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Entire Sanctification
We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God,
subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free
from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of
entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made
perfect. It is wrought by the baptism with the Holy Spirit,
and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart
from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy
Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire
sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought
instantaneously by faith, preceded by entire consecration; and
to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.
This experience is also known by various terms representing
its different phases, such as “Christian perfection,” “perfect
love,” “heart purity,” “the baptism with the Holy
Spirit,” “the fullness of the blessing,” and “Christian
holiness.”
We believe that there is a marked distinction between a
pure heart and a mature character. The former is obtained in
an instant, the result of entire sanctification; the latter is
the result of growth in grace. We believe that the grace of
entire sanctification includes the impulse to grow in grace.
However, this impulse must be consciously nurtured, and
careful attention given to the requisites and processes of
spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of
character and personality. Without such purposeful endeavor
one’s witness may be impaired and the grace itself
frustrated and ultimately lost.
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3;
Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17; John 7:37-39; 14:15-23;
17:6-20; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9; Romans 6:11-13, 19; 8:1-4,
8-14; 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 6:14—7:1; Galatians 2:20;
5:16-25; Ephesians 3:14-21; 5:17-18, 25-27; Philippians
3:10-15; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Hebrews
4:9-11; 10:10-17; 12:1-2; 13:12; 1 John 1:7, 9)
(“Christian
perfection,” “perfect love”: Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew
5:43-48; 22:37-40; Romans 12:9-21; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 13;
Philippians 3:10-15; Hebrews 6:1; 1 John 4:17-18)
(“Heart
purity”: Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3)
(“Baptism with the Holy Spirit”: Jeremiah 31:31-34;
Ezekiel 36:25-27; Malachi 3:2-3; Matthew 3:11-12; Luke
3:16-17; Acts 1:5; 2:1-4; 15:8-9)
(“Fullness of the blessing”:
Romans 15:29)
(“Christian holiness”: Matthew 5:1—7:29;
John 15:1-11; Romans 12:1—15:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians
4:17—5:20; Philippians 1:9-11; 3:12-15; Colossians 2:20—3:17;
1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:7-8; 5:23; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Hebrews
10:19-25; 12:14; 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:1-11;
3:18; Jude 20-21) |
