The Doctrine of Sanctification - Part One

Extract

The Doctrine of Sanctification – Part One
A. W. Pink

1. Introduction
2. Its Meaning
3. Its Necessity

1. Introduction
In the articles upon “The Doctrine of Justification” we contemplated the transcendent grace of God which provided for His people a Surety, who kept for them perfectly His holy law, and who also endured the curse which was due to their manifold transgressions against it. In consequence thereof, though in ourselves we are criminals who deserve to be brought to the bar of God’s justice and there be sentenced to death, we are, nevertheless, by virtue of the accepted service of our Substitute, not only not condemned, but “justified,” that is, pronounced righteous in the high courts of Heaven. Mercy has rejoiced against judgment: yet not without the governmental righteousness of God, as expressed in His Holy law, having been fully glorified. The Son of God incarnate, as the federal head and representative of His people, obeyed it, and also suffered and died under its condemning sentence. The claims of God have been fully met, justice has been magnified, the law has been made more honourable than if every descendant of Adam had personally fulfilled its requirements.

“As respects justifying righteousness, therefore, believers have nothing to do with the law. They are justified ‘apart from it’ (Rom. 3:21), that is, apart from any personal fulfilment thereof. We could neither fulfil its righteousness, nor bear its curse. The claims of the law were met and ended, once and forever, by the satisfaction of our great Substitute, and as a result we have attained to righteousness without works, i.e., without personal obedience of our own. ‘By the obedience of …