If we have really learned that "Christ is all," we shall give Him His place as that in everything we may have to say on the doctrines of Scripture. "The Lamb is the light thereof" as well as of the bright unseen which awaits those who are His. " The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." He is the theme of all God's precious word, and the key thereto.

Though much has been written on the subject of sanctification, yet it seems to be imperfectly understood, even by those who say most about it. And why is it so ? Is it not owing to the obvious fact that Christ has not His true and full place in professed Christian teaching ?

The inspired Word says:"Of Him"-that is, of God-"are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (i Cor. 1:30, 31.)

Thus Christ is the sanctification of those who are of God in Him. He, as man in glory, is the measure of their sanctification, or separation to God. He is as much their sanctification as He is their righteousness. So that while Luther could say, '' My righteousness is in heaven," he might with equal propriety have said, "My sanctification is in heaven."

Christ being divinely constituted the believer's sanctification is, of course, founded on the work of the Cross. He had to purge our sins by the shedding of His precious blood before He could appear in the presence of God for us. '' We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." "Jesus, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate."

Christ therefore is the positional sanctification of all true believers. They "are sanctified in Christ Jesus" (i Cor. 1:2)-sanctified in another, in their Representative. And of course their sanctification in this sense is at once and ever "entire.""Ye are complete in Him " may be said to souls the moment they truly believe. They are as fully sanctified in Him as they are justified. Therefore positional sanctification-that is, sanctification " in Christ Jesus "- being clearly taught in God's word, any teaching on this subject which does not contain this main part must be essentially defective.

Christ being thus the positional sanctification of believers, their experimental sanctification is the knowledge and enjoyment of Him as that. It is Christ dwelling in their hearts by faith ; and the more they know Him, the more they live in the joy of their entire sanctification in Him. In this sense they "are sanctified …by the Spirit of our God." Christ, speaking of the Comforter whom He would send, said, " He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."We are exhorted to be " filled with the Spirit;" and being thus filled, we shall be filled with Christ, for the Spirit does not occupy us with Himself, but with Christ, enabling us to exult in Him while we have "no confidence in the flesh."

The sum of what I have thus far said is expressed in few words by our blessed Lord-" Ye in Me, and I in you."

Practical sanctification is a holy walk. Believers are to walk in accordance with what Christ is for them before God. They are to express Him as their sanctification in their spirit and deportment,-they are to walk even as He walked,-thus practically manifesting that holy separation to God which they have in Christ, till they are called to be with Him in glory forever. '' Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called " is a Divine direction to all who are "sanctified in Christ Jesus."

It will be readily seen that while a person is entirely sanctified in Christ when he first believes, yet sanctification, as a matter of experience and practice, admits of growth; for the child of God is to experience and express Christ more and more, day by day, during his stay in this scene of evil. '' Grow in grace " is the direction of the Spirit to "all that are in Christ Jesus."

Thus the believer may look up to heaven and behold his sanctification as well as his righteousness in the Person of the glorified Christ, till his soul is filled with the sight and his whole life is governed by it. "We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

" Possessing Christ, I all possess,
Wisdom, and strength, and righteousness,
And sanctity complete."

"CHRIST IS ALL."

R. H.