BLJ: Opponents of entire sanctification use extremism and distortion of the teaching to either hide their sin or out of ignorance. Today's reading will assist people who are really searching.
ERRORS CONCERNING SCRIPTURAL HOLINESS
Some have thought that persons wholly sanctified could never sin, were now beyond the reach of temptation, freed from mistakes, no more to be plagued with thoughts of sin, loved and appreciated by all for their Christlikeness and in such a state of perfection as to exclude further spiritual growth.
This is not scriptural. We must now, briefly, think through these six serious errors to the truth.
1. Certainly, the sanctified may sin; for the experience does not destroy one's free will. Sanctification does not remove the possibility of sinning but greatly reduces the probability of sinning.
2. Certainly, the sanctified will be tempted. Therefore, one must be constantly on guard to detect and resist the temptations.
3. Certainly, the sanctified may make mistakes. These must be corrected or they may lead to serious difficulties. Sanctification does not dehumanize one. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," said Paul (II Cor. 4:7). The saints are likened here to frail earthen vessels. The treasure Paul refers to is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are finite, only God is infinite. Do not throw your "eraser" away.
4. A thought of sin is not a sinful thought unless the heart makes the wrong response to it. Satan will attempt to bring the garbage of unsavory thoughts into our minds. The sanctified "resist the devil" (James 4:7), and thus the mind and heart remains without the stain of moral corruption.
5. It is foolish to assume all will love and appreciate the sanctified because they are Christlike. To be sure, the God fearing will; but Scripture teaches... "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Tim. 3:12). A holy life is often the source of irritation and hate to the ungodly.
6. Christian perfection, is insisted upon by the Lord Jesus, (Matt. 5:48). It is urged upon us and testified to by the New Testament writers. Christian perfection, therefore, is possible for weak and imperfect people. It is not to be thought of as mental perfection, physical perfection, or perfection of performance. It is always the perfection of love, desire and motive.
Sadly, many sincere persons have confused sanctification with glorification. The first is to be obtained by obedient faith in this life; the latter, after one has put on immortality.
In the beautiful prayer of John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples,
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17).
The doctrine of entire sanctification is so adequately expressed in Article thirteen of the Articles of Religion of the Free Methodist Church that we can do no better than state it here.
"Entire sanctification is that work of the Holy Spirit, subsequent to regeneration, by which the fully consecrated believer, upon exercise of faith in the atoning blood of Christ, is cleansed in that moment from all inward sin and empowered for service. The resulting relationship is attested by the witness of the Holy Spirit and is maintained by obedience and faith. Entire sanctification enables the believer to love God with all the heart, soul, strength and mind, and his neighbor as himself, and prepares him for greater growth in grace." [1]
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