Ans. No; this would be contrary to the plan of redemption. We do not
grow =into= any of the graces. We are commanded to grow IN grace. The
grace of pardon and justification is imparted by the Holy Spirit. We can
grow in this grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour which,
if we do, will soon bring us to the knowledge of our need of purity and
sanctification, and we will see that this is a grace which is intended
for us. We gladly comply with the conditions for the same, and enter
into it by faith. God now performs the work in our hearts by the power
of his Holy Spirit. We cannot do it ourselves, only in the sense that we
meet the required conditions. It is impossible for us to grow into
purity. This is beyond our individual power; it requires the power of
God. We purify ourselves by making the separation of everything
outwardly; God then purifies our hearts by an instantaneous work of
grace. This grace by no means implies a maturity in growth. It only
brings us into a position where we can the more rapidly grow up in
spiritual things.
Ques. Why do we not get it all when we are justified?
Ans. Because the conditions for the two graces are not the same. The
penitent sinner cannot, in his sinful condition, meet the requirements
for sanctification, and God does not mean that he should. All that the
sinner can possibly do is to repent. When he has fully repented, then he
can believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive his pardon. This is
justification. He is justified from all his sins through true repentance
and faith. Those are the Scriptural conditions for justification, but
the conditions for sanctification are consecration and faith. Repentance
and consecration are vastly different. The first means to give up all
sinful things, with a godly sorrow for all sins committed, and a solemn
determination that by the grace of God all sinning shall forever cease.
The second means to yield up to God all our good things, every sacred
treasure of our heart and affections, with our body and every ransomed
power, as a living sacrifice. The first is God's requirement of every
sinner. The second is his requirement of every justified believer. The
first is all that the guilty sinner can possibly comprehend. The second
is that which only the justified believer can comprehend. Therefore it
is utterly impossible for us to get sanctified at the time of our
justification. The two are distinct and separate works of grace,
obtained upon distinct and separate conditions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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