02/22-03/03/12 THOUGHTS ON SANCTIFICATION
This is a compilation of thoughts I posted concerning Entire Sanctification.
PURITY, TRUE AND FALSE... (3/3/12)
Do not be robbed of true PURITY of heart and life, just because there is a false form of purity. After all, you would not trash a true treasure just because it has been counterfeited.
Purity Of Heart Required And Provided
There is a Purity of heart that God provides to those who trust Christ. True purity is provided by the gracious work of God's salvation, through Christ. In fact it is a purity of heart that is required if we want to spend eternity with God. I will share a few verses from the Bible that address this subject.
Required
Psalms 24:3-5
(3) Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
(4) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
(5) He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Provided
Acts 15:8-9
(8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
(9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
FALSE PURITY
But first let me mention that there are people who who have the false hope that they can have a right relationship with God, based either on the erroneous belief that they are inherently good or on the false notion that works of righteousness can make them acceptable to God. The fact that there is a false purity of heart does not mean there is not a true purity of heart.
Proverbs 30:12
(12) There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Erroneous Belief In Inherent Goodness
1 John 1:8
(8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
False Notion Of Self Righteous Works
Proverbs 20:9
(9) Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
TRUE PURITY (Redemptive Work Of Salvation)
However, there is a purity (holiness, righteousness, perfection) that God provides for those who trust Christ to deliver them from all sin. God has spoken of this atonement purity in several places. Notice that these verses address the question of, "Purity." There are other verses that address, Holiness, Righteousness, Perfection.
Old Testament
Psalms 18:26
(26) With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
Psalms 73:1
(1) ...Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. (Same Hebrew word as found in Ps. 24:4).
Proverbs 15:26
(26) The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
New Testament
Matthew 5:8
(8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
John 15:2
(2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
1 Timothy 1:5
(5) Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
2 Timothy 2:22
(22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Titus 2:14
(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.
James 4:8
(8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1 Peter 1:22
(22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 3:3
(3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
I realize there are renowned Christian teachers that deny personal purity for believers. They offer long explanations on why these verses do not mean what they say. I have not taken the time to explain God's word. However, if you are confused by the teachings of men on this issue, I will be glad to share with you why God meant what he said.
ARGUE OR ACCEPT... (2/22/12)
I have been reading what some well known apologists, theologians and other Christian leaders have written against the doctrine of holiness (purity) of heart (Entire Sanctification) and holiness of life (Abiding and Walking In the Spirit). It is sad, because they build their arguments against non issues and they lead people away from the "fullness of the blessing" and the "fullness of God." Just as there are false claims and claimants to justification, there are false claims and claimants to holiness of heart and life, but the false does not negate the true. Sadly, most people would rather fight against this doctrine than honestly investigate it.
WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART... (2/27/12)
So, would you rather have God actually deliver you from all sin in this present world or would you rather God unilaterally elect you unconditionally to salvation? Your preference will not influence God's way of salvation, but it will tell something about your own heart. If you would rather be delivered from all sin than be unconditionally elect, then God has Good News for you.
Launch Out and Hold Fast,
Pastor David L. Gould
