Reasons Every Christian Should Be Entirely Sanctified Part 1

REASONS WHY EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD BE ENTIRELY SANCTIFIED

140. Why should every Christian possess perfect love?

1. Because, with out it, we can neither do, nor be all that God commands. His greatest and iterated command is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." We certainly cannot love God with all our heart, while indwelling sin remains in it. He commands us to "rejoice evermore," to "love our enemies," to "pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks," to "reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin," to "be clothed with humility," to "be filled with the spirit," and to "be holy," all of which is impossible without a

pure heart. The commands enjoining holiness are just as numerous, positive, and imperative as any in the Bible.

2. Because without entire sanctification it is impossible to be free from indwelling sin, the rudiments of the "carnal mind," which is enmity against God. These disturbing, discordant elements -- "roots of bitterness -- will spring up and trouble us. The death of the "old man," the "body of sin," by crucifixion, mortification, or destruction, is imperative. It is commanded: "Mortify, therefore, your members, which are upon the earth." "That our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed." Then grace will purify every thought, and regulate every desire, and sweeten every disposition.

3. Because, without it, the remaining evils of our unsanctified hearts will often prevail in our passions and propensities, and our Christian characters will be marred and defective. While any forces remain in the heart, antagonistic to grace, the Christian is not fully prepared for the conflicts and race before him. Our privilege and duty are clearly seen in the declaration: "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blame."

4. Because, if our hearts are not cleansed from inbred sin, the work of grace will be so interrupted and obstructed by it, that we cannot become "rooted and grounded in love." No man can become thoroughly settled and established, like a tree whose roots strike deep and extend without obstruction in every direction, while his heart remains uncleansed.

"That ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

5. Because, without Christian purity our growth in grace will be obstructed and unsteady. Christian purity secures the best possible ground for rapid growth in love, knowledge, and power. While only partly saved, like ancient Israel, our Christian life will be unsteady, and we shall take a zigzag course in the wilderness, object to all the workings and dangers of "indwelling sin." "Let us lay aside every weight, and the (inbred) sin, which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience (steadiness) the race that is set before us."

6. Because, without entire sanctification our knowledge of personal salvation is necessarily superficial, as we know only in part. Without an experimental knowledge, we cannot know personally that "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Some things can be known only by experience. The pure in heart have the "witness of the Spirit," and a consciousness of full salvation. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine."

7. Because, without holiness we cannot be free from distressing convictions of moral deficiency -- that we are not what we ought to be, in view of the possibilities and necessities of the Christian life. Christ has said, "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; " and, "That servant, which knew his Lord's will and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."

8. Because, without purity our communion with God will inevitably be intermittent. None but the pure in heart are free from the disturbing antagonisms to grace. Inbred sin interrupts communion with God. It is only the pure in heart who have constant fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

"What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God."

9. Because, without perfect love we cannot be entirely saved from tormenting, slavish, unsanctified fear. "Perfect love (alone) casteth out fear; " and he that is not in possession of this grace has some "fear that hath torment." "God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. There is no fear in love. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

10. Because, without perfect love we cannot enter fully into gospel rest, and possess undisturbed peace of mind. Purity alone can secure soul rest -- freedom from all the disquieting and jarring discords of indwelling sin. "We, which have believed, do enter into rest." In this rest the tumult of the heart is hushed in peace. The work of righteousness (holiness) shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever."

11. Because, purity is essential to "full assurance of faith," and a continuous witness of justification. Inbred sin darkens our spiritual vision, often obscures the clear light of justification, and is fruitful of darkness, doubts, and fears. Conscious confidence in Christ and a conscious neglect of privilege and duty cannot coexist in our hearts. Clear light and the witness of the Spirit cannot be steadily retained without possessing or seeking full conformity to all the will of God. "Ye are my friends," said Jesus, "if you do whatsoever I command."

12. Because it is the end and aim of the whole Christian system. Holiness is the grand object and aim of the gospel economy. For this purpose Christ died, the Holy Scriptures were given, the means of grace instituted, and the work and agency of the Holy Ghost furnished. "And holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."