七月四日

求你用真理使他們成聖。（約17：17）

成聖始于重生之時。神的靈賜人新生命和新的人生觀叫他在基督耶穌裏成爲“新造的人”。這種工作從新生之後就開始了，有兩種方式：一是攻克，就是制服肉體的情欲；二是激勵，使神賜我的生命在我裏面成爲活水的泉源，直涌到永生。這種工作可說是“持守”（弗6：18爲警醒不倦）的工作，當天天繼續，基督徒因此才能保守幷繼續在恩典當中，也能在善工上多結好果子使神得到頌贊和榮耀；至終必在“榮耀”裏得以完全，當靈魂完全被洗淨之後，就被接到至高神的右邊與衆聖同列。因此成聖的工作是出于神的靈，但還有一種看得見的方法，也是不可忘記的。

耶穌說：“求你用真理使他們成聖，你的道就是真理。”有很多經文可以證明，神的話實在是使我們成聖的一種工具。神的靈使我們的心明白真理的意義和教義，幷賜能力叫我們能應用真理。我們把神的話聽在耳中，存在心裏，它們就在我們裏面動工，叫我們所願所行的都以使神喜悅爲目的。真理使我們成聖，但我們若不聽不念這真理，我們就不能使成聖的生活有所長進。我們在長進的時候，必須有健全的知識才能有健全的生活。“你的話是我脚前的燈，是我路上的光。”不要錯解神的話，這幷不是一件可以隨人意解釋的事；一個人的判斷若有錯誤，遲早所行出來的也必發生錯誤。要堅守真理，因爲你這樣持守真道，神的靈必使你成聖。

July 4

"Sanctify them through Thy truth." -- John 17:17

Sanctification begins in regeneration. The Spirit of God infuses into man that new living principle by which he becomes "a new creature" in Christ Jesus. This work, which begins in the new birth, is carried on in two ways--mortification, whereby the lusts of the flesh are subdued and kept under; and vivification, by which the life which God has put within us is made to be a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. This is carried on every day in what is called "perseverance," by which the Christian is preserved and continued in a gracious state, and is made to abound in good works unto the praise and glory of God; and it culminates or comes to perfection, in "glory," when the soul, being thoroughly purged, is caught up to dwell with holy beings at the right hand of the Majesty on high. But while the Spirit of God is thus the author of sanctification, yet there is a visible agency employed which must not be forgotten. "Sanctify them," said Jesus, "through thy truth: thy word is truth." The passages of Scripture which prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many. The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth, and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure. The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification. We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Do not say of any error, "It is a mere matter of opinion." No man indulges an error of judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice. Hold fast the truth, for by so holding the truth shall you be sanctified by the Spirit of God.