Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

July 4– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Make them holy through your truth.” 

—John 17:17

Sanctification (that is, the process of being made holy) begins with regeneration (which means “to be made alive”) by the Spirit of God. The divine life must come from the divine Spirit; the dead sinner must be created into “a new creature” in Christ Jesus.

After birth, then, this work of God is carried on in two ways: first, by dying to one’s old existence in the flesh, and, second, by living unto God and walking in all that he is. God puts within us a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, and the true believer is sustained in this gracious state and perseveres to the end. The Christian life is one of producing good works unto the praise and glory of God, and culminates in the glory of his presence. In this way the Spirit of God is the author of sanctification from beginning to end.

But never forget that he completes that process “through his truth,” and that truth is “his Word.” The Spirit of God always uses the Word of God to shape our minds and hearts with power. The truth is the sanctifier, and, if we do not hear or read the truth, we simply cannot grow in holy living unto God. Therefore, don’t talk about doctrinal error as if it were a mere matter of opinion. No man indulges a departure from the truth without sooner or later tolerating a departure from holy living. Hold fast, then, to the truth, for by so doing you will be sanctified by the Spirit of God. [M&E]