Doctrine 10. Entire sanctification.

TODAY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WE SHALL BE STUDYING IN DETAILS,  BIBLE DOCTRINE 10: ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

BIBLE DOCTRINE 10: ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

God’s Word teaches:

That entire sanctification is a definite act of God’s grace, subsequent to the New Birth, by which the believer’s heart is purified and made holy. 

Works, struggle, or suppression cannot attain it progressively, but it is obtained by faith in the sanctifying blood of Jesus Christ. 

Holiness of life and purity of heart are central to Christian living –

 Luke 1:74,75; John 17:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3,7,8; 5:22-24; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11; 10:10,14; 13:11,12; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:14-16.

Luke  1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,  1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

John  17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1 Thessalonians  4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:  4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.  4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians  5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.  5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Ephesians  5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  5:27 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 blemish.

Hebrews  2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Hebrews  10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Hebrews  13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Titus  2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Hebrews  12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Peter  1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The doctrine of entire sanctification is central in the mind of the Godhead.

 The doctrine is at the hub or nucleus of Christian teaching.

 What then is the meaning of the word, Sanctification?

 Sanctification is an English word which means: 

to make sacred or holy; 

to set apart for holy or religious use;

 to make free from sin; 

to cleanse from moral corruption and pollution;

 the act of God’s grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to supreme love to God; 

to purify in order to prepare for divine service and for partaking of holy things; 

to free from the power of sin; being set free from the power of cancelled sin. 

A gracious work of the Holy Spirit, not of works, not of growth, not of death, not of purgatory.

 God has the ability to destroy sin. 

Sanctification is an operation of the Spirit of God on those who are already in Christ.

 They who are effectually called and regenerated having a new heart and a new spirit created in them need to be further sanctified through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, His word and His Spirit.

Sanctification is an instantaneous experience given to a believer to enable him cleave to God without the tendency to want to go astray or go away from the Lord. 

It is not a protracted or tedious process of growth.

 You do not grow INTO sanctification, but you can grow IN sanctification. 

We can never grow into what God must of necessity do for us. 

Again, sanctification is not brought about by death. 

To assume that is to say that death is no longer our last enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26).

 Neither are we cleansed from the original stain (the nature we brought into the world) through Water Baptism.

 Entire sanctification is not of works, but is the work of God, divinely wrought by the Holy Spirit.

 ‘Holiness’, ‘Perfection’ and ‘Sanctification’ are the definitive terms used interchangeably. 

Holiness means entire freedom from sin, wholeness, spiritual health, moral integrity and purity.

 Our health means the absence of sickness.

 Therefore, holiness means the absence of sin (Luke 1:74,75; Psalm 29:2; 93:5; 1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14).

 ‘Perfection’ means that which is not lacking in what it ought to have. 

The perfection, which God requires and accomplishes in those who earnestly ask in faith, is the purifying of our hearts; loving every believer as Christ loves us, and loving our neighbours as ourselves.

 Nothing less than this is desirable and nothing more is required (Colossians 1:28). 

Entire sanctification is described as ‘clean heart’ or ‘pure heart’. 

This descriptive term shows the experience in a way one can understand in his heart (Psalm 24:3,4; Matthew 5:8). 

Psalms  24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

The Bible teaches us that all of God’s children can be like Jesus in separation from the world, in purity and in love.

 We must be inwardly pure and peaceful otherwise be left defeated. 

A blameless life is a life in which God sees nothing to condemn. 

We may not be blameless to our contemporaries, but we can be blameless before God. 

Matthew  10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Luke  14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

When God examines a sanctified heart He finds all that is possessed to be in harmony with Himself.

 The heart of the sanctified is a throne on which God reigns without a rival; an empire wherein He exercises unchecked, undisputed dominion and authority.

How does the earnest seeker get sanctified? There must first be a definite separation and withdrawal from all sins and appearance of evil, immorality, and all unclean things (1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Timothy 2:21). 

1 Thessalonians  5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

2 Corinthians  6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2 Timothy  2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

There must, secondly, be ENTIRE Consecration. 

This is giving ourselves unto God in a vivid manner.

 First, we give ALL we are to God. 

Here we no longer lay any claim on ourselves (Luke 9:60; Romans 12:1,2).

Romans  12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 Second, we give our body unto the glory of God, not for any selfish motive or purpose in view, but with the consideration and knowledge that we are bought with the precious blood of Jesus.

1 Corinthians  6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 Third, we give OURSELVES FOR SERVICE (John 13:12-17). We should not stress our being priests and kings unto God but also being servants.

John  13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.  13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

 Here Jesus shows how to consecrate and dedicate ourselves for service. Washing the feet was the work of a slave. 

So, we must learn to do the meanest job in the midst of believers and not waiting for compliments. 

Fourth, we must die to self

. “Verily, verily I say unto you, EXCEPT a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit….” (John 12:24,25). 

John  12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Consecration is coming before God with our past, present, future, personality, possession, wisdom, talents, intellect, money, influence, position in the family and in the church and dedicating all to God.

 We separate and dedicate ourselves to God, 

He readily willing to do His part and give us the definite experience of Entire Sanctification. 

This is the operation of God, a definite act of God’s grace in a believer’s heart (Hebrews 2:11; 13:12,13).

Hebrews  2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Hebrews  13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

By what means of grace does the believer get into this experience?

 The means of sanctification includes: a) The word of God (John 15:3); 

John  15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

John  17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

b) The blood of Jesus (Hebrews 13:12,13)

Hebrews  13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

; c) Faith in the Lord (Acts 26:18);

Acts  26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

 d) The Spirit of God, 

Rom 15:16

That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

and) God Himself (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

1 Thessalonians  5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We do not get sanctified by studying the word alone.

 We need to pray in faith.

 We must believe in its possibility before we can ask in faith. 

Also, we must realize that it is the will of God that we are made holy (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 1 John 5:14,15). 

Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. 

Holiness here is not just the judicial kind of holiness, but the practical holiness of which believers are partakers because they have surrendered their entire life unto God through Christ.

 This holiness does something in our hearts that makes us live right.

 We must desire it (Mark 11:24), and ask with a genuine burning desire.

Mark  11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

What should be our response to this doctrine?

 The Bible teaches that all believers can be wholly sanctified (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

1 Thessalonians  5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We should not be guilty of taking away from the word.

 This teaching places a great and solemn responsibility upon all preachers of the word to teach this doctrine;

 be a partaker of the experience (1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:6), 

2 Timothy  2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

and endeavour to understand and know how to present it by study (2 Timothy 2:15; Titus 1:9; John 7:46);

2 Timothy  2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 faithfully and effectively teach all believers without fear or compromise, 

for in all things of the Spirit, we should not withhold or withdraw the truth from our congregation (2 Timothy 2:2). 

2 Timothy  2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Let us encourage all believers to partake of the blessing. 

This gracious Christian experience could be kept all through life provided that the recipient keeps abiding in Christ, watching, and praying (John 15:4; Mark 13:32-35).

 Having been warned to hold fast that which is good, the only reasonable thing for the Sanctified Believer to do is to stop grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30,31);

Ephesians  4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 Refuse to relapse into bitterness and harshness of spirit, never engage in unprofitable conversation (Ephesians 5:3,4),

Ephesians  5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;  5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

 unkind criticisms, evil speaking and fault finding, self indulgence and prejudice, impatience, indolence and negligence, uncontrolled temperament, self- dependence and self-management and interest in objects of temptation.

Why should any Christian doubt the possibility of complete deliverance from sin? 

Jesus should not be limited as a Saviour. 

Complete deliverance from sin is Christ’s purpose (Titus 2:11-15). 

Titus  2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The white lily grows up from mire, but with no dust on it. 

Christians can grow up in this dirty world yet without spot on their lives (Romans 12:1,2). 

Romans  12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is our privilege to be totally separated from the evil of the world. 

It is a promise from God that we should be purged and sanctified. “

Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Beloved brethren, truly you have been saved. 

But have you been sanctified? 

Sanctification is a compulsion. 

Because without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. 

Come now and Jesus through His blood shall sanctify you. 

Hebrews  13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

You must remember never ever forget.  Sanctification is one of the twenty two doctrines, Jesus said you should hold  fast , till He comes.

Revelation  2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Revelation  3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

It is a major requisite to help you in particular to be ready for the imminent rapture.

The good Lord shall help you in particular in Jesus name.

LET US PRAY.