BLJ: When discussing holiness, it is important to hear the objections to the doctrine, and answer them clearly. A seeking heart will bear witness to the answers.
Will you reply to the following objections to entire holiness?
1. "If all sin were expelled from the heart, the Christian warfare would cease."
When the heart is pure, Satan is not chained in hell, and a pure heart may have war with outside enemies, both offensive and defensive. After all sin is expelled from the heart, we shall have a warfare to KEEP it out. It is a mistake to suppose that the Christian warfare is confined to inward, bosom foes. The world is our enemy. We can "war a good warfare," although no enemy has a residence in the heart. England and France were at war with each other for years, without England invading France, or France invading England. Desperate battles were fought on the lines, and on the seas. Satan goeth about "as a roaring lion," whom we are "to resist steadfast in the faith." Our blessed Saviour was entirely free from sin, but he had a warfare, and was tempted in all points, like as we are, and yet without sin. "The servant is not above his Lord."
2. "You teach that men can live without sin."
St. Paul says: "Awake to righteousness, and sin not." David says: "Stand in awe, and sin not."St. John says: "He that committeth sin is of the devil " that is, he who knowingly, voluntarily, and habitually sins, is a child of the devil and not a Christian. Again he says: "He that is born of God doth not commit sin." He who commits sin falls from grace, and becomes dead in trespasses and sins. St. Paul says: "God forbid that we should continue in sin." To commit sin, is to "continue in sin." God hates sin, forbids sin, and in the light of gospel provision expects us to live without sin. "The soul that sinneth it shall die."
3. "If any were entirely sanctified, they would immediately die and go to heaven."
If this is sincere, will the objector tell us how much sins is necessary to keep us alive? and how much holiness we can possess without endangering our lives? According to this, the more wicked a man is the more likely he is to live, while the Bible teaches that "the wicked shall not live out half his days." Where does the Bible teach that men can live no longer, when they are cleansed from all sin, so as to love God with all their hearts? Is perfect love a poisonous and killing thing? It is generally believed that this poor, wicked world is suffering for want of holy men and women, more than any other world to which they can be transferred. If as soon as a man becomes holy he must die and go to heaven, this world is truly in a pitiable condition.
4. "If a soul is entirely sanctified, it no longer needs the blood of Christ." Our Lord says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches;" and, "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine no more can ye, except ye abide in me." "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a (severed) branch, and is withered." This objection implies, that the branch has no longer any need
Will you reply to the following objections to entire holiness?
1. "If all sin were expelled from the heart, the Christian warfare would cease."
When the heart is pure, Satan is not chained in hell, and a pure heart may have war with outside enemies, both offensive and defensive. After all sin is expelled from the heart, we shall have a warfare to KEEP it out. It is a mistake to suppose that the Christian warfare is confined to inward, bosom foes. The world is our enemy. We can "war a good warfare," although no enemy has a residence in the heart. England and France were at war with each other for years, without England invading France, or France invading England. Desperate battles were fought on the lines, and on the seas. Satan goeth about "as a roaring lion," whom we are "to resist steadfast in the faith." Our blessed Saviour was entirely free from sin, but he had a warfare, and was tempted in all points, like as we are, and yet without sin. "The servant is not above his Lord."
2. "You teach that men can live without sin."
St. Paul says: "Awake to righteousness, and sin not." David says: "Stand in awe, and sin not."St. John says: "He that committeth sin is of the devil " that is, he who knowingly, voluntarily, and habitually sins, is a child of the devil and not a Christian. Again he says: "He that is born of God doth not commit sin." He who commits sin falls from grace, and becomes dead in trespasses and sins. St. Paul says: "God forbid that we should continue in sin." To commit sin, is to "continue in sin." God hates sin, forbids sin, and in the light of gospel provision expects us to live without sin. "The soul that sinneth it shall die."
3. "If any were entirely sanctified, they would immediately die and go to heaven."
If this is sincere, will the objector tell us how much sins is necessary to keep us alive? and how much holiness we can possess without endangering our lives? According to this, the more wicked a man is the more likely he is to live, while the Bible teaches that "the wicked shall not live out half his days." Where does the Bible teach that men can live no longer, when they are cleansed from all sin, so as to love God with all their hearts? Is perfect love a poisonous and killing thing? It is generally believed that this poor, wicked world is suffering for want of holy men and women, more than any other world to which they can be transferred. If as soon as a man becomes holy he must die and go to heaven, this world is truly in a pitiable condition.
4. "If a soul is entirely sanctified, it no longer needs the blood of Christ." Our Lord says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches;" and, "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine no more can ye, except ye abide in me." "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a (severed) branch, and is withered." This objection implies, that the branch has no longer any need
of being connected with the vine, because it bears much fruit. It takes the same power that saves, to keep. The same light that expels darkness from a room keeps it expelled. If a man should tell you we have no need of the sun now that it is daylight, his argument would be precisely parallel to this objection. (See question 28. )
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