Spiritual Shoplifters

“Those who object to the ‘death route’ will tell you they ‘took it by faith.’ When terminology shifts, the whole doctrinal (of entire sanctification) structure of Christian experience shifts with it. If we get sanctified at all, we will get it by faith, but not without crucifixion of self. Leaving out time honored terms (that are Biblical terms) will lead to leaving out a needed emphasis, which in turn will cause many to fail to enter into the experience of holiness. It shifts to the idea of getting goods without paying the price—shoplifters! That would be like seeing something in the store and ‘taking it by faith’ and walking out without paying the price! The ‘death route’ costs one everything. The ‘take-It-by-faith route,’ as some advocate, costs one nothing—just take it and walk out! The whole idea of seeking to escape the surrender of self to its own crucifixion is foreign to the basic principles of the Christian religion. The ‘faith-route,’ when the ‘death-route is rejected, is a compromise tactic.”

Consider these Scriptures:
1. Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
2. Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, Brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
3. Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
4. Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ....”

We are to seek to live a crucified life for our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us, so we are to go outside the camp, bearing His reproach (Hebrews 13:13) and live a crucified life for Him. Not our will, but His will must be our desire. So few even in described holiness churches today are really entirely sanctified. My belief is that many were “spiritual shoplifters” who heard a sermon, shed a few tears, and “took it by faith” instead of paying the price, to die to self, to surrender carnal traits, and to wait for the sin killing fire of the Holy Ghost to fall on them and fill them. That is Entire Sanctification. It destroys pride, self promotion, envy, jealousy, anger and it is exactly what the 21st century church needs.

Don’t be a shoplifter. Pay the full price.