Sanctification continues. Heb. 10:15–18. (113)
“I will put My promises” but “My laws in their hearts.” The unreserved subjection to His will is what His justice requires and what His power secures. The grand triumph of grace is, that “enmity” against the law Rom. 8:7 is displaced by “love” for the law Ps. 119:97. Ps. 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.” The seat of the corruption of our nature, is in the “mind” and “heart”: “Walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind...” Eph. 4:17-18 The Divine work of sanctification, or the renovating of our natures, consist of the rectifying both of the mind and heart, and this, by furnishing them with the principles of faith, love, and adherence to God. Thus, the grace of the new covenant (purchased for His people by Christ) is as extensive to repair our “nature” as sin is (in its residence and power) to deprave us. God desireth truth “in the inward parts” Ps. 51:6—not that outward conformity to His law may be dispensed with, for that is required too, but unless it proceed from an inward love for His law, the external actions cannot be accepted by Him.” Pink Arthur W.
- “From these things we may easily discern the nature of that grace which is contained in this first branch of the first promise of the covenant. And this is the effectual operation of His Spirit, in the renovation and saving illumination of our minds, whereby they are habitually made conformable unto the rule and the law of our obedience in the new covenant. And this is the first grace promised and communicated to us by virtue of this covenant. For, 1. the mind is the principal seat of all spiritual obedience. 2. The proper and peculiar actings of the mind in discerning, knowing, judging, must go before the actings of the will and affections, much more before all outward practices. 3. The depravation of the mind is such by blindness, darkness, vanity and enmity, that nothing can inflame our souls, or make the reparation of our natures, but an internal, spiritual, saving operation of grace upon the mind” (John Owen).
- “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (v. 17). In the order of grace, justification (of which forgiveness is the negative side) precedes sanctification. However, I can only ascertain God’s justifying of me, by making sure I have within the fruits of His sanctifying me. God also elects before He calls, or regenerates, but I must make my calling “sure” in order to obtain evidence of my election: see 2Pet. 1:10. Scripture entitles none to regard themselves as Divinely pardoned save those who have been saved from self-will and self-pleasing.
- “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” These words must be understood to signify that the sins of God’s people will never be recalled by Him as He exercises His office as Judge. Our Substitute having discharged our liabilities and Justice having been fully satisfied, payment cannot be demanded twice over. “There is therefore now no condemnation…” Rom. 8:1. This is the negative side of the believer’s justification, that his sins are not reckoned to his account; the positive aspect is that the perfect law-righteousness of Christ is imputed to him.
- “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin” (v. 18). “A summary of these wonderful verses. First, the everlasting covenant is the foundation of all God’s gracious dealings with His elect. Second, that eternal compact between the Father and the Mediator is now being administered under the “new covenant.” Third, the design of this covenant is to set apart a people unto external holiness, and to so sanctify them that they should be holy in heart and life. Fourth, this sanctification of the elect is effected by the communication of effectual grace unto them for their conversion, is God’s putting His laws into their hearts and writing them in their minds. Fifth, this practical sanctification is God’s continuation of that work of grace which He begins in us at regeneration—our glorification is the completion, then the last remains of sin will be removed from us, and we shall be perfectly conformed to the image of His Son. The conclusion: the one offering of Christ has secured that the grace of the everlasting covenant shall be communicated unto all of those for whom He died, in sanctifying and justifying them. Their sins are all gone from before the face of God, no further sacrifice is needed.” Pink Arthur W
