SANCTIFICATION BEING CHRIST

The wisdom of the fathers

SANCTIFICATION BEING CHRIST

To say that my righteousness before God is not my works does not suggest that I need not be careful of my conduct or works while living on earth. My problem of righteousness before God is indeed solved, but how about my conduct and my living? Here must you and I see that God has not only made Christ my righteousness but has also made Him my sanctification. This sanctification is not a thing, nor a condition, but again, it is a person—even Christ.

Some Christians entertain a kind of mental ideal about sanctification. They envisage sanctification to be Christ helping us, then transforming us into holiness. Formerly we were unholy, now through the help which Christ gives us we become holy.

1. Corinthians 1.30, however, tells us that God has made Christ our sanctification. We do not rely on our own strength to be holy, nor do we count on the help of Christ to be holy, we trust Christ Himself to be our holiness. Our sanctification is the person of Christ, not the help of Christ.

Some Christians think that Christ gives us strength to be holy. Hence they pray to the Lord for strength. They reckon that by receiving strength they will be holy. However, the word of God never says we can be holy, nor does it say Christ gives us strength to be holy. It plainly tells us that God has made Christ our sanctification. Our sanctification is a Gift, our sanctification is a Person; our sanctification is not the result of some God-given strength.

If we do not see with our spiritual eyes, we will not know what immense difference exists here. This is something our brain can never comprehend. Had there been no revelation, and even if our brain could somehow grasp it, it would still be of little use. We must ask God to show us that Christ has not come to help us to be holy, nor does He give us strength to be holy, but He himself becomes our holiness.

(by Watchman Nee)