Just in case anyone is in doubt about what Oswald Chambers intended by his Life Side comments based on 1 Corinthians 1:30 (above) and how it fits into the scheme of the present struggle by an intentional presentation, the below comments (The Death Side) makes certain its meaning and why this business of entire sanctification has to be a matter of revelation of God and not a matter theological presentation.
Quote:
"This is the will of God, even your sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3
The Death Side. In sanctification God has to deal with us on the death side as well as on the life side. Many of us spend so much time in the place of death that we get sepulchral. There is always a battle royal before sanctification, always something that tugs with resentment against the demands of Jesus Christ.
Immediately the Spirit of God begins to show us what sanctification means, the struggle begins. "If any man come to Me and hate not . . his own life, he cannot be My disciple."
The Spirit of God in the process of sanctification will strip me until I am nothing but "myself," that is the place of death. Am I willing to be "myself," and nothing more - no friends, no father, no brother, no self-interest - simply ready for death? That is the condition of sanctification. No wonder Jesus said: "I came not to send peace, but a sword." This is where the battle comes, and where so many of us faint. We refuse to be identified with the death of Jesus on this point. "But it is so stern," we say; "He cannot wish me to do that." Our Lord is stern; and He does wish us to do that.
Am I willing to reduce myself simply to "me," determinedly to strip myself of all my friends think of me, of all I think of myself, and to hand that simple naked self over to God? Immediately I am, He will sanctify me wholly, and my life will be free from earnestness in connection with every thing but God.
When I pray - "Lord, show me what sanctification means for me," He will show me. It means being made one with Jesus.
Sanctification is not something Jesus Christ puts into me: it is Himself in me. (1 Cor. 1:30.) (Oswald Chambers)
Further because I regard no man above the scripture no matter who he is, I will say it plainly. Mr Chambers is profoundly wrong in one small but terrible way and it is this small error, a matter of mere words, which gives rise to a misunderstanding of incalculable proportions.
1 Corinthians 1:30 actually says this.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
The emphasis in this simple yet profound scripture is not in the first instance Christ in you, it is you in Christ by the Father's doing. Some people reasonably ask the question concerning Romans 6:6 regarding the old man crucified in Christ….HOW? How did God crucify the old man of Adam of which I was born a member in sin and death? We are told only two things regarding this mystery. In the first instance it is representative "One died for all therefore all have died" in the second it is hidden. "By His doing". What Mr Chambers has done in this little presentation of The Life Side and the Death Side is to neglect the real mystery of Galatians 2:20 and instead promote Holiness Teaching of which sect was he a member. So then it is not what is written by Mr Chambers in this presentation which is problematic, rather it is what is missing.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
Make of that what you will!
