Counterfeit Sanctification-11 -

"Counterfeit sanctification has its origin in will-worship rather in submission to the will of God.  The error is fast flooding the world.  This error is fast flooding the world, and as God's witnesses, we shall be called to bear a decided testimony against it.  It is one of the veriest delusions of the last days and will prove a temptation to all who believe the present truth.  Those who have not their faith firmly established upon the Word of God will be misled.  And the saddest part of it all is that so few who are deceived by this error ever find their way to the light again."  F&W51

"The Bible is the standard by which to test the claims of all who profess sanctification.  Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth, and He says, 'Thy Word is the truth, John 17:17.
while the Psalmist says, 'Thy law is the truth', Psalm 119:142.  All whom God is leading will manifest a high regard for the Scriptures in which His voice is heard.  The Bible will be to them 'Profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works', 2 Timothy 3:16.  'Ye shall know them by their fruits"  Matthew 7:16."  F&W 51

"We need no other evidence in order to judge of men's sanctification; if they are fearful lest they shall not obey the whole will of God, if they are listening diligently to His voice, trusting His wisdom, and making His Word the man of their counsel, then, while they make no boasts of superior goodness, we may be sure that they are seeking to attain to perfection of Christian character.  But if the claimants of holiness even intimate that they are no longer required to search the Scriptures, we need not hesitate to pronounce their sanctification spurious.  They are leaning to their own understanding instead of conforming to the will of God."  F&W  51,52

1 John 2:4  "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

"Spurious sanctification leads directly away from the Bible.  Religion is reduced to a fable.  Feelings and impressions are made the criterion.  While they profess to be sinless and boast of their righteousness, the claimants of sanctification teach that men are at liberty to transgress the law of God and that those who obey its precepts have fallen from grace.  A presentation of its claims arouses their opposition and excites anger and contempt.  Thus their character is shown, for 'the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7.  F&W 53

I want to comment on 'will worship' which is mentioned in the first paragraph.  I often wondered what was meant by 'will worship' and I think I finally understand it.  Instead of worshiping God and doing His will, we do our own will and worship our will.  Does that sound right?  That's what I get out of it.

"The true follower of Christ will make no boastful claims to holiness.  It is by the law of God that the sinner is convicted.  He sees his own sinfulness in contrast with the perfect righteousness which it enjoins, and this leads him to humility and repentance.  He becomes reconciled to God through the blood of Christ, and as he continues to walk with Him he will be gaining a clearer sense of the holiness of God's character and the far-reaching nature of His requirements.  He will see more clearly his own defects and will feel the need of continual repentance and faith in the blood of Christ." F&W
53,54
Here's how we succeed!

"He who bears with him a continual sense of the presence of Christ cannot indulge self-confidence or self-righteousness.  None of the prophets or apostles made proud boasts of holiness.  The nearer they came to perfection of character, the less worthy and righteous they viewed themselves." F&W 54

I read another quote somewhere, I believe it was in 'Christ's Object Lessons' that we can tell when we are drawing close to Jesus because the nearer to Him we become, the worse we look to ourselves.  Thats because we become humble and teachable in His presence.  Let us all draw near to Him and let Him teach us His path that He wants us to walk in.  Grandma Joan