Lesson #13 -- BIBLE SANCTIFICATION
p 66 -- I Thessalonians 4:3, 7 -- For this is the will of God, even your sanctification . . .For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
I Thessalonians 5:23 -- 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.
Note - Many conceive of sanctification as something related only to the spiritual life. However, Bible sanctification takes in the whole man - mentally, spiritually, and physically. The total man is to be preserved blameless unto the coming of Jesus Christ. Why is God interested in the body of man as well as the spiritual perceptions of a man? Observe the following verses.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 -- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Note - When Christ came to redeem us, He did not die for our spiritual nature alone, but purchased our bodies as well for a dwelling place of His Spirit. We, therefore, are not our own, and when we yield our lives to Him, He intends that by sanctification - the act of being set apart our habits, our dress, our all will reflect, not our vanity but His character.
Romans 12:1-2 -- I beseech you ... that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. ... And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is ... [the] perfect will of God.
Note - Here Paul again presents the three aspects of the whole man. He indicates that harmony with God's purposes involves a ladder of progression. Our bodies are to be a "living sacrifice;" in other words, there is to be a denial of self. In our habits of life, conduct, dress, eating, and drinking, the world's standards are not our criteria. To understand this, our minds must be renewed. We are to see things differently. With our bodies freed from the customs of the world, and our minds renewed to see things as God sees them, then we can prove (understand) the will of God for us. The emphasis will not be on sanctification per se, but on the objective to be realized, an understanding of God, and a daily fellowship with Him as His child.
Section #2 -- THE SPIRITUAL MAN
John 15:3 -- Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 8:31-32 -- If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Note - Freedom from the fanciful ideas of man; freedom from the vain traditions and commandments of men can come only through a knowledge of TRUTH. Jesus has declared truth to be the Word of God. He prayed - "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17) That word is to be found in our Bibles. But if we do not study them daily, what good do we receive by mere
p 67 -- profession of that Word? Through the study of the Bible, our spiritual perceptions can be sanctified wholly; and in our beliefs, we can be blameless before God.
Section #3 -- THE MIND OF MAN
Philippians 2:5 -- Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 1:9 -- Thou has loved righteousness, and hated iniquity.
Note - Our mental attitudes must reflect the same concepts which Jesus had. He loved, but He also hated. A "negative" attitude is not wrong when applied in the right perspective. It will produce "positive" results. The proper use of hatred can be a virtue. We are to hate evil, iniquity, even the devil himself and all that he stands for. We cannot take a condoning and condescending attitude toward that which is wrong. We must take a bold stand - hatred of all iniquity in whatever guise it appears. Only in this way can we be sure to keep away from it. If a child hates a certain item of food, how successful is a parent to get that child to eat it? If as a child of God, I hate sin, how successful will the enemy be in getting me to commit sin? On the other hand, if I love righteousness, how difficult will it be to perform?
Philippians 4:8 -- Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Note - Here is a list of checks and balances by which to govern that which comes into the mind. It definitely excludes movies produced in Hollywood style no matter where they are shown. Books of fiction, since they are not true, are not found on a Christian's reading list. This verse can also serve as a guide to regulate what we listen to on the radio, see on television, and read in the newspapers.
Section #4 -- THE BODY OF MAN
1 Corinthians 10:31 -- Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Note - The things we eat, the things we drink, the things we do, must be such as to glorify God: and not distract from Him, Whom we profess to serve. We shall therefore Note - carefully what the Bible says about food, drink, and conduct as it pertains to one professing godliness.
Proverbs 20:1 -- Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Isaiah 5:11-14 -- Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them ... Therefore hath hell enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure.
Note - The downfall of nations in past ages, besides the ruin of individuals, was due in a great measure to the drinking habits of rulers and people. This same evil is still present today. Many believe that moderation in the use of light "spirits, " such as beer, will produce no harm. But anything that will impair one's rational judgment, and lead one to do, say, or act contrary to the glory of God is sin!
p 68 -- Isaiah 55:2 -- Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat that which is good.
Note - There are things that we drink that have no food value, but which produce harmful effects on the body. Such is the use of tea, coffee, and soft drinks containing caffeine. Caffeine supplied by the free and common use of these drinks, is one of the most destructive of the known causes of cardiovascular disease. "Tea, in addition to caffeine, has another harmful constituent, tannic acid, which has a pronounced astringent effect upon the digestive organs. This action is detrimental to digestion as it retards the circulation in the area it touches." (The New Dietetics)
Isaiah 66: 15-17 -- For, behold the Lord will come with fire ... and the slain of the Lord will be many. They that sanctify themselves ... eating swine's flesh, and abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.
Note - In the matter of eating the unclean foods, we may assume that this will not effect our sanctification, but in our diet we must meet the Divine outline. Further, the differentiation between the clean and the unclean, according to this text, is still in effect from God's viewpoint, at the second coming of Jesus. It did not cease at the Cross.
I Corinthians 3:16-17 margin -- Know ye not that ye are the temple of God ... If any man destroy the temple of God, him shall God destroy.
Note - One of the most deadly habits today, involving both men and women, is the habit of smoking. Medical research has established beyond the realm of doubt, that smoking is a cause for lung cancer. If I, therefore, continue to indulge a habit that destroys my body, God will require me to give an account, for my body has been purchased by the blood of Jesus on Calvary.
I Timothy 2:9-10 -- In like manner also, let women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Note - The phrase - "with shamefacedness and sobriety" - in the Greek expresses the thought of a restraint in adornment which reflects a sound mind. In other words, the face and the apparel should reveal an inward character based on true godliness. Godliness is simply - God-like-ness. The additives so often used on the face, or in the hair fail to reveal the godliness, God requires. Also much modern apparel cannot by any stretch of the dictionary meaning of the word, be classified as modest.
I Peter 3:3-5 -- Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or the wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart ... For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves.
Note - Peter sets forth that the Now Testament regulations on dress for women is the same as the dress standards of the holy women of Old Testament times. By contrast to the standards of the "holy women," Isaiah describes certain "daughters of Zion" who have departed from the simple dress God intended. In his list of the vanities worn by those who left the simple mode of dress are rings, earrings, bracelets, and other ornaments. (Isaiah 3:16-23)
I John 2:15-17 -- Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. For all that is in the world ... is not of the Father.
p 69 -- Note - There are things which we do for relaxation and recreation. There must be a diversion from the "grind" of life. The Christian seeks to discern between that which tends to destroy his appreciation for the things of God, and that which encourages him in the onward march to the kingdom of God. Dancing, card-playing, pool, billiards, and various other types of games of a similar nature are not in keeping with the goals of a Christian seeking sanctification. On the other hand, there are many things - hobbies, nature excursions, and simple games - which Christians can do, and enjoy doing. In fact witnessing to the truth can be made the highest type of "routine change."
John 17:15-16 -- I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil [which is in the world]. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Note - In this high priestly prayer, Jesus summarizes the whole purpose and objective of Bible sanctification. We are living here in the world, but we do not partake of the things of the world. Jesus came into this world, but the world knew that He was not like them. He came as the light of the world, and so we should be in this generation. But, it we do as they do, eat as they eat, drink as they drink, dress as they dress, will there be any difference between us and the world? By our fruits we shall be known. It is the outward appearance of the tree - the fruit it bears - that tells what kind of a tree it is.
Colossians 1:12-13 -- Giving thanks unto the Father ... who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Note - The phrase - "hath translated us" - deNote - s something which has been accomplished into which we have now entered. As followers of the Son of God, we have a citizenship in the kingdom which is above. As citizens of that kingdom, we should represent it in all that we do. While living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, following World War II, I became aware of a group of people from Eastern Europe known as "D. P.'s - Displaced Persons. They were different in their habits of life, in their dress, and in their mannerisms. They reflected their "fatherland"! Having met some of them, I said to myself - "I am a D.P.; my home is in heaven." Then I asked myself. "Do people, when they meet me, talk with me, visit me, see in my life that I am not of this world?"
Lesson #13 -- QUIZ
1. -- God's desire for us is that we should be ____. This includes the whole ____.
2. -- A knowledge of ____ frees us from vain traditions leading to the sanctification of our ____ perceptions.
3. -- We are to have the mind of Christ, who ____ righteousness and ____ iniquity.
4. -- List three common drinks which contain caffeine: 1) ____; 2) ____; and 3) ____.
5. -- In the Bible, God classifies the eating of pork with the eating of ____. Give the text: ____ ____:____ - ____.
6. -- What one word should characterize all of our dress? ____.
p 70 --
7. -- The principle that governs the Christian in his recreational pursuits is stated by John in these words - "____ not the ____ , neither the things in the ____ ; for all that is in the ____ is not of the ____.
8. -- Jesus did not pray that we should be separated from society, but that we be kept from all the ____ which permeates the social world.
9. -- When an individual becomes a true Christian, and submits his life and plans wholly to God, he becomes a ____ ____ as far as this world is concerned.
10. -- The great objective of God upon which all sanctification is built is the fact that having been bought with a price, our bodies are to be the ____ of the Holy ____.
SUPPLEMENT
Section #1 -- The Diet of Man
Genesis 1:29 -- Behold I have given you every herb, bearing seed ... and every tree, in which is the fruit of the tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [food].
Note - In the purity of Eden, God gave to man for his diet, . grains, fruits and nuts.
Genesis 3:18 -- Thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
Note - After sin entered the world. God added herbs of the field to the diet of man. This would include vegetables and other leafy plants which aid man in the maintenance of body health. The Edenic diet, with the added herbs, constituted the divinely appointed regimen for the first 1600 years of human history.
Genes is 9:3-4 -- Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat [food] for you; even as the green herb I have given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Note - After the flood, with the vegetation largely destroyed. God permitted man the use of the flesh of animals for food. . . In doing so, He prohibited the use of blood. The blood was to be removed before it was to be eaten. With this change in diet came also a change in the life span of man. Before the flood, one man lived to be 969 years of age. (Genesis 5:27) By the time of Terah, father of Abraham, the life span had been shortened to 205 years. (Genesis 11:32)
Leviticus 11:2-3, 9 -- These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat . . .These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
Note - In the call of the children of Israel from Egypt, God designed that they should be a holy people unto Himself. (Exodus 19:5-6) In setting them apart, He restricted their diet to the clean animals only. The distinction between clean and unclean was known at the time of the flood. (Genesis 7:2)
p 71 -- Leviticus 7: 23, 26 -- Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat ... Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
Note - Besides restricting the diet in the matter of flesh to that of clean animals, God also prohibited the use of animal fat and blood, even though it be from the clean animals. This diet with the above prohibitions, continued through the rest of the time covered in the Bible.
Acts 15:28-29 -- For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us ... that ye abstain from meats [foods] offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication.
Note - In the decision of the first Christian Church Council, the prohibition that God placed upon Israel relative to the use of blood was confirmed, with the affirmation of the Holy Spirit. To this was added the prohibition of all foods offered to idols.
Revelation 14: 6-7 -- And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel ... saying ... Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.
Note - In the final message that God gives to the world is the call to return to the God who "made."
Our attention is directed back to creation. As one studies the record of that first perfect existence, he comes face to face with the original diet of man. While the Bible plainly permits the use of the flesh of clean animals for food, it also sets before man the ideal in diet. As man responds to the call to return to the Creator-God, his dietary goal will be to achieve as closely as possible, the original plan.
Section #2 -- Christian ForbearanceRomans 14:1-2 -- Him that is weak in the faith receive ye ... For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Note - The Apostolic Church had problems over diet. This is evidenced that at the first Council, three-fourths of the actions taken involved dietary items. The same subject was agitated in the church at Corinth. (I Cor. 8) In Paul's counsel to that church regarding food offered to idols, he wrote - "Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." (Verse 9) Then he added how he personally would respond in conduct - "If meat (food) make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest make my brother to offend." (Verse 13) Paul operated from the principle that if one should cause a weak brother to stumble and be lost by his example, then in reality he had sinned against Christ. (verses 11-12) The same problem evidently existed at Rome. How did he address it?
Romans 14:4 -- Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth.
Note - Paul here uses the master-servant relationship, but let us vary the comparison. While in Christ, we are all brothers and sisters, we are also sons and daughters of God because of Christ's identification with us as an Elder Brother. This latter relationship makes us answerable to God. It is not ours to judge another son or daughter's relationship to the Parent. We are to exercise Christian forbearance one to another to edify and uphold one another. This Paul concluded in his advice to the Romans. He wrote - "So then everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." (Rom. 14:12-13)
p 72 -- Romans 14:17 -- For the kingdom of God is not meat [food] and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Note - Too many in the area of Christian conduct - Bible sanctification - major in minors, and minor in majors. We seek to play the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing conviction to our brother or sister to have them do precisely the way we see one should eat, drink, and dress. Let the Holy Spirit do the work assigned by Christ to lead into all truth, and to encourage growth in the things Of God - righteousness, peace, and joy. (John 16:13; II Thess. 2:13)
Romans 14:22 -- Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Note - In the area of diet - as well as in all other reforms - there are those who are convicted they should practice many things not commanded in the Bible. In some cases extreme fanaticism develops. Those who hold to these extreme views seek to rein everyone else up to their perception of what constitutes adherence to the "faith." Paul stated that if you are so convicted, have it to yourself before God. If, however, one believes himself at liberty to live free from such severe restrictions, he must consider lest what he allows, condemn him. The bottom line remains - "For food, destroy not the work of God." Romans 14:20) Exercise forbearance.
Section #3 -- The Wedding Ring
I Corinthians 10:20-21 -- But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God... Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and the table of devils.
Note - Paul has set forth a vital principle in this text. Those who sit at the table of the Lord, which is the communion table, on which was placed the symbols of the New Covenant, cannot in their life and practice wear the symbols of, or take part in the pagan rites of the "Gentiles." To do so is to worship the devil. The use of the wedding ring stems from the most licentious rites of paganism, and was connected with the pagan worship of the reproductive organs. The following two quotations Note - its pagan origin:Paul has set forth a vital principle in this text. Those who sit at the table of the Lord, which is the communion table, on which was placed the symbols of the New Covenant, cannot in their life and practice wear the symbols of, or take part in the pagan rites of the "Gentiles." To do so is to worship the devil. The use of the wedding ring stems from the most licentious rites of paganism, and was connected with the pagan worship of the reproductive organs. The following two quotations Note - its pagan origin:
"Confiding then in the power of Christianity to resist the infection of evil and to transmit the very instruments and appendages of demon worship to an evangelical use... the rulers of the Church from early times were prepared, should the occasion arise to adopt, or imitate, or sanction the existing rites and customs of the populace... We are told in various ways by Eusebius, that Constantine, in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, transferred into it the outward ornaments to which they had been accustomed in their own... The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints; ... holy water... sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage... are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption in to the church." (J. H. Cardinal Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, pp. 371-372, 373. Emphasis mine)
"The wedding ring is an optional part of the marriage ceremony. If the bride doesn't wish to wear one, it isn't required. The ceremony is valid should she choose to delete, "With this ring, I thee wed." Actually the giving and receiving of a wedding ring is a pagan custom, simply added to church ceremony." (Eileen Morris, "Weddings Can Be Different," Chatelaine, April, 1949. A Woman's Journal published in Canada)
Quiz Answers --
(1) sanctified, man. (2) truth, spiritual. (3) loved, hated. (4) tea, coffee, cola. (5) mice, Isaiah 66:15-17. (6) modesty. (7) Love, world, world, world, Father. (8) evil. (9) displaced, person. (10) temple, Spirit.