An Instantaneous Work

Most Christians believe in the need for holiness of heart. There is a wide difference of opinion, however, as to when and how it is received. Some believe that the individual is sanctified wholly at the time of conversion. Others say it is impossible to obtain such an experience in this world and that it is something that God will do in the individual's heart at the moment of death. Others believe that it is attainable, but only after death, in a place called "purgatory," where souls will be purified and made fit for heaven. A great group believe that holiness is attainable in this life, but in a progressive way. That is, a diligent Christian can grow better every day, attaining a certain degree of holiness, even though never perfect. All of these doctrines are inadequate and none of them can be proved by the Scriptures.

The Bible teaches us that sanctification is an immediate or instantaneous work and that it is an experience to be enjoyed in this present life. And furthermore, it teaches us that not only is it possible to be sanctified in this life, but it is indispensable to present and final salvation. Sanctification is an instantaneous work wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit in the justified person whereby the heart is purified from the corruption of his sinful nature, and the Holy Spirit takes up His abode within. "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (II Cor, 1:21-22). "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13).

"Insist everywhere on full redemption received now by faith alone. Press the instantaneous blessing," wrote John Wesley to his brother Charles.

In Gal. 5:24, sanctification is associated with the idea of death: "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." No matter how long a person is in the state of coma, physically, when he dies it is an instantaneous event. Some who seek holiness receive it in a short time; others need months and even years. Such delays are not caused by God's reluctance, but rather are the result of some deficiency on the part of the individual. It may be that his consecration is not complete, or it may be that his faith is not strong enough. We have to distinguish between what we may call the "state of coma," that is, the time between when the individually starts seeking holiness and God's work in answer to his request, and the act itself of sanctification. No matter how long the believer may seek, when God sanctifies him He does it instantaneously,

Of course, when the person has been sanctified wholly, that is not the end. On the contrary, it is the beginning of a life of holiness where he will have room to grow and mature in the Christian life. "Holiness is a life to be lived as well as an experience to be attained." We cannot expect from a person who has recently been sanctified the same progress and maturity as would be expected from a person who has walked for thirty or forty years in the experience of holiness. However, if both have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, the heart of the one is as pure as that of the other.

When the people of Israel went across the Jordan, it was not the end of their experience in Canaan. They still had challenging years ahead and most important events were to take place during their conquest of the land. They still had to fight against the "giants," But they had the assurance that God was with them! As long as they followed Him, Israel prevailed. This is also the secret of victory and growth in the sanctified experience.

Dr. Samuel Young once wrote: "It is a mistaken notion, and has no formulation in the Word of God, to suggest that entire sanctification marks the end of spiritual progress and excludes further improvement." Peter exhorts Christians to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Pet. 3: 18). "Sanctification is more than a negation of sin; it has an unlimited positive side in which moral health promotes growth, strength and enlargement," wrote J. A. Wood.

C. W. Ruth declared: "No experience, however glorious, should be considered as a finality. While it is impossible to grow into sanctification, there is a limitless, endless, boundless growth in grace after sanctification. Indeed sanctification is the necessary antecedent of growth in grace."

Dr. W. T. Purkiser says: "Entire sanctification is not the end-it is really the beginning. It is not a terminal; it is a starting point . . . The surest indication one has missed the true meaning of Christian holiness is the attitude of 'arrival,' of complacency and self-satisfaction . . . Sanctification is the beginning of a lifetime of growth . . . It is true, God's sanctifying work is complete in a moment of time, but ours isn't. For the human side of holiness means not only consecration before cleansing, but commission afterward."

Do you not think that our influence as Christians would be limited if sanctification would be the end of our Christian experience? Some have thought of Canaan as a figure of heaven, but this is wrong, because heaven is a place of rest, where there are no battles or trials; a place where we will be forever in the presence of our Lord. Let us go across our spiritual Jordan and let us live lives of holiness. It is true that we will have many "giants" to fight, and many "enemies" to destroy, but we are encouraged by the knowledge that God is on our side! The victory will be for us, the glory for God, and the blessing for those around us.