A body of divinity by Thomas Watson (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read '4. Adoption' and '5. Sanctification'.
(i) takes in all nations;
(ii) takes in both sexes;
(iii) is an act of pure grace.
Secondly we learn about sanctification, particularly that sanctification has a:
(i) privative part, which lies in the purging out of sin;
(ii) positive part, which is the spiritual refining of the soul.
I'm always disappointed that often on the subject of sanctification much is made of progressive sanctification but little is said about definitive/positional sanctification. Today this included Watson.
Nevertheless Watson had some great points of application of these two doctrines.
I particularly enjoyed hearing of the great privileges of being adopted into God's family: 'King’s children have great privileges and freedoms. They do not pay custom. Matt 17:25. God’s children are privileged persons, they are privileged from the hurt of everything. ‘Nothing shall by any means hurt you.’ Luke 10:19. Hit you it may, but not hurt you. ‘There shall no evil befall thee.’ Psa 91:10. God says not, No affliction shall befall his children, but, No evil; the hurt and poison of it is taken away. Affliction to a wicked man has evil in it, it makes him worse; it makes him curse and blaspheme. ‘Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God.’ Rev 16:6. But no evil befalls a child of God; he is bettered by affliction. Heb 12:20. The furnace makes gold purer. Again, no evil befalls the adopted, because no condemnation. ‘It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth?’ Rom 8:33. What a blessed privilege is this, to be freed from the sting of affliction, and the curse of the law! to be in such a condition that nothing can hurt us! When the dragon has poisoned the water, the unicorn with his horn extracts and draws out the poison; so Jesus Christ has drawn out the poison of every affliction, that it cannot injure the saints.'
Oh what a blessing it is to be a child of God!
Next week's reading
Read '6. Assurance' and '7. Peace'.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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