Referring to the sanctification that pertains to our spiritual life.
As you are aware, the Scripture states in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,” and in John 1:16, “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” The fullness of Christ is imparted into the soul, so our sanctification is not merely meritorious but also efficient. Furthermore, it is to some extent material, for not only does He merit it and work it through His Spirit, but through our union with Him, sanctification flows into us as the very principle of our life. Just as blood flows from the liver into all parts of the body, through our union with Christ, sanctification flows into the souls of the Saints. In this case, sanctification does not primarily result from their striving, efforts, vows, or resolutions; rather, it flows to them through their embrace of Christ and their union with Him. A great deal of striving and endeavouring may prove entirely ineffective if it lacks recourse to Christ as the source and fount of all grace and holiness. I recall a German divine who admitted that before he grasped the grace of Christ in the Gospel, he made countless vows and covenants but could never overcome his corruptions. It was only when he understood that God’s grace flows through Christ that he gained strength against them. The reason we often fail in sanctification is that we attempt to achieve it solely through our own efforts. The more effective approach is to have faith in Christ, and then life and grace will flow into the soul. While many moralities can be attained through natural light and the remnants of that light within us, they do not constitute sanctification leading to eternal life. That is why the sanctification of the Saints possesses such beauty and glory, as Christ is all in all in it. It is also why it carries immense power and strength, deriving from the strength of Christ, for He is all in all in it. Consequently, it is of a lasting nature and an immortal seed, exceeding the nature of Adam’s innocence, which was lost but cannot be lost here, all because Christ is all in all in it. Thus, Christ is all in our sanctification as well.
Moreover, He is all in all in times of need, regardless of what we lack. Whether it is grace, gifts, or worldly comforts that we lack, Christ is sufficient. He stands in place of all these things, surpassing them all, and He will provide all in due time. Those who know Christ and have a relationship with Him can draw upon Him for supply, even if they experience the loss of various comforts. They possess the skill, art, and mystery of godliness, allowing them to make Christ all in all in times of need. Understanding how to find fullness in Christ when everything else is lacking is a profound skill and mystery of godliness.
Again, Christ is everything to the Saints in the enjoyment of all things. Even when they partake of creature comforts, Christ is their primary delight. Their satisfaction does not solely arise from having material possessions, larger estates, more friends, or greater comforts than others. Instead, their joy comes from knowing how to find Christ in all these things. They see these blessings as a fruit of the covenant that God has established with them in Christ and as gifts flowing from the fountain of God’s eternal love and mercy in His Son. In Zechariah 9:11, God declares, “As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” This reference to the deliverance of prisoners can be applied to all the mercies that a believer experiences. Every deliverance from evil and every good they possess comes through the blood of the covenant. A believer can look at every meal they have and all the blessings they enjoy and see them as flowing to them through the blood of Christ, making them all the sweeter. It’s like the sun’s warmth, which is not as intense when it shines through the air alone compared to when it passes through a burning-glass. When sunlight is concentrated through a burning-glass, it becomes more powerful, even to the point of causing a fire. Similarly, the goodness of God that comes to people through His general bounty and patience lacks the power to warm and inflame their hearts and draw them closer to God. But Christ is like the burning-glass held between God and the soul, and when God’s mercy passes through this burning-glass, it warms and enlivens outward comforts. Consequently, there is no one in the world who can enjoy worldly comforts with as much contentment as the people of God, for all their blessings come through Christ. Christ is everything to them in the enjoyment of all things and He will continue to be everything to us in Heaven for all eternity.
Jeremiah Burroughs. The Saint’s Treasury.
