The Practice of Sanctification (Holiness) (4)

Rev. M. Karens, Werkendam, the Netherlands

A farmer was powerfully converted to God. He went his way very quietly, broken down and deeply miserable in himself. He dared not claim anything, yet someone in the village said, “A wonder has happened in that man! How do I know that? He doesn’t beat his horse anymore.”

The central message in this well-known example is clear: renewal of life, re-creation and conversion, becomes visible in the fruits of our life.

What can be seen in our life? The tree is known by its fruits. Do you know of a life out of the vine Jesus Christ and the fruit of an evangelical sanctification? Do you know of the work of the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier who roots out of your heart the love for sin, self-righteousness, pride, world conformity, and the evil desires and fills it with a desire to holiness? Is our life “a dying and a striving”? How do we deal with the means of grace which the Lord is still giving us?

In his book, “De evangelische heiligmaking” (Evangelical Sanctification), Rev. W. Marshall (who is also quoted by Rev. Kersten in his Dogmatics) speaks of the means whereby God will exercise His own in sanctification. He speaks about and urges them on to the following means:

A right knowledge of the Word of God. Marshall mentions in this respect Law and Gospel. They both have their place in the exercising of sanctification. Of great importance, for example, is a right knowledge of Romans 6 and 7. Justus Vermeer points to the fact that an incisive preaching of the Law for believers (!) is very beneficial for the advancement in sanctification. “Children of God, keep yourselves on the old paths, and the well-worn paths, that have been walked on by so many holy ones, and for whom the end was well. Look much upon that perfect Law for continual discovery and humility so that in this way we may invite Christ. Oh, friends, they deceive themselves who think that they can advance their sanctification outside of this way. These frequently become malformed children with big heads and small feet.” What is Thomas Watson’s answer upon the question as to how can sanctification be obtained? Be faithful to God’s Word. Believe in Christ’s blood. Sigh for the Spirit.

A right self-knowledge. This second remedy Marshall lists as a right knowledge of your spiritual condition. Am I fully sensitive to my sinful, deadly, and completely miserable state of nature so that I completely despair from ever finding my salvation therein? Do I see the suitability of Christ and the all-sufficiency of His grace? Do I consider the enjoyment of Christ above all else and long for this at the expense of everything else? Do I long to be delivered from the power of sin? In connection with this Justus Vermeer sighs, “Oh, there is no advancement in sanctification without advancement in self-knowledge.”

Meditation. This is the third remedy, meditating quietly. In secret, ruminate on God’s Word as the clean animals do with their food. In the quietness of your seclusion, be alone with God and His Word. The knowledge of the truth should spur us on to a holy practice thereof.

Use of the Sacraments. What is my attitude towards these holy ordinances of Christ? The Holy Supper is especially instituted to feed the truly thankful in faith and to strengthen them in holiness. Also, however, the Lord will use Holy Baptism to show His children the benefits of sanctification. “In like manner, when we are baptized in the name of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost assures us, by this holy sacrament, that He will dwell in us and sanctify us to be members of Christ, applying unto us that which we have in Christ, namely, the washing away of our sins and the daily renewing of our lives, till we shall finally be presented without spot or wrinkle among the assembly of the elect in life eternal” (Form for the Administration of Baptism).

Praying and fasting. Prayer is the spiritual weapon whereby we strive against sin, world-conformity, the devil, and our corrupt flesh. Paul places prayer after putting on the armour of faith because this armour can only be used properly through the means of continual prayer. Fasting is used as a means to crucify the flesh and to humble us before God. The apostle also mentions chastisement, oppression, and adversity in connection with sanctification. “But He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10b). The Savior taught His disciples to pray:

Deliver us from evil’s power;
Protect and strengthen through Thy might;
For we are weak, Thy strength is great;
And we are constantly in need;
And troubled oft by flesh and world;
Ah, strengthen us, and make us free.

— Gebed des Heeren vs. 8 (The Lord’s Prayer, translated)

Watson encourages us to make David’s prayer our own, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10a). Lay your heart before the Lord and confess, “Lord, my evil heart spoils everything with which it comes into contact. It is not edifying that I continue to live with such a heart within me, for that is not to Thy honor. I also cannot die with such a heart, oh, Lord, for then I cannot see Thee. Lord, sanctify my heart and make it Thy temple; then Thy praise will be sung there for ever.”

Singing of psalms and spiritual songs is also a beneficial means toward sanctification. Luther was a great example in this.

The communion of saints. The exercising of the true communion of saints is also a means of which we must earnestly and frequently make use. Mutually meeting and speaking about the life of grace and gathering for mutual prayer are powerful means to enliven our faith. Discipline is also a means which belongs to the communion of saints. By this means we are admonished to depart from sin and evil. Watson calls this a means to obtaining sanctification. Seek to associate with sanctified people who, through their counsel, prayers, and holy example, can be a means to your sanctification. “He that walketh with wise men, shall be wise” (Proverbs 13:20a).

Should we not place our hands in our own bosom? A few questions come to mind here, which Dr. Huigen also lists in his earlier mentioned brochure. Let each of us ask him/herself these questions. Do we not dismiss sin too easily? Do we sometimes dismiss sin with remarks such as, “I am unconverted” or “A person remains a sinner, doesn’t he?” Do we not, more or less, accept some sins including materialism, a desire for success, and spiritual pride within our families and church circles? In our preaching, are justification and sanctification equally presented to the hearers? Perhaps I would rather hear a sermon about experiencing sorrow over sin and being lost and the secret of forgiveness (and that is a great benefit) than hearing the serious urging and calling as a child of God to die to my old nature, to leave the world, and to walk in a new and godly life. Are young people still jealous of a life with the Lord when they look at your life? Is the following often quoted verse, “Away world, away treasures, for you cannot understand, how rich I am; I have lost everything, but chosen Jesus, whose ownership I am,” through grace the practice of our life?

Sanctification and house religion

Also upon this terrain many questions can be asked. How is it with religion within the families? Are the sermons still discussed, are singing and praying still observed? How is it with the discussions regarding God’s Word and the life of grace? What a blessing and joy the practice of the fear of the Lord gives in the heart! Read the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 32. There the purpose and the pleasant fruits of sanctification are listed: “That so we may testify, by the whole of our conduct, our gratitude to God for His blessings, and that He may be praised by us.” Therefore, God receives the honor: “Also, that every one may be assured in himself of his faith by the fruits thereof.” Therefore, a tender walk in the fear of the Lord is a fruitful life. It gives one assurance out of the fruits of faith.

Sin takes away the peace and rest out of the hearts of the believer, but a life according to the will of God gives joy and peace in the soul. Only living out of Christ the Vine is the fruit of evangelical sanctification experienced. How blessed and joyful is such a life! Certainly, there will still be strife, but the pleasure and joy in God will be experienced in it. In the life of thankfulness, read carefully Psalm 119. “Oh, how love I Thy law.”

Sanctification and the future

What is our calling as Christians in these secular end times? Think back to Calvin’s illustrations of pilgrimage and sentinel (see February 2011 Banner of Truth, page 32). Sanctification must also influence our daily life. That occurs through individuals and organizations. How it should be our prayer that we might serve in this manner as a Joseph or a Daniel. The letters from the exalted Christ, dictated to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos for the church in the final days, give practical lessons. It would be worthwhile to read them closely. Sanctification with a future—the experience that the sanctification is incomplete—shall time and again enliven a longing for the end time. There is an eschatological perspective. Professor H. Bavinck writes, “The reward is one of the reasons that the believers are exhorted to maintain a holy walk. Their sanctified walk of life is a sign of the kingdom. The biblical promise of reward spurs on to sanctification, traveling to the end. God crowns and rewards His own work with a work of grace. Sola Gratia!”

There is a close connection between sanctification and glorification. The more there is a lively longing for sanctification, the more there will be a strong longing for the end time, for then sanctification will give way to glorification. Also then, glorification will be perfected and complete. Then God’s child will glorify and love a Triune God completely and without sin. Then it will be,

When I in righteousness at last
Thy glorious face shall see,
When all the weary night is past,
And I awake with Thee
To view the glories that abide,
Then, then I shall be satisfied.

— Psalter 32:4 (Psalm 17:8 Dutch Version)

I will close with a remark from Calvin. “He is most advanced in sanctification, who loathes himself the most.”

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