BLJ: Today, we continue asking the question, "What is Entire Sanctification?" These specific answers will assist you to defend the doctrine to others, if God has you testify on the subject.
8. In what sense is this sinful nature or "old man" destroyed?
In a very real sense. As light dispels darkness, as harmony abolishes discord, as a new principle of life destroys an old life principle -- "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2) -- as a higher affection supplants a lower affection, as the enactment of a new law makes void or destroys an old law, as order replaces disorder, so the "body of sin is destroyed" (Romans 6:6) by the fullness of the Holy Spirit within our hearts.
9. Is there any provision for the suppression of this old nature of sin so that the child of God is assured of continuous victory without being entirely sanctified or cleansed?
There is only one provision made for this sinful nature, that is cleansing. There is not one suggestion given in the Scriptures that would permit a child of God to retain this sinful nature within and still be a victorious Christian. Note the terms of complete deliverance used in the Scriptures: "The old man is crucified" ... "The body of sin might be destroyed" (Romans 6:6); "put off the old man" (Eph. 4:22); "Made free from the law of sin" (Romans 8:3); "purge out the old leaven" (I Cor. 5:7); "cleanseth from all sin" (John 1:7); "purifying their hearts by faith" (Acts 15:9). There is no hint whatsoever of suppression, but emphatic statements of removal or destruction.
10. What then is the inner condition of the sanctified child of God?
He is pure in heart through the merits of the blood of Jesus, his nature is brought into full conformity to the nature and will of God, his formerly disordered soul is brought into a state of soul health or holiness, he is wholly the Lord's because he has made a full heart dedication to Him, he is holy in heart because of the full indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because his inner nature is harmonized with God and His will he has found the one true life center around which he may organize a satisfying and happy life.
11. In what sense may this experience be called perfect?
It is perfect because the sanctified child is brought into a perfect harmonious relationship with God through the cleansing of his heart from all sin. It is perfect, for all inward hindrances to love are removed so that the sanctified individual can love God perfectly without the presence of tormenting fear. It is perfect because he is delivered from the inner conflict between the flesh and Spirit by the indwelling fullness of the Holy Spirit and he is conscious of a state of inner or perfect peace, and by obedience to the Spirit this spiritual union and peace is maintained. In no sense is this physical perfection, mental perfection, perfection where one is free from mistakes, or perfection to where one cannot sin. It is the perfect harmonizing of the inner life of the Christian with the nature of God. But since this treasure is possessed in "earthen vessels" (II Cor. 4:7) the individual may not give perfect expression to this inner grace.
12. Does this experience of entire sanctification place one where he may not fall or backslide or where he may not be tempted?
It does not. As long as one lives in this world he will be subject to temptation. But temptation is not sin, rather it is the solicitation or enticement to sin. Jesus was tempted but sinless. As long as one may be tempted he is liable to fall or backslide. Entire sanctification does not remove the possibility of backsliding. It does, however, bring one to a place of establishment in holiness where the possibilities to backsliding are greatly reduced. It should be a very rare exception for one to backslide who has been genuinely sanctified.
13. Is this experience of entire sanctification an instantaneous experience, or is it to be reached through a process of development?
The experience itself is an instantaneous experience. It is obtained by faith, and anything so obtained is done the moment the person believes. The approach to the experience may be gradual in that the child of God walks in the light and thus brings himself up to the place of seeking this experience; also he may gradually approach it through a carefully planned consecration; but the crisis will be instantaneous when faith in the blood of Jesus brings complete cleansing from all sin.
14. Does it mean that one has reached the limit of Christian growth because he is entirely sanctified?
By no means. Through entire sanctification he has had the inner sin problem fully settled. He is then in a position to make more rapid progress in the Christian life, because that sinful nature which hindered Christian development and which kept some in the state of perpetual spiritual babyhood is cleansed from his heart. Purity of heart, or entire sanctification is not maturity of Christian growth.
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