七月四日
求你用真理使他们成圣。（约17：17）
成圣始于重生之时。神的灵赐人新生命和新的人生观叫他在基督耶稣里成爲“新造的人”。这种工作从新生之后就开始了，有两种方式：一是攻克，就是制服肉体的情欲；二是激励，使神赐我的生命在我里面成爲活水的泉源，直涌到永生。这种工作可说是“持守”（弗6：18爲警醒不倦）的工作，当天天继续，基督徒因此才能保守幷继续在恩典当中，也能在善工上多结好果子使神得到颂赞和荣耀；至终必在“荣耀”里得以完全，当灵魂完全被洗净之后，就被接到至高神的右边与衆圣同列。因此成圣的工作是出于神的灵，但还有一种看得见的方法，也是不可忘记的。
耶稣说：“求你用真理使他们成圣，你的道就是真理。”有很多经文可以证明，神的话实在是使我们成圣的一种工具。神的灵使我们的心明白真理的意义和教义，幷赐能力叫我们能应用真理。我们把神的话听在耳中，存在心里，它们就在我们里面动工，叫我们所愿所行的都以使神喜悦爲目的。真理使我们成圣，但我们若不听不念这真理，我们就不能使成圣的生活有所长进。我们在长进的时候，必须有健全的知识才能有健全的生活。“你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光。”不要错解神的话，这幷不是一件可以随人意解释的事；一个人的判断若有错误，迟早所行出来的也必发生错误。要坚守真理，因爲你这样持守真道，神的灵必使你成圣。
July 4
“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.
