“願賜平安的神，親自使你們全然成聖！又願你們的靈與魂與身子，得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘。那召你們的本是信實的，祂必成就這事。”（帖前五：23，24）
這此實在是受用不盡的話！這是賜平安的神自己成就的，是的，只有祂能而且又願意成就這事。祂成就什麼？是全然成聖。祂如何成就這事？祂要保守你整個的靈與魂，甚至身子，使之成聖，到主再來時完全無可指摘。
由於這個應許太偉大，以致於使人難以相信，所以使徒在這個應許之後加上另一些話：“那召你們的本是信實的，祂必做成這事。”只要我們深信這位召我們的神，那就沒有懷疑的餘地了。
這個工作是由聖潔三而一的真神作成的，聖父說：“我是聖潔的，所以你們也要聖潔，我是使你們成聖的主。”聖子祷告说：“我為他們的緣故自己分別為聖，叫他們也因真理成聖。”聖靈就是使人成聖的靈，藉此使教會配在基督裏成聖的地位。
三而一的神如何完成這項偉大的工作，使我們全然成聖？通過祂不斷的內住和交通，把祂聖潔的生命吹入我們裏面。正如在寒冷的天氣裏，一個人想要暖和他的身體，就站在陽光底下，直到他被太陽曬透全身暖和為止，照樣一個人也應花點時間與神交通，得到三一神的聖潔映到我們的心靈為止。
哦！我的弟兄！這些話是何等好的財寶，由於神信守承諾是值得我們敬拜和信靠的，也使到我們安心的等候祂，像亞伯拉罕一樣的與祂同行，認識祂必信守祂的應許，神旣然給我們看到這個聖潔，恩典和能力的異像，叫我們深信祂必定使我們的靈、魂與身子全然成聖無可指摘。
“The God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who will also do it.” – 1 THESS. v. 23, 24
What inexhaustible words! The God of peace Himself. Yes, He Himself, and none other, can and will do the work. And what is this work? To sanctify you wholly. How is this work to be done? Your entire spirit and soul, and even your body, is to be preserved without blame at the coming of our Lord.
This promise is so great it appears incredible. The Apostle feels that difficulty and adds the words, “Faithful is He that calleth you, who will also do it.” That leaves no room for doubt, but calls us to place our confidence in the faithfulness of God.
This work is accomplished by the Holy Trinity. God the Father says, “Be ye holy, for I am holy. I am the Lord that sanctifieth you.” The Son prayed, “For their sakes, I sanctify myself that they also may be sanctified in the truth.” And the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of sanctification, through whom the Church of God consists of the sanctified ones in Christ Jesus.
How does the Thrice-holy God accomplish this great work of sanctifying us wholly? Through His continual indwelling and fellowship and breathing of His holy life into us. As upon a cold day a man may warm himself by standing in the rays of the sun, until its warmth penetrates his body, so the soul who takes time for communion with God becomes permeated with the strength of the Triune Holiness.
Oh, my brother, what a treasure there is in these words, what cause for adoration, what confidence that God, who is faithful, will do it. What encouragement to wait upon Him, to walk with Him, as Abraham did, knowing God, being fully assured that what He had promised He was able to perform. God grant us a vision of this divine holiness and grace and power, that we may confidently feel that He will sanctify us wholly and preserve spirit, soul and body without blame.
