be
separation from that which is sin. There is a coming out from
among them and being separate. Sanctification is a real thing.
Ah, friends, if grace leaves us where it founds us, it finds
us, it's not grace, is it? You take Hebrews 11. Every single
person that's mentioned in Hebrews 11, oh, Grace found them in a
place, but Grace didn't leave them there. Oh, when Grace found
Abram, he had to up and take the best of his lambs and offer
it as sacrifice. When Grace found Abram, oh, he
couldn't rest there in her of the Chaldees, he had to get up
and go out, not knowing whether he went. He had that written
over him, a stranger and a pilgrim. When Grace found Moses, though
he was sitting there in the lap of luxury, in the daughter of
Pharaoh's house, what a comfortable life he had. But you see, friends,
when Grace finds us, it must have an effect. And he chose rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure
of sin for a season. That's sanctification. The world
hated Christ. It hates us. But you see, sanctify
them by thy truth. That's what was going on in Moses'
life. Separation. Come out from among
them. Be separate. Touch not the unclean thing and
I'll be a father unto you. But you see, friends, experience. When we come to experience, what
do we find? The more we know of Christ, the
more that light is shed abroad in our souls by the Holy Spirit,
the more darkness we see, the more we learn about our sin,
we feel we go backwards rather than forwards. You ask the old
age saints that you look at, and you see them as you look
on, you think, oh they're sanctified saints. We say, don't we, we
speak of those that are taken sometimes and we say, ah, we
saw them being prepared for glory. What did we see, friends? Evidences
of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. But you ask them,
you ask them as they're breathing their last breath, ah, do you
feel holy? And what will they tell you?
No. They'll tell you they feel a
greater sinner there than what they did when their Lord first
dealt with them. Ah, the Lord's people on their deathbed can
be found saying, that if I love, why am I thus? And yet, friends,
ah, why is it a concern to them as to whether they love Christ?
Because the love of Christ has been shed abroad in their soul.
Because they love Him. And therefore they have to mourn
over the fact that they don't feel they love Him as much as
they would like to. As much as they would wish to. But friends,
that's sanctification. Sanctify them by thy truth, thy
word is truth. Oh, you see, friends, all the
while our view is that here, ah, we'll be killing the old
man and he'll be coming weaker and we'll be getting more and
more holy and we'll have more and more elevated views and better
views of the scripture. Ah, friends, we'll live in such
a holy state. Ah, you'll be disappointed. But when we see sanctification,
when we see growth in grace as described in our articles, as
a daily increase in knowledge of our sinfulness, of our wretchedness,
of our absolute inability, of the fact that salvation must
be by grace, because if we were left to take one step in the
path ourselves, we'd sink immediately into hell. and against that a
growing knowledge of the suitability and the perfections and the beauty
and the mercy and the love and the goodness of God in the provision
of Jesus Christ as our Saviour as a Saviour for sinners such
as us vile, backsliding sinners, rebellious sinners, sinners who
get no better left to themselves. For sinners who have to mourn
over the wretched man that still dwells within them. For sinners
who have to prove, ah, they feel they go backwards rather than
forwards, though we're on the way and no farther yet. That's
the cry of a sanctified soul. It's the cry of a sanctified
soul we find in Psalm 119. My soul cleaveth the dust, quicken
thou me. But if you ask David, David are
you holy? What would he have said? No.
My soul cleaves to the dust. But friends, why and how did
he know he cleaved to the dust? Why did he desire to be quickened?
Ah, because he knew something of his work. Sanctify them through
thy truth. Thy word is truth. But, friends,
I must come more particularly to our text. First of all, just
to notice the context. We find here two aspects of sanctification. The first is in these terms,
keep. The Lord Jesus prays that they might be kept. Now, sanctification
can also be translated as consecration, separation, setting apart, making
holy. Keep them. Set them apart. Ah,
keep them. Preserve them from sin. Deliver
them from evil. Keep them from sinning. That's
the first prayer. That's the first part of sanctification. And the Lord Jesus prays for
that here. Ah, I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of
the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from evil. Now just
on that verse for a moment, friends. Ah, note this. Sanctification
doesn't mean that we can give up our jobs. It doesn't mean
that we can go and live in a monastery. It doesn't mean that we can cut
ourselves off from the world. No. We're to be sanctified in
the world. God gave Adam, in the creation
mandate, a mandate to subdue the earth and have dominion over
it, and to be fruitful and to multiply. Ah, friends, that's
the mandate that was given to us as we were placed upon this
earth. And I can tell you this evening, ah, if we're sinners
saved by grace, oh, we should be pursuing that mandate with
even greater urgency than we ever pursued it before. Because,
friends, it's a mandate to this end, to the glory of God. It's
not to be withdrawn from the world. That's why there's so
many. Those poor deluded souls that go into a monastery seeking
after sanctification. You see, friends, they think
they can do it. They think if they separate themselves from
the world. Have you been there? Have you been there? I can remember,
friends, when I went to live on my own for the first time,
I thought, oh, this will be wonderful. I'll be able to read my Bible
while I'm eating my meals. I'll be able to give my thoughts
entirely to the things of God. After a couple of weeks, friends,
I was despairing. But walking around the corner
one morning to the station, these words came to me with such power
and sweetness. Our legal hopes he kindly slays
to teach us gospel praise. Ah, you see, friends, where was
he bringing me back to? He was bringing me back to anchor
on His grace, to confess salvation is all of grace. Ah, sanctification
is a divine work, you see, the God of peace sanctify you wholly. Ah, Paul had just been giving
them all those exhortations, pray without ceasing, rejoice
evermore, quench not the spirit, but having given them all. Ah,
friends, he comes back to the gospel, doesn't he? The God of
peace sanctify you wholly. It's a divine work. That's what's
confessed here. Jesus doesn't ask that they might
have strength to sanctify themselves. No. He says unto his father,
sanctify thou them. Sanctify thou them is a divine
work. A divine work. And it begins
here, kept. Kept by the power of God, through
faith unto salvation. That's sanctification. Keep in
power of God. Now can I just put these two
aspects of sanctification in different terms? I remember a
godly deacon in the black country when I used to go up there with
my father to pray and he invariably prayed concerning his children
two things and those two things were these, Lord constrain them,
Lord restrain them. Now there, friends, we've got
the two aspects of sanctification that are set before us this evening
here. Restrain them. Keep them. Keep them from evil,
Lord. Keep them from fear. Keep them
from sin. That's what Job was praying over
his children, wasn't he? That they might be kept, lest
they did any sin. He was making sacrifice for them. Keep them. Restrain them. And you know,
friends, we'll have to prove that's what we need in sanctification.
Daily keeping. daily keeping. Ah, if we're brought
to that experience, myself I cannot save, myself I cannot keep. Ah, friends, where will we have
to look to? We'll have to look to this one who sanctifies by
his truth, who keeps, but strength in thee I fain would have, whose
eyelids never sleep. The other aspect, friends, is
constrainment. Ah, it's not only to be kept
from doing evil, but it's to be constrained to bring forth
the fruits of righteousness. Ah, to bring forth those evidences
within our life as the Holy Spirit works grace within us and bestows
upon us those gifts of the Spirit. Ah, those evidences we've passed
from death unto life. Ah, the love to the brethren.
Faith. Ah, faith that believes beyond
hope. Ah, that grace of love, joy and peace. Ah, those beautiful
gifts. that are enumerated there towards
the end of Galatians, the fruits of the Spirit. Ah, friends, how
are they brought forth? Ah, only as the Spirit works
sanctification within us. Ah, only as He constrains us.
And, friends, what is the basis for this constraining? What is
the basis for this restraining? Well, the Apostle tells us, doesn't
he, what is the basis for constraining? And that's this. The love of
Christ constraineth me. The love of Christ constrains
me. And you know, friends, it's the same basis for restraining,
isn't it? I tell you, what keeps you from
sin? It's not the law, is it? It's not the law. Ah, friends,
all the while we go to the law to try and keep ourselves from
sin. What is our experience? The more I strive against sin's
power, I sinned and stumbled, but the more. Ah, but what keeps
us? Till late I heard my Saviour
say, Come here, the soul. I am the Ah, what does he do? He points to his redeeming blood
and says, behold, the way to God. Ah, friends, he's showing
us the love. Ah, the love of Christ, the love
of God. God commended his love toward us in that while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us. That's what keeps you from
sin. A realisation, friends, of your sin as cost in blood
and wounds and snot. Ah, that's what keeps us from
sinning cheaply, to use William Tiptoe's words. That's what makes
sin to be a very bitter thing unto us. Ah, not all the demands
of the law. Not all the demands of the law.
But a sense of blood-brought pardon. The love of Christ constrains
us. The love of Christ restrains
us. Keep them. I pray not that thou shouldst
take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them
from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of
the world. Ah, they are not of the world.
Oh, friends, it's a mystery to us, isn't it, as we find ourselves
sometimes so worldly, sometimes so taken up with the things of
this time state. Our soul cleaves to the dust.
But, you know, friends, if the Lord has passed by us and said,
live, if he's put that new spirit within us, that new heart of
flesh, ah, you know, friends, we're not of this world. We're
not of this world. Oh, we've got a part of the kingdom
of heaven within us. My kingdom is within you. We've
begun to live eternal life. Ah, friends, that's a mystery
that's set before us here. Ah, one time we were citizens
of this world. This world was our home. Ah,
but you see, friends, now we're no longer this world. We're separated. We're sanctified. We're set apart.
Ah. Our city. Our citizenship is
of that heavenly city. Ah, our conversation is of that
city. Our lives should testify that here we're strangers and
pilgrims. Here we have no abiding city. We seek a city which is
yet to come. Ah, a city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God. You know, friends, oh, it should
be a question more often with us. What is our testimony? Can
the world see that we're not of this world? That we're strangers
to its ways? We don't understand the way the
world works. They're here, we have no home.
You know, sometimes, friends, we settle down. Ah, we make our
homes our castles. And the world, looking on, might
think that we're only living for this time stay. But you see,
when we're sanctified by the truth, our friends, we're bought
to hold these things with a very slim hand, a very light hand,
aren't we? These things, they don't mean much to us. I'm not
saying that we take them for granted, nor that we mistreat
them, nor that we can be careless with them. Every grace and every
favour comes to us through Jesus' blood. They're not cheap. But,
friends, we've got a better hope, haven't we? And a better hope
We are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. They
are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. But friends,
I must keep myself on track. Come into this second aspect
of sanctification. Ah, this constraining. Sanctify
them by thy truth. Ah, may they bring forth the
fruits of righteousness. Righteousness. Constrained by
His love. The love of Christ constrains
me. And our friends, this, this is what works sanctification
within the soul, isn't it? David knew something of it, didn't
he, when he said, I will run in the way of thy commandments
when thou dost enlarge my heart. Friends, that's sanctification.
As the Lord draws near and so blesses your soul in Christ,
as he shows you that precious blood is sprinkling, as you see
him in all his sufferings and he says, these things were done
for you, in all his humiliation, Our foxes have holes, the birds
of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not where to
lay his head, and our friends when we get a sight of he who laid aside His glory, if I may
just use that terminology for a moment, humbled Himself, made
Himself of no reputation, was made sin, who knew no sin, was
made sin for us. Ah, friends, as we get a sight
of that, it must have this effect, it enlarges our hearts. We love
Him because He first loved us, and always He shows us some of
that love in Christ, that love in Christ toward us, a poor unworthy
sinner. I'm worthy of the least of his
favours. I'm worthy of the least of his blessings. As he reveals
our love to us and enlarges our heart, we must run in the way
of his commandments, we will. We will. We'll depart from iniquity,
won't we? We'll depart from iniquity. Oh,
friends, what do we know of this? Is it your cry this evening?
It is more of thee we want to know, dear Lord. Oh, that we
might grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, you see, friends, our sanctification. Oh, grow
in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, as we know more of Him and know more of this enlarging
of heart. Oh, as the mountains flow down to His presence, as
we're broken by a sense of His love toward us, all will run
in the way of his commandments sanctify them by thy truth thy
word is truth but I want to specifically come to this verse sanctify them
through thy truth thy word is truth I've said here we have set before
us that sanctification is a divine work on its origins it's divine
it's a divine work throughout It's bound up, isn't it, in that,
He which hath begun a good work in you. Ah, friends, that's the
work of grace, that's the beginning of the work of sanctification.
He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it to the
day of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle describes it elsewhere,
Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. The author and
the finisher of our sanctification are all bound up in that word,
author. He speaks not only of the originator, not only of the
beginner, but He that sustains. Oh, you see, it's Jesus Christ
throughout. It's God throughout. It's a divine work. The God of
peace. Sanctify you wholly. But, friends, we have also set
before us here the means He uses. Sanctify them through thy truth.
Thy truth. And He then goes on the other
side of this colon, the other side of the equation, if we might
like, to explain to us what truth is. Thy word is truth. Thy word
is truth. We could say sanctify them through
thy word. Sanctify them through thy word.
Now friends, I want to just notice this word in two contexts. And
I know some of the commentators will tell you, JC Ryle I think
will tell you, only Augustine sees Christ here. But I'm going
to venture this evening to see Christ here. Thy word is truth. Sanctify them through thy word.
Firstly, firstly friends, I'll speak of the word as it's here
in context in the verses that proceed. Christ said, I have
given them thy word. I have given them thy word."
What is Christ speaking of? He's speaking about the revelation
that he'd given unto his disciples. What was his revelation? The
Gospel. The Gospel. This is the first
means that I see here that the Lord God uses in sanctifying
sinners, sanctifying them through thy word, the revelation of Jesus
Christ, I have given them thy word. And in verse 8 he also
speaks of it, For I have given unto them the words which thou
gavest me. Ah, what the Father had delivered
unto Him, He had revealed, the Gospel. But then, friends, I'd
like to come to notice, O Christ, here, the Word. In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was made flesh. Ah, in the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,
and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we beheld
His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth. Sanctify them through Thy Word.
Friends, in context, I don't feel I'm saying the wrong thing
here because you read on to that 19th verse and what does he say?
And for their sakes I sanctify myself that they also might be
sanctified through the truth. Oh, friends, here we have set
before us Christ as being part of the means used for our sanctification. Just to clear up the point here,
oh, we must not read that Christ needs to be sanctified as we
need to be sanctified. Here Christ is using that word
in the sense of consecrate, set apart. Ah, for their sakes I
consecrate myself, I set myself apart, that they might be sanctified
through the truth. He gave himself willingly to
the work, that was given to him to do. He came into this world
and made himself of no reputation. Oh, that he might fulfil all
the righteousness that the Lord demanded and that he might bear
the punishment that was due under the law. Oh, that he might be
the means of our sanctification. But firstly, friends, sanctify
them through thy truth, thy word is truth. Oh, the revelation
of Jesus Christ. Firstly, friends, what did Jesus
reveal? He revealed the Father. He revealed
the Father. No man has seen the Father at
any time. Ah, but he that hath seen me
hath seen the Father. This is the first thing that
Jesus came to reveal unto the people, to reveal unto His disciples,
the Father and the Father's will. Now, friends, a revelation of
the Father, oh, it sanctifies the soul, doesn't it? I'll give
you one example, you'll find more than one in scripture, but
you go to Isaiah there, in Isaiah 6. In the year the King Uzziah
died, he saw the Lord high and lifted up, and his train filled
the temple. Oh, friends, what was the effect
of a revelation of the Father to Isaiah? Woe is me, I am undone. A man of unclean lips, and I
dwell among a people of unclean lips. Oh, friends, that's sanctification,
isn't it? That's sanctification. Ah, that's
where a revelation of the Father in Christ Jesus will bring us
home. Oh, friends, as the hymn writer puts it in that beautiful
hymn, and written over the top of it, it has this, A sight of
God mortifies the world. And the hymn writer said, Had
I a glimpse of thee, my God, kingdoms and men would vanish
soon, vanish as I saw them not, as a dim candle dies at noon.
Ah, friends, that's separation, isn't it? That's keeping from
the evil that's in the world. That's a bringing away from the
things of this world. That's a bringing away from sin. When we get a sight of Him in
all His holiness, all His righteousness, when we find ourselves as sinners,
oh friends, it brings us in there, doesn't it? Seeking after that
holiness. Seeking after that holiness.
Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. Ah, I have
given them thy word, a revelation of the Father. But then, friends,
oh, Christ comes, doesn't he, and it's part of that revelation.
Ah, part of the word that he gives them. He gives them the
precepts of the Gospel. And you go there, friends, to
the Sermon on the Mount. And you see, this is what so
many people miss out when they tell you, ah, the law, the moral
law is the believer's rule of life. And that's the only place
we need to look for our sanctification. You look to the moral law. You
keep the moral law. You'll be sanctified. Ah, friends,
they get it all upside down, don't they? Sanctification begins
here. Ah, it doesn't say here, sanctify them through thy law.
It doesn't say send them back to the Ten Commandments. It says
sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. I've revealed
thy word. Ah, and what did Christ come
to reveal? Yes, he came to magnify the law
and make it honourable. Oh, but friends, he came to reveal
the gospel precept, didn't he? And what do we find there in
the Sermon on the Mount? Oh, the gospel precept. You've
heard it said a whole time. You shall not commit adultery,
you shall not kill, you shall not steal, etc. But I say unto
you, oh, you see, friends, there Christ reveals very clearly the
difference between the law and the gospel. Oh, the law deals
with outward deeds. But, you see, friends, this work
of sanctification, gospel sanctification, it doesn't deal with outward
deeds. Although the outward man be kept clean, we fill the filth
within. It's within that we need sanctified. Oh, friends, that's
what the Apostle desired when he said, my whole body, soul
and spirit, or everything about us needs to be sanctified. It's
not good enough in the eyes of the Lord to be clean. Oh, no,
friends. Oh, we need the heart dealing
with. We need the heart dealing with. And when Christ comes there
to the Gospel, he shows us the Gospel deals with the heart.
The gospel deals with the heart. Sanctify them through thy truth.
The gospel exposes heart sin. Ah, exposes heartsickness. Makes us realise, oh, our very
best is died with sin. Our all is nothing worth, there's
nothing that comes forth within us that's not sinful. Why, friends? Because we are sinful. Our very
nature is sinful. A nature of sin. That's why we
need sanctification. You see, friends, as the Gospel
reveals this to us. Ah, where does it bring us to?
It brings us to breathe after holiness. That's another beautiful
hymn, one of Isaac Watson's paraphrased, Psalm 119. And it has over it
in our hymn book, Breathing After Holiness. Oh, that the Lord would
guide my ways, to keep His statues still. Oh, that my God would
grant me grace to know and do His will. That's a soul breathing
after sanctification, isn't it? That's a sanctified soul, a soul
that's found in our texts this evening. Sanctify them through
thy truth. Thy word is truth. My word is
truth. But friends, the beautiful thing
about the gospel is this. Oh, you see, it reveals a motive,
doesn't it? As John Berry says, oh, the law
demands, but it gives nobility. But the gospel, it bids us fly
and it gives us wings. You see, friends, you find this
with Paul, don't you? Ah, his epistles. There's plenty
of gospel precept in them, friends. It comes and it deals with our
life. It comes and it deals with how we walk before the world
and how we walk with one another. Oh, but friends, they're always
based on the gospel. And the gospel is so bound up
with them. You take just two examples as they come to mind,
firstly. Ah, husbands, love your wives.
Why? What's the motive? As Christ
loved the church and gave himself for it. And then, friends, our
more general one, there at the end of the fourth chapter of
the Ephesians, where we read this. Let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you
with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted,
forgiving one another. If I stop there, friends, it's
the law, isn't it? It's the law. And you see, friends, this is
what so many people do when they preach the gospel precept. They
shave everything that's a gospel off them. Oh, and they just give
you new law. But, you see, friends, what does
Paul say? Oh, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven
you. Now, you see, friends, don't we get a sense of that? Oh, the
forgiveness of God, for Christ's sake. Oh, that makes us tender-hearted,
loving one to another, doesn't it? We know we've passed from
death unto life because we love the brethren. because we love
the brethren. How is this revealed? How are
we sanctified? Oh, as this is revealed to us
by the revelation of Jesus Christ, by His Word, by the Gospel. That's
how the Lord is pleased to sanctify us. Oh, as the Holy Spirit takes
the things of Jesus, takes of His revelation and applies them
to our soul, as He enlarges our heart and causes us to run in
the way of His command and sanctify them. By thy truth thy Word is
truth. Thy word is truth. But, friends,
I must move on to briefly come to notice, oh, in this context,
Thy word is truth. Oh, the incarnate word. The word
made flesh and dwell among us, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
sanctify them. Oh, Father, sanctify them through
me. Now, friends, we read, don't we, the apostle tells us he has
made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification. Oh, friends,
he will be our glory, won't he? The source of our glory. In Emmanuel's
land, he is the believer's all, you see. And bound up in that,
he is our sanctification. How are we sanctified by Christ?
Well, firstly, friends, we're sanctified by Christ as we find
it here in verse 19. And for their sakes I sanctify
myself, that they also may be sanctified through the truth.
Ah, sanctification is a blessing that comes from the cross, a
blessing that comes from the precious shed blood of Jesus
Christ. Except, friends, the middle wall of petition have
been taken away. Ah, except the gulf that was
fixed between God and man by sin, the separation that sin
has made. Oh, we're brought to know that
in experience, your sins, my sins, separated between us and
God. Ah, What's the beginning of sanctification? Oh, when we find, friends, that
middle wall taken away, separation taken away. Here's our propitiation. Oh, friends, when we see it,
he's entered in there with his own shed blood. The atonement
has been received, the veil of the temple rent in twain from
top to bottom. God and sin has reconciled. That's
what the angels sung about when he was born, wasn't it? Peace
on earth, goodwill to men. God and sin is reconciled in
the person of Jesus Christ through his death, through his atonement
and you see, friends, sanctification is a blessing that flows from
that. You can't have sanctification without redemption. If you've
got redemption, you must have sanctification. They're all part
of this beautiful chain that all hangs, all hangs on the atonement,
atoning work of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. That's
what he's saying here. For their sakes I set myself
apart. I consecrate myself to this work.
I've set my face aflint to go unto Jerusalem. I will go to
the end of the law for righteousness. I will fulfill all its demands.
That these poor souls might be free from the bondage they're
under. That the price that is on their
head might be paid. Nay, more than that, that they
might be made holy as I am holy. That they might share in my glory.
That they might be where I am. That's why Jesus went to the
cross. And in that sense, friends, we're sanctified through his
death. Our sanctification hangs upon his death. Sanctify them
through thy truth. Sanctify them on the grounds
of my merits. Sanctify them on the grounds
of my merits. I would just be clear, friends, we don't believe
what the Roman Catholics believe, that his holiness is infused
into us. Oh, that we're sanctified by
imputed holiness. Oh no, friends, we're justified
by imputed righteousness, but we don't receive the holiness
of Christ imputed unto us. Oh, friends, no, we're actually
made holy. Actually made holy by the sanctifying
work of the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit indwells us, makes
us a temple of the Holy Ghost as He fits and prepares us for
glory, and sanctifies us fully there as we enter into glory.
But friends, the second ground that I would say, sanctify them
by thy truth, thy word is truth. Oh, the second way the Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ is for our sanctification is this. He makes
continual intercession for us. Oh, don't think, friends, that
His intercession ceased here at the end of John 17. No, He
ever lives to make intercession for us. And while He ever lives,
He's daily praying this prayer, interceding for this end, for
His people sanctify them by thy truth, thy word is truth. That's
a fundamental point of his sanctification this evening, and if it ever
ceased to be, friends, ah, we'd fall into hell, wouldn't we? Our sanctification rests upon
the continual intercession of Jesus Christ, that he's continually
presenting this plea before his Father, sanctify them by thy
truth. And if he ever ceased to do that,
we'd have no hope of ever being sanctified. Our sanctification
rests upon his intercession. Ah, friends, what a blessed thing
that is. What a lovely illustration we see in Peter. Simon, Satan
hath desired to have thee to sift his wheat, but I have prayed
for thee, thy faithful not. That's sanctification, isn't
it? Is that a comfort to you, dear
soul, this evening? Ah, he sees me overpumped, and
pities my distress. And bitter affliction drives
me home to Anne Crony's grouse. Ah, friend, that he's making
intercession for us. As we wrestle against the powers
of sin within us, the powers of sin without us. As we wrestle
against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ah, against principalities
and powers. Friends, they're not the spirits
of this world. Although that might be included in them. Ah,
it's within the high place of the heart, the wickedness that
we find there. Ah, the daily wrestlings we feel will be overcome.
I have prayed for thee. I have prayed for thee that thy
faith fail not. Sanctify them by thy truth, thy
word is truth. Ah, friends, as he ever lives
to make intercession for us. Ah, he's pleaded. Pleading for
this, presenting the merits of himself and his finished work
that we might be sanctified. about friends finally, oh sanctified
by thy word thy word is truth oh we're sanctified aren't we
as he set before us as our example ah you see here's the pattern
for our holiness we'll be formed after him that's what John says
I've already quoted neither know we what we will be but we know
that when he shall appear we shall be like him ah made perfect
in holiness as he is holy we will also be holy And so, friends,
he's a pattern set before us, not just in our final sanctification,
oh, not just in our glorified state, but, friends, he's a pattern
for us as we live here each day of our lives upon this earth.
Oh, that we might know more of him, that we might see more of
him. Oh, friends, I do love that word,
and you may have heard me preach from it before. Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
of me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest
for your souls. Friends, the Gospel you see,
it doesn't rest there, does it, in coming to Christ? Oh, the
Gospel continues with discipleship. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
of me. For I am meek and lowly in heart,
and ye shall find rest for your souls. That's sanctification.
That's the sanctifying works of the work of grace. Oh, the
sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Oh, you see, friends,
how are we sanctified as He teaches us more and more all concerning
Christ. As He grants us more and more
of that desire, oh, that we might be like Him, that we might know
more of Him. Oh, you see, friends, if we lose
sight of Christ, oh, that's when sin assails us, isn't it? As
the hymn writer says, lose sight of Jesus and His cross, and soon
we fall a prey. Are you there this evening, friends?
Ah, does sin seem to be overwhelming you? You know, there's only one
remedy. Look to Jesus, kind and strong, pity joined with power. Look unto me, and be ye saved.
All the ends of the earth, for I am the Lord, there is none
else. Oh, he's got power. Power. He's got ability. And
oh, friends, what a blessing we find, he's a willing saviour.
Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. Oh, you
see, friends, We find our role in Him. We find our role in Him. And as we find our role in Him,
we desire to follow Him. Oh, we desire to be like Him,
to follow His example. And what an example it is. Yes,
friends, a high standard. A high standard. Oh, when we
find ourselves there amongst the world, somebody does something
little that annoys us. And what do we find? Anger rises
up within us. Ah, but friends, we never find
any sinful anger in Christ, do we? And when, friends, we find
ourselves buffeted and rebuked by the people of this world for
our foolishness, ah, where does Paul call us to look for? Ah,
consider him, who suffered such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your mind. Ah, friends,
that's sanctification, isn't it? That's sanctification. Ah, and you know, the Lord's
people, they prove, the more they see Him, the more they want
to see Him. the more they desire to know
him. The hymn writer says, doesn't it is more of thee we want to
know? Ah, friends, if that's your desire this evening, oh,
that I might know him, that I might win Christ, that I might be found
in him, that I might know him, the power of his resurrection,
oh, that I might have fellowship with him in his sufferings and
be made conformable unto his death. That's the cry of a soul
that's being sanctified. Oh, if you can say that William
Gadsby this evening, oh, that my soul could love and praise
him more. His beauty strays, his majesty adored him near his
heart upon his bosom lean. Obey his voice and all his righteous
will esteem. Friends, that's a cry of a soul
that's in our texts this evening. In whose soul this text is being
fulfilled, sanctify them by thy truth. Oh, as the Holy Spirit's
revealed in Christ unto you. as he's making you daily feel
your need, bringing you to an end of self. Oh, but he teaches
you, withdraws himself for a moment, and you fall. Oh, you cry out
again. What's he doing? He's teaching
you. You've got no hope within yourself, no help. It must be
a daily living upon Christ. Oh, thank him when he daily drives
you to Christ. But oh, have him driven you there.
Have Him driven you there? Ah, friends, what do you desire?
You desire to know more of Him, don't you? But He doesn't stop
there. You'll desire to be with Him, won't you? You'll desire
to be with Him. Oh, friends, I don't say we're
always there. No, here we have to wrestle with the body of sin.
Here we've got those ties of the flesh. Things that hold us
here. Oh, but when the Lord draws near
to work a little of this work within us, sanctify them by thy
truth. Oh, friends, then we come to
those places. Where we find it sweet to look
out of this mud wool cottage and sweet to look to that place.
Ah, that place where Jesus dwells. And there we long to be. That's
the cry, friends, of a sanctified soul. The longing of a sanctified
soul. The soul that's longing all for
the end of this sinful world here below. All for an end of
this sinful self. All for that day when we shall
be with Jesus. When the end of sanctification
shall come, and we shall be with Him in glory, Father, I will
that Thou has given me be with me where I am. They may behold
my glory. Ah, friends, that's the end of
sanctification. That we should be, ah, the jewels
in His crown in the day that He makes up His jewels. That
we should be a royal diadem in the hand of our God. Ah. That's what the Lord's people
are being prepared for. That's the end of our text this
evening. Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.
Well, friends, would you be holy this evening? Oh, would you be
holy? Are you having to mourn this
evening over your sinfulness, over your old nature? Have you
found it breaking out again today? Oh, do you feel yourself to be
resting with a power that's beyond yourself? I tell you, friends,
the gospel makes only one way known. It was so summed up beautifully,
if I remember, in your opening hymn. perhaps it wasn't here sorry
I think it was at Southampton but it's summed up in this oh
look to Jesus look to Jesus what does that let me just turn the
hymn up that I was referring to Hymn number 764, where it comes
in with these words How sad our state by nature is, our sin how
deep it stains And Satan binds our captive minds fast in his
slavish chains But there's a voice of sovereign grace sounds from
the sacred word. Poe, ye despairing sinners, come
and trust upon the Lord. My soul obeys your mighty call
and runs to this relief. I would believe thy promise,
Lord, O help my unbelief. To thee, dear fountain of thy
blood, Incarnate God, I fly. Here let me wash my spotted soul
From crimes of deepest die. Stretch out thine arm, victorious
King, My reigning sin subdued. Drive the old dragon from his
seat With all his hellish crew, A guilty, weak, and helpless
worm. On thy kind arms I fall, Be thou
my strength and righteousness, my Jesus, and my all. Friends, ah, if thou shalt cry
this evening, I tell you in our text. Sanctify them by thy truth,
thy word is truth, and you shall see his glory soon. Ah, you'll
see his glory yet when the work of grace is done. Partner of
my throne shall be. Say, poor sinner, love soundly. Amen.