At the time Paul wrote his epistle to them, it cannot be denied they were children of God. They were the "called of Jesus Christ," "beloved of God," "saints," and their "faith was spoken of throughout the whole world." Rom. 1:6- 8. Yet they were not established in holiness. Rom. 1:11; 1 Thess. 3:13. Paul showed them that this degree of grace was to be entered by faith. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom [through whom-Sawyer] also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."-Rom. 5:1, 2
"Being justified" they had "peace with God." Yet they were not established in perfect holiness. He then clearly showed them that besides "being justified," they had "also access by faith into this grace wherein we stand;" namely, the establishing grace: and that it was entered "through Christ."
He further exhorted them to attain to this experience, "Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."-Rom. 6:13. "Present yourselves to God."- Revised. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. . . . that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."-Rom. 12:1, 2. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification."-1 Thess. 4:3. "Even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."-Rom. 6:19. "So now present your members bound to righteousness, for sanctification."-Emphatic D.
This is positive and clear. The Roman "brethren" were already regenerated-"made alive from the dead"- and now Paul commands them to present themselves a living sacrifice unto God, "for sanctification." This was not to be deferred until death, but "now present yourselves," etc.
The Corinthians
Paul addressed them as "brethren;" "the church of God;" "God's husbandry;" "God's building." "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus."-1 Cor. 1:30. "Babes in Christ." -1 Cor. 3:1. They had "believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 3:5. This is sufficient proof that they were not backslidden when Paul wrote his epistle to them. A few of them had already attained to the experience of entire sanctification (1 Cor. 1:2), but the majority were yet carnal. 1 Cor. 3:1-3. This does not imply that they had lost the grace of God, and had become carnal, but ye are "yet carnal;" that is, ye have allowed inbred carnality to remain in you until the present time.
Paul urged these brethren on to the experience of perfect holiness. "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect." -2 Cor. 13:11. "And this also we wish, even your perfection."-Ver. 9. "Having therefore these p r o m i s e s, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."-2 Cor. 7:1. "And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit." "second grace."-Margin. 2 Cor. 1:15. Here we see that Paul not only urged these brethren by letter, but earnestly desired to come unto them that they might receive this "second grace."
The Thessalonians
1. They were fully converted. Paul addressed them as "the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ." He further says, "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers: remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in the word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance: as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: so that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad.... Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."-1 Thess. 1:1-9.
This is too plain to need comment. It cannot be denied that the Thessalonian brethren, to whom Paul addressed his epistle, were genuinely converted to God.
2. They were not backslidden. Paul was at Athens and sent Timothy to "comfort them concerning their faith." -3:1, 2. "Now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: therefore, brethren, we are comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith."-1 Thess. 3:6, 7. Here we see that Timothy brought Paul a good report of their spiritual condition. But while they were clearly justified, there was still something lacking.
3. A Lack, "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith."-1 Thess. 3:10.
4. What was the lack? "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness."-1 Thess. 3:13. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." 4::3 "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." 4:7. "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. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."-1 Thess. 5:23, 24. "The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil."-2 Thess. 3:3.
The Hebrews
At the time the apostle wrote his letter to them it cannot be denied that they were children of God. He addressed them as "holy brethren." 3:1. They were "babes" that had "need of milk" (5:12, 13); namely, "new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby."-1 Pet. 2:2. They became babes by being converted. Matt. 18:3. He further says: "Ye are come unto mount Sion, . . . to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, . . . and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling." - 12:22-24.
They were still indwelt with an unrighteous nature, the "carnal mind." Paul styled it, "the sin which cloth so easily beset us," and exhorted them to "lay it aside."- 12:1,2. He showed them that there was another degree of grace beyond what they now experienced.
In chapters 3 and 4 the apostle draws an analogy between Israel in the wilderness and children of God not yet fully saved: also between Canaan and the spiritual "rest" "we which have believed do enter." God had promised the children of Israel rest in the land of Canaan. The first generation did not enter this land, "because they believed not." Of them he sware, "They shall not enter into my rest." "So we see they could not enter in, because of unbelief."-3:19.
We have before shown that literal Canaan was a type of the experience of perfect holiness. God had promised Israel rest in the land of Canaan, "from all their enemies round about." -Deut. 25:19. "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."-Ex. 33:14. By exterminating all the Canaanites who were born and bred in that land, the children of Israel were to possess the land and have "rest."
How clearly this typifies the complete redemption we have in Christ Jesus! The various bents of evil-pride, selfishness, jealousy, fear, covetousness, anger, etc.-are born in us. These are inward enemies. Christ "condemns sin in the flesh," and "destroys the works of the Devil" out of us; namely, "saves us from these enemies," and enables us to serve him in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.-Luke 1:74, 75. Not one of these enemies is allowed to remain and lurk in the walls of "man's soul." "Perfect love casteth out fear," and the soul sinks down into a perfect tranquility, a haven of rest-a rest that gives "quietness and assurance forever."
This is the land of Beulah. Here "peace is extended like a river," and the soul is enabled to "rejoice evermore," and "in everything give thanks;" even in times of trial, adversity, disappointment, pressure, opposition, and misunderstanding. Here the soul feasts on "fat things" and is "satisfied." This so far surpasses the experience of the masses, that they naturally suppose it can only be obtained in a supposed Millennium or after death. But thank God, the redeemed have found it in this life. "We which have believed do I present tense ] enter into ." Hallelujah! You see this rest is entered by faith. Well hath the poet said:
"The kingdom of God is within you, So the greatest of teachers hath said; And the faithful and loving have found it, And enjoyed it before they were dead. The Word, and the blood of the Savior Is the anchor in which we do rest; And heaven began with its favor Now we reign with the pure and the blest.."
The Hebrew brethren, although converted, had not vet entered this perfect soul rest. Paul warned and exhorted them as follows: "Let us fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it."-4:1. "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." 4:11. "Go on unto perfection."-Heb. 6:1. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, . . . let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience."-Heb. 10:19-22.
These "brethren" already had their "hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience;" i. e., were converted, had their sins pardoned: and now the apostle urges them "to enter into the holiest"-entire sanctification. This was not to be effected by a transition from earth to heaven, but "by the blood of Jesus." "Now the God of peace . . . through the blood . . . make you perfect."-Heb. 13:20-21. "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Heb. 10: l 4.
He further taught them that as "sons," God would "scourge" and "chastise" them; namely, lead them through the death route of inward crucifixion to self-"our old man"-probe. dissect, and lay open with the sharp sword of his truth, the hidden "creatures" of their depraved nature. Heb. 12:5-9; 4:12-13. This complete death to self-will, reputation, etc., would not for the present "seem joyous" (verse 11), yet he showed them that it was "for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." --Heb. 12:10.
He further exhorted them to "follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."-Heb. 12:14.
John's Epistle
John addressed his epistle to "little children" whose "sins were forgiven."-1 John 2:12. They were "sons of God."-3:l-2. The special object of this epistle was: "That ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son."- 1:3. "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."-1:4. The apostle wrote this epistle for the purpose of teaching them the fullness of joy he enjoyed, so that they also would have perfect fellowship with him. You see these converts were not yet sanctified.
But what was the standard he held up for them in their justified state ? Hear it, all ye who plead for sin. "And now little children, abide in him."-2:28. "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not."- - 3:6. "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."-2:6. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not."-2:1. "Little children, let no man deceive you . . . He that committeth sin is of the devil.... Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin . . . In this the children of God are manifest. and the children of the devil."-3:7-10.. "We know that whosoever is born of (Nod, sinneth not."- - 5:18..
This is the Bible standard of justification. It is the standard to which these young converts must live in order to abide in Christ.
But now, lest they should be led to think that in their first experience of grace, they were freed from inbred sin, he refutes that idea by saying. "If we say that we [namely, 'you little children'! have no sin, we deceive ourselves." -1:8. You see they were not purged from inbred sin, else they would already have had the "fullness," and perfect fellowship he wished to teach them.
He then proceeded to show them a way of deliverance from this inbred foe. "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1:7.
While in verse 8 the apostle guards young converts- unsanctified "children"-against the error that they "have no sin," he positively teaches in verse 7 and 9 that if they confess their need, and meet the Bible conditions, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse them "from all sin" and from "all unrighteousness." "And every man that hath this hope in him. purifieth himself, even as he is pure."-3:3, and is made "righteous, even as he is righteous."-3:7.
But can this experience be received! enjoyed, and lived in this world? "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world."-4:17.
CONCLUSION
"Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word."-Ps. 119:41.
Dear reader, stop a moment. You are hastening to eternity. Time with gigantic footsteps is bearing you to the future. Heaven or Hell awaits you. All depends upon your being saved "according to God's Word," and saved "now.' Many are the deceptions of "these last days." Thousands of souls are giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Remember, God's salvation is according to his word. In this little booklet we have briefly set forth God's plan of redeeming and saving mankind. "If any man teach any other doctrine, let him be accursed."
If you are unsaved, "Repent, and be converted. that your sins may be blotted out." "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." If you are a believer. and have inward troubles with the "carnal mind," meet the conditions laid down in God's Word in a complete death to sin and self, present yourself to God for cleansing, "and the very God of peace w-ill sanctify you wholly."
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God and Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.