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then Christ need not have died to save man from the penalty of sin。 The
death of Christ； so far from abolishing the law； proves that it is
immutable。 The Son of God came to 〃magnify the law； and make it honorable。〃
Isaiah 42：21。 He said： 〃Think not that I am come to destroy the law；〃 〃till
heaven and earth pass； one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the
law。〃 Matthew 5；17； 18。 And concerning Himself He declares： 〃I delight to do
Thy will； O my God： yea； Thy law is within My heart。〃 Psalm 40：8。
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The law of God； from its very nature； is unchangeable。 It is a revelation of
the will and the character of its Author。 God is love； and His law is love。
Its two great principles are love to God and love to man。 〃Love is the
fulfilling of the law。〃 Romans 13：10。 The character of God is righteousness
and truth； such is the nature of His law。 Says the psalmist： 〃Thy law is the
truth：〃 〃all Thy commandments are righteousness。〃 Psalm 119：142； 172。 And
the apostle Paul declares： 〃The law is holy； and the commandment holy； and
just； and good。〃 Romans 7：12。 Such a law； being an expression of the mind
and will of God； must be as enduring as its Author。
It is the work of conversion and sanctification to reconcile men to God by
bringing them into accord with the principles of His law。 In the beginning；
man was created in the image of God。 He was in perfect harmony with the
nature and the law of God； the principles of righteousness were written upon
his heart。 But sin alienated him from his Maker。 He no longer reflected the
divine image。 His heart was at war with the principles of God's law。 〃The
carnal mind is enmity against God： for it is not subject to the law of God；
neither indeed can be。〃 Romans 8：7。 But 〃God so loved the world； that He
gave His only…begotten Son；〃 that man might be reconciled to God。 Through
the merits of Christ he can be restored to harmony with his Maker。 His heart
must be renewed by divine grace； he must have a new life from above。 This
change is the new birth； without which； says Jesus； 〃he cannot see the
kingdom of God。〃
The first step in reconciliation to God is the conviction of sin。 〃Sin is
the transgression of the law。〃 By the law is the knowledge of sin。〃 1 John
3：4； Romans 3：20。 In order to see his guilt； the sinner must test his
character by God's great standard of righteousness。 It is a mirror which
shows the perfection of a righteous character and enables him to discern the
defects in his own。
The law reveals to man his sins； but it provides no remedy。
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While it promises life to the obedient； it declares that death is the
portion of the transgressor。 The gospel of Christ alone can free him from
the condemnation or the defilement of sin。 He must exercise repentance
toward God； whose law has been transgressed； and faith in Christ； his
atoning sacrifice。 Thus he obtains 〃remission of sins that are past〃 and
becomes a partaker of the divine nature。 He is a child of God； having
received the spirit of adoption； whereby he cries： 〃Abba； Father！〃
Is he now free to transgress God's law？ Says Paul： 〃Do we then make void the
law through faith？ God forbid： yea； we establish the law。〃 〃How shall we；
that are dead to sin； live any longer therein？〃 And John declares： 〃This is
the love of God； that we keep His commandments： and His commandments are not
grievous。〃 Romans 3：31； 6：2； 1 John 5：3。 In the new birth the heart is
brought into harmony with God； as it is brought into accord with His law。
When this mighty change has taken place in the sinner； he has passed from
death unto life； from sin unto holiness； from transgression and rebellion to
obedience and loyalty。 The old life of alienation from God has ended； the
new life of reconciliation； of faith and love； has begun。 Then 〃the
righteousness of the law〃 will 〃be fulfilled in us； who walk not after the
flesh； but after the Spirit。〃 Romans 8：4。 And the language of the soul will
be： 〃O how love I Thy law！ it is my meditation all the day。〃 Psalm 119：97。
〃The law of the Lord is perfect； converting the soul。〃 Psalm 19：7。 Without
the law； men have no just conception of the purity and holiness of God or of
their own guilt and uncleanness。 They have no true conviction of sin and
feel no need of repentance。 Not seeing their lost condition as violators of
God's law； they do not realize their need of the atoning blood of Christ。
The hope of salvation is accepted without a radical change of heart or
reformation of life。 Thus superficial conversions abound； and multitudes are
joined to the church who have never been united to Christ。
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Erroneous theories of sanctification； also； springing from neglect or
rejection of the divine law； have a prominent place in the religious
movements of the day。 These theories are both false in doctrine and
dangerous in practical results； and the fact that they are so generally
finding favor； renders it doubly essential that all have a clear
understanding of what the Scriptures teach upon this point。
True sanctification is a Bible doctrine。 The apostle Paul； in his letter to
the Thessalonian church； declares： 〃This is the will of God； even your
sanctification。〃 And he prays： 〃The very God of peace sanctify you wholly。〃
1 Thessalonians 4：3； 5：23。 The Bible clearly teaches what sanctification is
and how it is to be attained。 The Saviour prayed for His disciples：
〃Sanctify them through Thy truth： Thy word is truth。〃 John 17：17。 And Paul
teaches that believers are to be 〃sanctified by the Holy Ghost。〃 Romans
15：16。 What is the work of the Holy Spirit？ Jesus told His disciples： 〃When
He； the Spirit of truth； is come； He will guide you into all truth。〃 John
16：13。 And the psalmist says： 〃Thy law is the truth。〃 By the word and the
Spirit of God are opened to men the great principles of righteousness
embodied in His law。 And since the law of God is 〃holy； and just； and good；〃
a transcript of the divine perfection； it follows that a character formed by
obedience to that law will be holy。 Christ is a perfect example of such a
character。 He says： 〃I have kept My Father's commandments。〃 〃I do always
those things that please Him。〃 John 15：10； 8：29。 The followers of Christ are
to become like Himby the grace of God to form characters in harmony with
the principles of His holy law。 This is Bible sanctification。
This work can be accomplished only through faith in Christ； by the power of
the indwelling Spirit of God。 Paul admonishes believers： 〃Work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling。 For it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do of His good pleasure。〃 Philippians 2：12； 13。 The Christian
will feel the promptings of sin； but he will
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maintain a constant warfare against it。 Here is where Christ's help is
needed。 Human weakness becomes united to divine strength； and faith
exclaims： 〃Thanks be to God； which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ。〃 1 Corinthians 15：57。
The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is progressive。
When in