The Agency of Christ and the Agency of Believers in Sanctification — John Murray

Let us pray. O Lord, our God, do we hope that our understanding may be according to thy word, that our understanding may be clarified, that it may be strengthened, and that in the fullness of understanding we may in the days to come proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ and the old counsel of God, that we may be bound to faith unto death and inherit the covenant, that when Christ will come again he will say to each one of us, Well done, good and faithful servant.

Thou hast been faithful over a few things. I will make thee a ruler over many things. In his name, Amen. Now you see a little where I am. In the course of reviewing Master Nelson, who professes to be a very good friend of yours.

I have great admiration, and he will give you the instructions. If you don't want to acknowledge that he's a very good friend of yours, then you will have to. Now you can disavow it. Well now, this is where I am.

Christ’s Agency in Progressive Sanctification

The agency of sanctification. And we dealt, first of all, with the unit of sanctification, the agency of that. Now I did deal with the agency of all three persons. But it was so obvious that God alone is the author in definitive sanctification that there was no purpose in listing all the different persons separately.

Now then we came to the agency of progressive sanctification. And since that required a little more detailed analysis, I had the agency of the Father, the agency of the Holy Spirit, and the agency of Christ himself.

Now I made a few introductory remarks about the agency of Christ in connection with progressive sanctification. But then just at the close of the hour I came to the first aspect, I don't know whether I missed it or not, I should have the first aspect of Christ's agency in progressive sanctification.

I mentioned, namely, that there is a virtuous presiding in Christ by reason of His death and His resurrection. ...constantly emanates from Him and is really the dynamic in progressive sanctification. The dynamic in progressive sanctification.

Now this is just another way of saying what we noted already, particularly in connection with the study of Ephesians 1 .23. Another way of saying it, a necessary way of supplementing, but nevertheless it is another way of saying that in Christ is the plenitude of love.

The Fullness of Christ as the Source of Sanctification

And Him is the plenitude to advance sanctification from His fullness. It was the reason why. ...of Him that filleth all in all. ...the impartation of the fullness, stating it now in Christ that is constantly emanating from Him and becomes the dynamic.

Christ’s Indwelling and the Spirit’s Advocacy

Now there are others. Secondly, the indwelling of the believer. ...levitation indeed from which has not, in some of the references, that indwelling of Christ. Romans 8 .10, Galatians 2 .19 and 20, Ephesians 3 .17, Colossians 1 .27.

...this world is in the hand with the according push to thee. To Christ I will give you another paritry. Even the spiritual truth. Yes, the paritry is inherent. ...to the one whom He calls the Holy Spirit, another comes.

Nevertheless, expressly, that's the only place it occurs. And John introduces it, as you will remember, in connection with the liabilities arising from the sin of the believer. The implication is, you see, that sin in and committed by the believer creates in reference to the righteousness and holiness of God that is irremediable here and now.

...leader. He is like a... ...democrat of the left. That is the intersection of Christ. ...relating indeed to His advocacy. Only different terminology is used here. And therefore distinctive type of activity in the heavenlies is denoted by His intercession.

Christ’s Heavenly Intercession and the Believer’s Salvation

In the scripture, there are only two passages that I know of that express... ...right hand of God. ...passages deal with intercession of Christ while He was here on earth. ...become example of the intercession of His heavenly ministry.

Only two passages expressly, Romans 8 .34 and Hebrews 7 .25. ...8 .34, Romans 8 .34, Hebrews 7 .25. But you cannot over... ...the significance of these two passages because of the context in which they occur.

...just a word to illustrate in connection with Hebrews 7 .25. ...Hebrews 7 .24 and 25. But because He abides forever, He has the priesthood unchanged. Because He abides forever, He has the priesthood unchanged or unchangeable.

Wherefore He is able to save also to the uttermost ...them that draw nigh to God through Him, seeing He ever lives, to make intercession for them. To make intercession for them. There is the point. The intercession here is mentioned specifically in connection with salvation to the uttermost.

...and therefore as guarantee that salvation. It is very inclusive. What it means salvation complete is that the intercession of Christ is within its scope. Necessary to salvation in its consummated perfection.

Passion. The intercession necessary to and realized in a logical salvation. You can see the inclusiveness there. Let no grace be a blessing enjoyed if it was received from the scope of Jesus' intercession.

The thing within this Jesus I priestly intercede unto God. ...believer. Now that was one thing. ...distorted. There is a tendency in many circles to see of the believer himself. So the emphasis that falls on the agency of all three persons of the Godhead must take account of the total witnesses.

The Believer’s Active Agency in Sanctification

We cannot exclude the believer's agency in this. And that Washington's 3 .5 says,. "...put to death therefore the members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, and the covetousness which is idolatry.".

"...put to death therefore the members which are upon the earth.". And all the more remarkable is that text in its context. Because in the preceding context, as we noted earlier in other collections, Colossians 2 .2, Colossians 2 .20, and Colossians 3 .3.

...indictive. "...he died with Christ on the rudiments of the world.". "...he died to unite his head with Christ in God.". "...the believer died to sin.". "...the believer died to sin.". Isn't it contradictory to be asked to be sinned to death?

It's a characteristic. The New Testament teaching is as relevant as the indicative. Romans 8 .13,. "...put to death the deeds of the body ye shall live.". In another context, we emphasize this by the Spirit, but now we're thinking about the agency of the believer.

"...he put to death the deeds of the body ye shall live.". And again, remember that that appears in a context where you have just these same indicatives. "...he died to sin.". Running from Romans 6 .2 on to Romans 7 .6.

The Indicative and Imperative in Christian Holiness

And in different... In another epistle, 2 Corinthians 7 .1,. "...cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.". "...cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.".

And the same kind of coordination applies here, but applies as applied in these other two passages. Colossians 3 .5 of Romans 8 .13,. "...because in the preceding context...". "...I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.".

"...the sequence of courses, since we have these promises.". "...we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.". "...just as there is no contradiction between the indicative and the imperative.".

In Colossians,. "...no contradiction between the promissory and the imperative.". In 2 Corinthians 6 .17 and 18, and 2 Corinthians 7 .1, the imperative flows out of the promises, just as in other instances it flows out of the indicative.

Walking by the Spirit and Pursuing Purity

We'll just take another example. It's derived from Galatians 5. Galatians 5 .22,. "...you have enumerated those virtues which, in all, you shall call the fruit of the spirit.". The fruit of the spirit.

In the same context, Paul says,. "...if ye live after the flesh ye shall die.". I'm... I'm thinking of... "...walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.". "...walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.".

And one... 1 John 3 .3,. "...everyone who has this hope in him that is in the Father purifieth himself, even as he is pure.". There you have the self-purifying activity on the part of the believer. And what does it arise from?

The certainty of hope.

Everyone that has this hope in him,.

There you have the self-purifying activity on the part of the believer. And what does it arise from? The certainty of hope. Everyone that has this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure. The coordination, again, you see, is parallel to what we found.

The indication of the indicative and the imperative. The promissory and the imperative. Certainty. Certainty of final realization. Certainties which appear in Romans 6 exhortations. "...present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead and your members weapons of righteousness to God.".

"...present your members servants to righteousness and to holiness.". Every instance where the certificate of our responsibility in sanctification arises, every instance where sanctification is in the forefront, within the scope and list, in all of this center, it's Philippians 2, 11 and 12.

Working Out Salvation Because God Works Within

Philippians 2, 11. Philippians 2, 12 and 13. If you remember what it is,. "...work out your own salvation, fear and trembling. God who works in you both to will and to do, for his good pleasure.". Go on to verse 12, the whole of verse 12.

"...fear and trembling, pain, hail, toll, soterium, captor, Kansas.". You know, there's a great deal of misunderstanding. In connection with this text, it's not always clear. "...not withering to death.".

"...regarding death's fate.". "...beloved.". "...therefore are already in possession of salvation.". "...something to be worked out.". "...salvation in this time.". "...all's usage.". "...answers that question.".

The term salvation is quite often in the sense of the future salvation, the eschatological salvation. 1311. Peter 9. New Testament, very clearly. Hebrews 1 .14. Hebrews 9 .28. Peter 1 .5. 1 Peter 2 .2.

"...the usage of the New Testament is the key to the interpretation of this passage.". "...thinking of the salvation that is to be brought.". "...salvation of Jesus Christ.". "...be conformed.". "...take to Christ.".

"...salvation.". "...process will be constant.". "...there will be no further salvation.". "...process.". "...into the air.". "...the believer himself.". "...for more.". "...he meant of that goal.". "...not one.".

"...can be no disjointed direction.". "...to the very exercise of our faith.". In other words, it is reliance, the assurance,. "...diligent and persevering are we in our working.". "...assured we are that God works.".

"...more diligent and persevering are we in our working.". "...the fear and trembling.". "...sumptuous self.". "...every consideration.". "...mentioned in this text.". "...the fear.". "...in us.". "...action.".

"...helplessness.". "...and at the same time...". "...the very hope.". "...salvation.". "...in all.". "...I think you see...". "...that fear and trembling is not compatible...". "...with the certitude of hope.".

"...in all circumstances.". "...demands of that certitude.".