INTRODUCTION
The New Testament book of Romans is sometimes called the "Gospel of Saint Paul." Gospel means "good news" or "glad tidings"; and it is good news that sinners can now be saved, reconciled to God, and made heirs of eternal life. Paul was not disappointed in the gospel. He said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
But what about Christians struggling with the problem of "inward sin" (Romans 7:23-24)?
Christians often feel more pain and shame over unholy, lurking "inward tendencies" than ever they did from their overt sinful lives. I am speaking of true Christians, those who love Christ and who have had many rich blessings. Yet it grieves them sorely that their inner heart life is a scene of carnal activity and corruption.
These are painful realities; and every true Christian should and will loathe them. But there is good news for Christians! The Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is a Savior to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25). Holiness of heart and life is the triumph of Christ's holy gospel.
This is what Charles Wesley would have us sing about in his beautiful hymn, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul."
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin,
Let the healing streams abound, Make and keep me pure within.
It was good news to the scheming, but now, brutally honest Jacob, when the angel said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed" (Gen. 32:28).
It was good news to the children of Israel that the land God promised to give them was one "that floweth with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), truly a land of plenty!
It was good news to the disciples when they heard Jesus say that He came not merely that they "might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10), and promised "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), and be "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
It was good news to the multitude when Peter declared that the sudden filling of the Spirit in the upper room was not an experience for only a select few but as he declared, "the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to... as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).
It was good news to the Roman believers as Paul's words were read to them stating that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20) and that "our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
It was good news to the Thessalonian Christians when they read Paul's letter and learned that the will of God included "even your sanctification" (1 Thess. 4:3) "and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly... and... faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:23-24).
Surely it is good news to all Christians that "there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" ending the inner conflict for the soul. "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his" (Heb. 4:9-10).
Yes, there is good news for Christians! "EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION!" Yes, Reader, even yours, at whatever age, from whatever culture and with whatever temperament, infirmities or peculiar spiritual handicaps... even your sanctification!
Before my conversion, I had little spiritual concern. This all changed when the Holy Spirit sent conviction upon my careless, sinful life. Awakened to my soul's value and guilt, I keenly sensed the danger of being lost. One immediate result of my conversion was a concern for others who were obviously unsaved. However, it remained a mystery to me that many older Christians were troubled and burdened for Christians who were "yet carnal." This all changed when I answered the call to holiness and sought and obtained, by faith, the experience of entire sanctification. From that day forward, I have had a burden of concern for the unsanctified.
Now I long to be a guide to any of my Readers who may yet be without the experience of entire sanctification. It blesses me that I may do so, for this gracious work of the Holy Spirit is not only desirable but scripturally obtainable and livable.
It was good news to the scheming, but now, brutally honest Jacob, when the angel said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed" (Gen. 32:28).
It was good news to the children of Israel that the land God promised to give them was one "that floweth with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), truly a land of plenty!
It was good news to the disciples when they heard Jesus say that He came not merely that they "might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10), and promised "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), and be "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
It was good news to the multitude when Peter declared that the sudden filling of the Spirit in the upper room was not an experience for only a select few but as he declared, "the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to... as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39).
It was good news to the Roman believers as Paul's words were read to them stating that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Romans 5:20) and that "our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
It was good news to the Thessalonian Christians when they read Paul's letter and learned that the will of God included "even your sanctification" (1 Thess. 4:3) "and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly... and... faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:23-24).
Surely it is good news to all Christians that "there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" ending the inner conflict for the soul. "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his" (Heb. 4:9-10).
Yes, there is good news for Christians! "EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION!" Yes, Reader, even yours, at whatever age, from whatever culture and with whatever temperament, infirmities or peculiar spiritual handicaps... even your sanctification!
Before my conversion, I had little spiritual concern. This all changed when the Holy Spirit sent conviction upon my careless, sinful life. Awakened to my soul's value and guilt, I keenly sensed the danger of being lost. One immediate result of my conversion was a concern for others who were obviously unsaved. However, it remained a mystery to me that many older Christians were troubled and burdened for Christians who were "yet carnal." This all changed when I answered the call to holiness and sought and obtained, by faith, the experience of entire sanctification. From that day forward, I have had a burden of concern for the unsanctified.
Now I long to be a guide to any of my Readers who may yet be without the experience of entire sanctification. It blesses me that I may do so, for this gracious work of the Holy Spirit is not only desirable but scripturally obtainable and livable.
Our God has given us His oath,... "that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life" (Luke 1:74-75).
Perhaps the reader will remember the dilemma of Tantalus from an ancient Greek myth? Tantalus had displeased a god and for punishment he was placed in a pool of water. Just above his head was a branch of delicious fruit. When, however, he attempted to bend down and drink the water, it vanished; and whenever he attempted to reach up and take some fruit to satisfy his hunger, it mysteriously swung out beyond his grasp. Thus his thirst was never slaked nor his hunger satisfied. What a picture of many Christians today whose dilemma is exactly the same. They are tantalized but never satisfied by a deep spiritual life. Reader, God does not tantalize His children! He offers the bright hope of spiritual satisfaction to all when He says,
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
May the reader find his soul-satisfying portion of heart holiness as expressed so ably in Toplady's hymn:
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Kenneth H. Fay
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