Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 4 by reading Sections XXIX to XXXI.
My summary
Firstly this week Smeaton examines sayings which connect the righteousness of God with the death of Jesus as His great act of obedience. The texts are:
(i) Hereafter I will not talk much with you : for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and [that] as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence (John 14:30,31);
(ii) This commandment I have received of my Father (John 10:18);
(iii) And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I got to My Father, and ye see Me no more (John 16:8, 10).
Secondly Smeaton unpacks what Jesus means in John 17:19 that he sanctifies himself and his disciples.
Thirdly Smeaton introduces his discussion of sayings which refer more to the inward or sanctifying fruits of Christ's death.
What grabbed me
I appreciated Smeaton's clarity on two types of sanctification: ' There is a sanctification of the Spirit by which we are inwardly made holy ; and there is, as contradistinguished from the former, the separation or sanctification of the person to God by Christ. It is in the latter sense that the word " sanctify " occurs here ; and this unquestionably lays the foundation for the other, which is more subjective, and follows in the order of nature after it.'
It is important to distinguish between definitive sanctification and progressive sanctification.
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 4 by reading Section XXXII.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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