Holiness Part 7

Section IV. — ITS RESULTS

1. THERE ARE CERTAIN FRUITS BY WHICH THE POSSESSOR OF ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION MAY CONFIRM HIS CONFIDENCE THAT HE HAS IT.

These will be realized in his own inner experience, and will also be evident in his outward life, although in the case of those who have lived devotedly before obtaining the Blessing there may not appear to other people to be a very great difference .

2. AMONG THE GENERAL FRUITS OR RESULTS found in all entirely sanctified people, are —

(a) Perfect inward peace— the natural outcome of all controversy with God having ceased.

‘The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through. Christ Jesus’ (Philippians iv.7).

(b) Usually a great deal of joy, and sometimes periods of heavenly rapture.

‘Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory’ (I Peter i.8).

(c) A simple, constant trust in God; which relies upon Him in all the circumstances of life, and expects from Him great spiritual blessings.

‘He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief ; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God’ (Romans iv.20).

(d) A perfect and hearty agreement with the will of God, as to all we must do or suffer.

’That ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God’ (Colossians iv. 12).

‘I delight to do Thy will, O my God’ (Psalm xl. 8).

‘It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure’ (Philippians ii. 13).

(e) Steadfast love to God and man, manifesting itself in tenderness of heart towards both, with watchful eagerness to serve in every way possible.

‘Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected’ (I John ii. 5).

‘If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us’ (I John iv. I2).

(f) Progress in spiritual life and in usefulness.

‘That your love may abound yet more and more in know ledge and in all judgment’ (Philippians i. 9).

‘Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians iii. I3, I4).

(g) Devotion to the service of God, such as entirely does away with selfish ambition and love of worldly pleasure.

‘For the love of Christ constraineth us’ (2 Corinthians v. I4).

‘I will very gladly spend and be spent for you’ (2 Corinthians xii. I5).

(h) Readiness to witness for Christ and of Full Salvation, at every opportunity, both in public and private.

‘Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye sha!l be witnesses unto Me’ (Acts i. 8).

‘That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ’ (I John i. 3).

‘We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard’ (Acts iv. 20).

(i) Complete victory over every besetment, passion, or habit which previously was a cause of defeat or condemnation, and usually perfect deliverance from the besetment itself.

‘In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us’ (Romans viii. 37).
3. IN SALVATION ARMY OFFICERS THE FRUITS OF ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION ARE SPECIALLY MANIFEST IN THE WAY THEY FULFIL THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES; in fact, it is impossible to be a really efficient Officer without this Blessing. In particular:—

(a) Sanctified Officers take an interest in their work in a way that is possible only to those who do what is customary with their whole heart.

(b) They show a careful, earnest love to all their people, without partiality or respect of persons.

(c) They are full of brotherly love to their comrade Officers, esteeming others better than themselves, and willing that others should be honoured equally with, or more than, themselves.

(d) They ever put the interests of God’s Kingdom and The Army before their own ease and advantage, and are, therefore, always to be relied upon to carry out instructions heartily.

(e) They are able calmly to trust God and fight on for victory amidst difficulties of every kind, and humbly to remain childlike amidst the greatest success.

(f) Their private, as well as their public life, proves that they are living for God alone, their spirit and their testimony tending to draw everyone around them nearer to God and to self-sacrifice for Him.

(Taken from the 1922 Doctrine Book complete and unabridged)