Holiness Part 1

There seems to be both a hunger for and a confusion about holiness. So over the next few days I'm going to blog Chapter 10 of the old Doctrine Book - enjoy :-)

CHAPTER X
ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

SEC. I. — ITS NATURE.
SEC. II — ITS POSSIBILITY.
SEC. III —ITS ATTAINMENT.
SEC. IV — ITS RESULTS

Section I. — ITS NATURE.

1. THE SANCTIFICATION OF GOD’S PEOPLE MEANS THEIR SEPARATION FROM SIN AND THEIR DEVOTION TO GOD. The word ‘sanctification’ always includes the two fold idea of separation and dedication (or devotion).

The frequent use of the word in the Bible, with regard to both people and things, illustrates this. For example:— Concerning the Sabbath, we are told that ‘God ... sanctified it’ (Genesis ii. 3); that is, separated it from other days and dedicated it to His service.

With regard to the priests, Moses was commanded to ‘sanctify them’ (Exodus xxviii. 41); that is, they were separated from ordinary toil and dedicated to the work of God’s house.

Concerning the vessels of God’s house, God told Moses to ‘sanctify them, that they may be most holy’ (Exodus 122 xxx.29); that is, they were to be separated from common work and dedicated to Tabernacle service.

In many passages God’s people are said to be ‘sanctified’ (see 1 Corinthians i.. 2, and vi.11), the word including the two ideas of :— Separation from sin, as in the command-

‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you’ (2 Corinthians vi. 17).

Dedication or devotion to God; that is, being set apart for Him, as the Psalmist says:—

‘The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself’ (Psalm iv. 3).

2. SANCTIFICATION IS LIKE REGENERATION, in that it is the changing or purifying of man’s nature ‘and is a work done within him (see Chapter VIII, Section III, paragraph 2 (d)).

(a) Man’s sinful heart, nature, or disposition (sometimes called ‘inborn’ or ‘inbred sin,’ or ‘the principle of sin ‘) may be compared to the root of a tree, his sinful acts (or ‘actual sin’) being like the fruit. Hence, man has a double need—his sinful acts need pardon; his sinful nature needs cleansing, changing, purifying. When a man is saved, by Justification he receives forgiveness for his sinful acts, and by Regeneration a change of nature. But, as already explained, the change effected in Regeneration is incomplete (see Chapter VIII, Section III, paragraph 2 (f))

(b) Sanctification begins at Regeneration; in fact, Regeneration is partial Sanctification, or holiness begun. The Bible, as well as the experience of Christians generally, shows that Regeneration, although a very great change, is not the complete purifying of man’s nature; thus Paul writes to some of his converts :—

‘And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ’ (I Corinthians iii. I).

When a man is converted or regenerated (see Chapter VIII, Section III, paragraph 2) he receives from the Holy Spirit power to conquer outward sin, yet sinful feelings and desires may still be present; the love of God is shed abroad in his heart, but love, mingled with lingering love of self, is not yet perfect; his chief purpose is to please God, but sometimes self-pleasing is uppermost. He enjoys the presence and help of the Holy Spirit, but the Spirit has not always full control, and consequently cannot fill the soul. He becomes a partaker of God’s nature, but ungodlike inclinations and tendencies may still remain,

(c) The inbred sin, or inclination to evil and selfishness, which still exists in converted people, is apt, unless over powered by divine grace, to rise up and produce actual sin. Such sin needs forgiveness, for no one can continue in the favour of God who allows sin to remain unforgiven or who goes on committing sin (1 John iii. 8). But the forgiveness which God grants to His people for failures of this kind does not deal with the sinful nature from which the wrong acts spring; that nature needs fully cleansing or purifying-in other words, it needs entire sanctification.

3. ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION IS COMPLETE DELIVERANCE FROM SIN, AND THE DEVOTION OF THE ‘WHOLE BEING, WITH ALL ITS GIFTS AND CAPACITIES, TO THE LOVE AND WILL OF GOD.’

‘God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect’ (I John iv. 16, 17).

‘The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be pre served blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (I Thessalonians v. 23).

‘Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all, filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God’ (2 Corinthians vii. I).

(a) The chief difference between Partial and Entire Sanctification is that— i. Partial Sanctification takes place at conversion and is deliverance from outward sin and the love of it. ii. Entire Sanctification usually takes place after con version, and is deliverance from both inward and out ward sin-from sin in disposition as well as in deed.

(b) Entire, Sanctification does not usually take place at conversion because few then see their need for it. God gives light gradually as people are able to bear it, and most seekers after Salvation are absorbed with the gaining of pardon. Later on, when they discover the true nature of inward sin and earnestly seek deliverance, God sanctifies them entirely.

(c) Unconverted, Converted, and Entirely Sanctified people thus differ from each other as regards their relationship to sin.

i. An unconverted person is under sin. He may see sin to be evil, hate it, and struggle against it; but still he is under its power, and forced to obey it. This explains why unsaved people make resolutions and break them directly. ‘I am carnal, sold under sin’ (Romans vii. 14).

ii. A converted or partially sanctified person is over sin. He is delivered from the power of sin; by the power of God he is able to conquer sin. But sin still exists as a principle or disposition in the soul; it is there, though it does not reign. ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you’ (Romans vi. 14).

iii. An entirely sanctified person is without sin— ‘freed from sin’ (Romans vi. 7). He is delivered from all sin; his disposition is entirely purified; inward sin is done away with or destroyed. ‘Being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life’ (Romans vi. 22).

(Reproduced from the 1923 Salvation Army Doctrine Book complete and unabridged)