Chapter 1
Sanctification
Sanctification is a definite work in the heart of one who has been born again. This spiritual birth is called Justification and is likened to the birth of a child. Every child is born in sin.
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” — Psalm 51:5.
When one is born again, or justified, he is pardoned and set free from committed sins. Then he may partake freely of the living water. When Israel suffered for want of thirst, Moses struck the rock and brought forth water — Living Water. The rock typified Christ; the Water, living water — Life giving water. Without it we die in our SIN.
Jesus told the woman at the well that if she would drink of the water that He would give her, she would never thirst again! One drink of this water will forever slake the bitter, burning thirst for the things of this world. Sanctification follows this experience of pardon and is cleansing from the sin principle. It removes the old Adamic nature we are born with. This takes out the root and branch of the old nature, leaving nothing to spring back and grow.
When Eve took of the fruit and gave to Adam, her mate, the human race was plunged into sin. Before this, man was perfect and the Garden of Eden was a perfect place without mar or the curse of sin. God came down in the cool of the day to walk and talk with Adam. Sin separated man from fellowship with God.
David, of whom Christ was the root and offspring, cried out many centuries later: “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” — Psalm 51:2. Although the natural line was through David, God was Jesus’ Father and He was without the stain of original sin.