LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA

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20 SANCTIFICATION AND STABILITY

While the Bible teaches the possibility of losing the grace of God out of the heart—hence the necessity of constant watchfulness—it also teaches that it is gloriously possible for a man to have the grace of God and retain it ever after. While a man may lose it, he also may keep it.

There is no need for falling if there is a compliance with the conditions for standing.

But the plain teaching of the Bible is, that the “whole armour” is necessary as a safeguard against the foe; and that he who has neglected or failed to “put on the whole armour of God” has not availed himself of the necessary equipment to stand and therefore has no assurance of standing; and “if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

By “the whole armour of God” is doubtless meant full salvation, or the full provisions of the Gospel.

It is a fact that is noteworthy that the sanctifying grace invariably precedes preserving grace, as in Jude 1 “Sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.” Also in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 –24, “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless.” First sanctified wholly and then preserved blameless. As the good housewife preserves only fruit that is sound and whole—first cutting out all the specks and spots and core—and so in like manner the Lord puts up His preserves, by the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire, consuming all dross and every “root of evil,” and so making us every bit whole.

God does not propose to preserve men with sin in their hearts; He first cleanses the heart from all sin by the cleansing with holy fire, and then preserves it blameless.

In Romans 5:2 we read of it as the standing grace, or, “This grace wherein we stand,” because it enables one not only to endure hardness, and patiently suffer, and “rejoice in hope of the glory of God,” but actually enables those who have it to “glory in tribulations also.” As indicated by the word “also,” it is a grace obtained subsequent to “being justified by faith.” The mistake made by a great many is to suppose that this grace can only be realized as the result of a long drawn out process of growth—as a gradual attainment. But the text says, “By whom also we have access by faith, into this grace wherein we stand.” Seeing it may be obtained by faith, there can be no reason why it should not be a present tense experience with every Christian.

Until “this grace wherein we stand” is earnestly sought and obtained, the believer has not reached the place where he can say, “having done all to stand;” to reject, or neglect to “put on the whole armour of God,” the sanctifying grace, “this grace wherein we stand,” is to greatly imperil the soul, and be continually living an up and down unstable and unsatisfactory life. As the foundations of a house preserve the house, so, in turn, the house preserves the foundation; so the sanctifying grace preserves our justification. “We are made partakers of Christ. If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:14.)