When God had finished His work of creation, He set apart the seventh day, and sanctified it to Himself. In it no one was to do any work; it was to be holy. The day in itself was like all other days; nothing different; just as long, just as short; but He chose it to himself. He chose the whole of it, and all of it at once. He did not say, half shall be yours and half mine; or, I will sanctify a part now and the rest on next seventh day; but as soon as the day dawned, it was hallowed to the Lord.
So in the work of redemption. Christ has finished His work; done all there is to do. He has opened the way and made it passible, and now invites all to come and find pardon; and sets the time when they should come. He says, now is the accepted time; to-day is the day of salvation; if ye hear my voice, harden not your hearts. The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; repent ye and believe the Gospel.
The day of redemption has dawned. Our King has fought the mighty battle; has gained the glorious victory; has set up His Kingdom, and now invites every one to become willing subjects. And all He requires of us is simply to "repent and believe the gospel," which promises that all things shall be added unto us. We may ask for it with confidence and without fear, for it is our Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom.
Then repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, are the very groundwork of religion; and are more than all burnt offerings. For He taketh no delight in sacrifices and offerings, but a contrite heart is always acceptable with Him.
What is repentance but a sorrow for sin, and the forsaking of sin for our love to God. Love to God, because He first loved us. God loves us. He wills our salvation; and draws us to Him by the cords of love. We feel a sorrow in our hearts; a weariness of sin, a dread of coming vengeance; we begin to consider, and finally to ask, "What shall I do to be saved." Then comes the promise: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." What then is faith but believing in Him who was sent; believing that he came to save; believing that He is willing to save; believing that He will save; because the Father sent Him for this purpose. Him hath the Father sanctified, and sent unto the world to save the world. Believe that He is able to save; "thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Him." (John xvii, 2.) Believe that He is willing. "I lay down my life for the sheep." Then, we can go to God pleading these promises, and God will justify us through this faith, and Christ will apply the sanctifying blood that seals the covenant. For, by His own blood He has entered, once for all, into the Holy place, having obtained "eternal redemption for us."
And as every law and every precept was sprinkled with blood, so has Christ sealed every promise and every covenant, with His own precious blood. Then it surely follows, we cannot believe without being justified; and we cannot be justified without being sanctified. "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ," and this peace we can only have by being one in Christ and abiding in Him. It is a peace the world cannot give nor take away; a peace that subdues all evil passions, a peace that keeps us patient and cheerful under difficulties; that keeps us humble and truthful under trials and temptations. This is the grace that must prevail in a distressing hour; and, filled with the sweet peace, we can sing "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, etc.," and this sanctifying grace makes us heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, who owns us for brethren and writes our names in the Book of Life.
But some may inquire: "How can we become perfect at once?" Do you see that little babe? As soon as it is born it is a perfect child; perfect in its father's love, perfect in its mother's tender care; perfect as a child—not yet a perfect man, but all the germ of the man is there. His limbs, hands and feet are perfect; of his body there is no part lacking; and under the fostering care, and tender nursing of his mother, the rigid but wholesome discipline of the father, he must grow to perfect manhood,—and who can fix the time when the child ceases and when the man begins. Or, see the branch in the vine; as soon as it shoots its buds out of the vine, it is a branch in the vine, and never ceases to be such until cut off. The grain of mustard seed cast into the ground becomes a tree; but who can tell when it ceases to be a plant. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, thou hearest the sound thereof and canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth."
As soon as we believe we are perfect in Christ; and through the wise and just discipline of God the father, and the loving and tender care of Christ as our mother, being fed with the word, we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth daily. We can no more exist in a justified state and not be sanctified, than a child can be born without a natural mother! Ye must be born again,—born of the water, and of the spirit, and of the blood; for that which is born of the flesh is flesh! The natural mind is "enmity against God; it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." But if we are in Christ, we are new creatures; "old things are done away, and all things are become new. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." Then
"Christ the sanctifying blood applies,
And makes us white as snow."