Quote 3761
Sanctification, by which our hearts and lives are conformed to the law, is a grace of God communicated to us by means, just like justification; and by means of teaching, and learning something that we cannot see without the Word (Acts 26:17-18)
Walter Marshall
The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with ChristOther Quotes from the Author & Topic
A regeneration that a man can have, and yet live carelessly in sin or worldliness, is a regeneration invented by uninspired theologians, but never mentioned in scripture. Holiness (Chapter 2)
True sanctification then does not consist in talk about religion. This is a point that ought never to be forgotten. The vast increase of education and preaching in these latter days makes it absolutely necessary to raise a warning voice. Holiness (Chapter 2)
Our work is not only to alter vicious habits, but to mortify the corrupt natural affections which bred these habits; not only to deny the fulfilling of sinful lusts, but to be full of holy love and desires. Yet even restraining the execution of corrupt lusts, and opposing them by contrary actings, is in many cases like "cutting off a right hand, and plucking out a right eye" (Mat. 5:29-30). The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ
Every good deed we do in dependence on God does just the opposite of paying Him back; it puts us ever deeper in debt to His grace. And that is exactly where God wants us to be through all eternity. Brothers, We are Not Professionals (33)
believing in Christ is itself, not only the condition of our salvation, but also the instrument by which we actually receive it
But the Ten Commandments still bind us, because they were given to a people who were, at that time, under the covenant of grace made with Abraham, to show them what duties are holy, just, and good, well-pleasing to God, and to be a rule for their conduct. The result of it all, is that we must still practice moral duties as commanded by Moses; but we must not seek to be justified by our practice. If we use them as a rule of life, and not as conditions of justification, they cannot be a ministration of death, nor a killing letter to us.
Another great mystery in the way of sanctification, is the glorious manner of our fellowship with Christ, in receiving a holy frame of heart from Him. It is by our being in Christ, and having Christ Himself in us; not merely by His universal presence as He is God, but by such a close union that we are one spirit and one flesh with Him.https://www.heritagebooks.org/products/the-gospel-mystery-of-sanctification-marshall.html
We are, by nature, dead in trespasses and sins, unable to will or to do anything that is spiritually good, notwithstanding the redemption that is by Christ, until we are actually quickened by Christ (Eph. 2:1; Rom. 8:7-9).The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ
This persuasion of our future enjoyment of everlasting happiness cannot tend to licentiousness, if we understand well, that perfect holiness is a necessary part of that happiness; and that though we have a title to that happiness by free justification an adoption, yet we must go to the possession of it in the way of holiness (1Joh. 3:1-3). The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ
Original corruption, by which we are dead to God and to godliness from the birth, and made willing slaves to the performance of all actual sins, until the Son of God makes us free. It consists in a propensity and inclination of the heart to sin, and an averseness to holiness.The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ
the moral law. That is summed up in the Ten Commandments, and more briefly in those two great commandments of love to God and our neighbor (Mat. 22:37, 39); it is more largely explained throughout the Holy Scriptures.The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ
we must meditate believingly on Christ's saving benefits as they are discovered in the gospel, which is the only doctrine which is the power of God to our salvation, and whereby the quickening Spirit is ministered to us, and that is able to build us upThe Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ
You cannot love God if you are under the continual secret suspicion that he is really your enemy! … You simply cannot love God unless you know and understand how much he loves you. … In the gospel, you can come to know that God truly loves you through Christ. When you have this assurance, you can even love your enemies, because you know that you are reconciled to God. You know that God's love will make people's hatred of you work together for your good.The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ
If you fall into any gross sin, after the work is begun in you, as David and Peter did, think not that you must cast away your confidence, and expect nothing but wrath from God and Christ, and that you must refuse to be comforted by the grace of Christ, at least for some time; for thus you would be the more weak and prone to fall into other sins: but rather strive to believe more confidently, that you have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and that he is the propitiation for our sinsThe Gospel Mystery of Sanctification
None of us are normal, even after we are Christians if we mean by that being perfect. What is possible, however, is for us to live in the fullness of life in the circle of who we are, constantly pressing on the border lines to try to take further steps.
If you make your own faith, love, or good qualifications, to be your first principal foundation, and you build Christ upon them, instead of building all upon Christ, you invert the order of the gospel, and Christ will profit you nothing.
This entire sanctification of our whole inner and outer man is absolutely indispensable. As there must be a change of state before there can be of life — "make the tree good, and his fruit (will be) good" (Matthew 12:33) — so there must be sanctification before there can be glorification
Evangelical holiness consists not only in external works of piety and
charity, but in pure thoughts, impulses and affections of the soul, chiefly
in that unselfish love from which all good works must flow if they are to
receive the approbation of Heaven. Not only must there be an abstinence
from the execution of sinful lusts, but there must be a loving and delighting to do the will of God in a cheerful manner, obeying Him without repining or grudging against any duty, as if it were a grievous; yoke to be borne. Evangelical sanctification is that holiness of heart which
causes us to love God supremely, so as to yield ourselves wholly up to His
constant service in all things, and to His disposal of us as our absolute Lord, whether it be for prosperity or adversity, for life or death; and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Follow Him simply wherever He may lead you and you will not have to think up big plans to bring about your perfection.
You yourself must endure the painful process of change. There is much more at work here than your instant maturity. God wants to build a relationship with you that is based on faith and trust and not on glamorous miracles.
God works in his elect in two ways: inwardly, by his Spirit; outwardly, by his word. By his Spirit illuminating their minds, and training their hearts to the practice of righteousness, he makes them new creatures, while, by his word, he stimulates them to long and seek for this renovation.Institutes, Book 2, Chapter 5
I sometimes fear if Christ were on earth now, there are not a few who would think His preaching legal; and if Paul were writing his Epistles, there are those who would think he had better not write the latter part of most of them as he did. But let us remember that the Lord Jesus did speak the Sermon on the Mount, and that the Epistle to the Ephesians contains six chapters and not four.Holiness, Ch3
sanctification is a qualification indispensably necessary unto those who will be under the conduct of the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation. He leads none to heaven but whom he sanctifies on the earth.
Light may be very dim; but if there is only a spark in a dark room, it will be seen. Life may be very feeble; but if the pulse only beats a little, it will be felt. It is just the same with a sanctified man: his sanctification will be something felt and seen, though he himself may not understand it.Holiness, Ch2
It is thoroughly Scriptural and right to say "faith alone
justifies." But it is not equally Scriptural and right to say "faith alone
sanctifies." The saying requires very large qualification. Let one fact
suffice. We are frequently told that a man is "justified by faith without the
works of the law," by St. Paul. But not once are we told that we are
"sanctified by faith without the deeds of the law." On the contrary, we are
expressly told by St. James that the faith whereby we are visibly and
demonstratively justified before man, is a faith which "if it has not works
is dead, being alone." * ( James 2:17.) I may be told, in reply, that no one
of course means to disparage "works" as an essential part of a holy life. It
would be well, however, to make this more plain then many seem to make
it in these days.
Holiness, Introduction
Top Authors
1. Charles Spurgeon (130)
2. Thomas Watson (119)
3. J.C. Ryle (116)
4. John Calvin (104)
5. J.I. Packer (89)
6. John Piper (86)
7. George Swinnock (74)
8. A.W. Pink (68)
9. Louis Berkhof (63)
10. John Flavel (58)
11. B.B. Warfield (58)
12. C.S. Lewis (55)
13. John Owen (53)
14. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (51)
15. Gerald Bray (50)
16. Francis Schaeffer (49)
17. Thomas Brooks (46)
18. R.C. Sproul (45)
19. Matthew Henry (44)
20. Francis Turretin (43)
2. Thomas Watson (119)
3. J.C. Ryle (116)
4. John Calvin (104)
5. J.I. Packer (89)
6. John Piper (86)
7. George Swinnock (74)
8. A.W. Pink (68)
9. Louis Berkhof (63)
10. John Flavel (58)
11. B.B. Warfield (58)
12. C.S. Lewis (55)
13. John Owen (53)
14. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (51)
15. Gerald Bray (50)
16. Francis Schaeffer (49)
17. Thomas Brooks (46)
18. R.C. Sproul (45)
19. Matthew Henry (44)
20. Francis Turretin (43)
Top Topics
1. Sin (192)2. Scripture (125)
3. Prayer (124)
4. Preaching (107)
5. Faith (105)
6. Gospel (90)
7. Suffering (77)
8. Sabbath (76)
9. Church (71)
10. Salvation (69)
11. Law (63)
12. The Law (54)
13. Truth (52)
14. Justification (50)
15. Christ (45)
16. Love (42)
17. Theology (42)
18. Grace (41)
19. Creation (40)
20. Fear (36)
21. Holiness (35)
22. Pride (34)
23. Sanctification (34)
24. Children (33)
25. Ten Commandments (33)
26. Worship (33)