Morning and Evening: July 6th

This post from Spurgeon rings just as loud and true now, as it did when he wrote it. It is common place today to try and interpret scripture in light of our society, experiences, and agendas. We use arguments such as, "Our society is different from the society back then, so...(fill in the blank). When the authority of scripture to govern and sanctify our lives through the spirit takes a back seat to what we want or think scripture should say or mean, it is not long before as Spurgeon says, "an error in judgement becomes an error in practice". Scripture as the reformers said is, norma normans non normata, "The norm of norms which cannot be normed." Scripture is the final authority on all matters, it is above our experiences, opinions, and theological systems. Scripture is not interpreted in light of our experiences, our experiences are interpreted in light of Scripture. When Scripture is subject to our society, agendas, models, fads, or techniques it is not long before you are selling indulgences, ordaining homosexual bishops, pushing for gender neutral paraphrased bibles, changing the name of the trinity to something crazy like "Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, Live-Giving Womb", denying the exclusive claims of Jesus, denying his substitutionary atonement for sins, adopting a righteousness obtained by works + faith. I could give example after example of problems that have been directly caused or set into motion by rejecting Scripture as the norm of all norms. This also plays out on an individual level as well. Everyone, believe it or not has a theology, something they believe about God or Jesus that shapes their view of him and which affects all aspects of their lives: worship, prayer, actions, etc. As Christians we are commanded to live by the truth, worship in truth, proclaim the truth, and to do that we first need to know the truth. We have to let the Holy Spirit through the gospel teach and shape us into the image of Christ. As a Christian, you never have it figured out, you never reach a point where you can say, "I don't need to read scripture because I have a good grasp of what it says." The gospel is the avenue through which the Spirit moves and works. The Spirit never reveals or acts contrary to scripture. The primary way the Spirit sanctifies us is through the Word(Gospel), so I urge you to read and meditate on the truths found in the Bible, because they are living and active able to teach, encourage, rebuke, and prepare you for every good work.


'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.