But Jesus suffered for our sins. He died for us. "He was wounded
for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;... and
with His stripes we are healed." "Ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with
the precious blood of Christ" (i Peter i. 18, 19); "Who loved me,
and gave Himself for me" (Gal. ii. 20). And now every blessing we
ever had, or ever shall have, comes to us by the Divine
Sacrifice, by "the precious blood." And "How shall we escape, if
we neglect so great salvation?" His blood is the meritorious
cause not only of our pardon, but of our cleansing, our
sanctification; but the Holy Spirit is the ever-present, living,
active Cause.
The truth or word which sanctifies is the record God has given us
of His will and of that Divine Sacrifice, that "precious blood."
The faith that purifies is that sure confidence in that word
which leads to renunciation of all self-righteousness, that utter
abandonment to God's will, and full dependence on the merits of
"the precious blood," the "faith that works by love," for "faith
without works is dead." And thus we draw nigh to God, and God
draws nigh to us, and the Holy Ghost falls upon us, comes into
us, and cleanses our hearts by the destruction of sin, and the
shedding abroad within us of the love of God.
The advocates of entire sanctification as an experience wrought
in the soul by the baptism with the Spirit subsequent to
regeneration call it "the second blessing.
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