Sermon Central
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Entire Sanctification
Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Nov 26, 2018 (message contributor)
Summary: Is Entire Sanctification and a life of holiness possible? Must we always be enslaved to sin? Can we be set free from sin and become slaves of God as Scripture says?
Entire Sanctification
Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together …
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
And our memory refresher verses for today are …
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Please open your Bibles to Colossians 2:20 – 3:11
Last week when we looked at Matthew 3:11 we saw two baptisms; the first dealing with water baptism as a witness to the experience of the second baptism which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Today we want to look further into this Baptism in or with the Holy Spirit in what is often called Christian Holiness and Entire Sanctification.
In the Church of The Nazarene we have 16 Articles of faith. The 10th Article of Faith is entitled, “Christian Holiness and Entire Sanctification.”
Part of the Article of Faith reads this way …
“We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, sub¬sequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of en¬tire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect.”
What? Can that possibly be true? Is it possible that God could act on us after we are saved in such a way that we are made free from the effects of original sin and for us to become completely devoted and obedient to God through perfect love for Him?
Is that even possible???
Let’s go ahead and read Colossians 2:20 – 3:14
Colossians 2:20-23 = trying to live a holy life by following rules
Colossians 3:1-4 = you have been saved but that’s not the end of it … more to come
Colossians 3:5-14 = “put to death” … “rid yourselves of” … “put on love” …
Entire Sanctification is a work of grace. Every step we take with God is a work of grace; God working on our behalf and faith is engaging with His work.
We see God’s grace active in …
Prevenient or calling Grace,
Convicting Grace,
Justifying Grace,
Saving Grace,
Sanctifying Grace and
Sustaining Grace.
Even the ability to be a conduit of God’s Grace to others is in itself an enabling Grace of God.
So, does God’s Grace really make this Christian Holiness even possible????
We as Christians look to the Bible for everything we believe in regard to our Spiritual life.
Sometimes churches base their beliefs or doctrines on church tradition.
Sometimes churches base their beliefs on human reasoning.
Sometimes churches base their doctrines on personal experience.
But, it is God’s Holy Word that is the bedrock of all of our beliefs and doctrines.
Church tradition that has no basis in Scripture must be discarded!
The Bible says that “His (God’s) understanding no one can fathom” so human reasoning is not dependable on its own. (Isaiah 40:28)
And, personal experience is so variable that it cannot be depended up alone.
So if the doctrine of Christian Holiness and Entire sanctification is based on church tradition or personal experience or human reasoning alone without Biblical backup it must be discarded!
But, if the doctrine of Christian Holiness or Entire Sanctification or Heart Purity does have a clear Scriptural basis why aren’t we pursuing it with all of our hearts?
Is there a Scriptural basis???
Let’s just look at a few of our memory Scriptures …
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”
“Sanctify you through and through”
What happens when you throw some water, some sand and some concrete mix into a wheelbarrow, stir it for five seconds and pour it into a form?
When the form is removed the concrete breaks down quickly because it has not been mixed through and through.
The Lord wants to sanctify us through and through!
Or what about Romans 6:22-23
“Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
