"Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the
Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ"
(1 Peter 1:2)
Introduction
God the Father, by His calling, chastening, and compassion does the work.
The Lord Jesus Christ, by His sacrificial and atoning blood, provides the means
for us to receive the blessing. But, without the agency of the Holy Spirit, and
this is not said lightly, all of this would be in vain.
The
Comforter has come
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send Him unto you" (John 16:7).
If the Saviour had remained on earth how few would experience His presence!
Trains, ships and Aeroplanes would be crowded with pilgrims eager to catch a
glimpse of His face. But the Comforter, the Divine Representative of Christ on
earth, has come. He has come to reveal Christ to all men. He takes of the things
of Christ and shows them unto us ... "He shall take of mine, and shall show
it unto you" (John 16:15).
The
blood still avails
How can the blood of Christ, shed on Calvary over two thousand years ago,
still avail for us? How can it affect and change our souls today? How can our
sinful nature be crucified with Christ who was nailed to the cross so long ago?
How is it possible to be sanctified through the One who allowed His body to be
lacerated?
God has the answer to such questions as these. The answer is found in the fact
that the Comforter has come. It is He who applies the blood to our sin-stained
souls. Charles Wesley wrote:
Come
Thou everlasting Spirit,
Bring to every thankful mind
All the Saviour's dying merit,
All His sufferings for mankind.
True
Recorder of His passion,
Now the living faith impart,
Now reveal His great salvation
Unto every faithful heart.
Come
Thou Witness of His dying,
Come Remembrancer divine,
Let us feel Thy power applying
Christ to every soul and mine.
Here
we read of the office of the Holy Spirit. He is the "True Recorder of His
passion," the "Witness of His dying," and the "Remembrancer
divine."
Conclusion
We must beware of trying to be sanctified any other way than that prescribed
by the Lord. There is soul-destroying danger in attempting to come through
struggles, sorrows, and self-will. Only the Holy Spirit can show us the way and
only He can direct us in it. God says, "This is the way, walk ye in
it" (Isaiah 30:21), and "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and
it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but
it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
therein" (Isaiah 35:8). Let us cast "down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).