Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

in their history, indicated by the use of the aorist, which crisis may have been brought about and
hastened by the labors of the "apostles" and others? These "apostles" and others had been given
before they, as "children," were "tossed to and fro," etc. Our Lord had taught His apostles and other
disciples some three years, during which time they were as even up to His death, weak in faith and
irregular in spirit and life. But after he taught them to pray and look for the promised Paraclete, a
mighty baptism came upon them, marking a momentous crisis in their lives. This baptism did for
them what Paul prays may be done for the Ephesians -- unified, purified, or healed their spiritual
nature, making it a "perfect" manhood in that same sense, and so established and empowered them
that their lives were strong and faithful, and they were ever growing more and more like their Head.
Under the great commission, these apostles, their associates, and their successors were to do two
things for the "nations" to whom they were sent:
1. "Teach" -- "make disciples or Christians of all nations." A man is not a "disciple" or "Christian
" in the full sense of that term until he has been taught to accept Christ as His complete Saviour -until
by the baptism of the Spirit he is "full of faith and the Holy Ghost." Hence the going of the
apostles to Samaria to complete the work commenced by Philip, and Paul's question to the twelve
disciples at Ephesus, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost?"
2. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Being girded with
strength by this baptism, they are "henceforth" to run steadily in the way of all God's commandments,
growing more and more in knowledge, wisdom, grace, and usefulness until they are translated and
reach the ideal perfection of our Lord.
We have had Paul's prayers for the sanctification of this church, and his didactic statement of what
Christ has done to bring about the human conditions of that work. Now let us consider for a moment
an exhortation to that end, found in Ephesians iv. 22-24, a passage so often and so confidently
quoted by Dr. Boland to show that we are thoroughly renewed in regeneration.
Dr. Steele has the following on this passage: "That ye put off [aorist] the old man [the unsanctified
nature]. Here the aorist is used because the act of putting off is one and decisive, 'referring,' says
Alford, 'to a direct, definite, and reflexive act.' Verse 24: 'And that ye put on [aorist] the new man,
which after God is created [aorist, was instantaneously created] in righteousness,' etc."
This passage seems to correct three errors touching this matter of sanctification:
(1) That it is wrought at regeneration. Alford says: "Beware of rendering with Eadie and Peile
[and he might have added Boland], 'that ye have put off,' which is inconsistent with the context
(verse 25), and not justified by the word 'you' being expressed."
(2) That such exhortation is based on the backslidden condition of the Church. No such intimation
is made by the apostle. On the contrary, he calls them saints and "faithful in Christ Jesus," stating
that he "ceased not to give thanks" for them after he heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus, and love
unto all the saints." Such words are not usually addressed to a backslidden Church. As Dr. Steele
says, "such undoubted Christians are exhorted by one decisive act to lay off the old man, implying