The Doctrine of Holiness

In the history of our modern holiness movement there is a Trinitarian statement which is common but valuable. Who was first responsible for it I do not know. But it analyzes and classifies holiness truth under three heads: holiness as a doctrine of Scripture, holiness as a heart experience, and holiness as a life. Under these three statements there is room for a very thorough setting forth of the whole truth. It is our purpose to bring a series of chapters following this outline. We shall be true to the Word and to the facts as revealed therein, and to the experience of those facts in our lives. We shall seek to show the advantages of the experience in every phase of our total living.

First, the doctrine as set forth in the Word of God. Please observe it is a doctrine or truth of Scripture. As such it is declared to be in the will of the sovereign Father. "This is the will of God, even your sanctification" I Thess. 4:3. "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" I Thess. 4:7. "By the which will (the will of the Father) we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" Heb. 10:10. "To them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Christ Jesus" Jude 1. "According as He (God the Father) hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him" Ephesians 1:4.

Secondly, that which the Father hath chosen and willed concerning the character His people are to bear, He hath provided and made available by the death of His Son. It is, therefore, associated with the shed blood of the Son. The will of the Father is accomplished through the provision of the death of His Son: "Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ." "Wherefore, Jesus also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate" Hebrews 13:12. "Who gave himself for us that he might purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works" Titus 2:14. The experience prepares us spiritually and motivates unto every good work. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church (twice-born children of God) and gave himself for it, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word (the symbol of regeneration), 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" Eph. 5:2527. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" I John 1:7.

The Father wills it, the Son provides it, and that which the Father wills and the Son provides the Holy Spirit is given in his sanctifying fullness to realize unto us. That is, by the direct agency of the Holy Spirit the experience is wrought in us and made real and effective. "That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost" Romans

15:11. "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience" I Peter 1:2. "God hath from the beginning chosen you unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" II Thess. 2:13. That is, in sanctification wrought by the Holy Ghost. God's chosen and established method in applying salvation is by the work of the Holy Ghost.

"For by one offering, he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" Hebrews 10:14. "Follow peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see God" Hebrews 12:14.

That is the definite sanctification the Father authorizes by His will and decree, provided for meritoriously by the blood of Christ and made real by the promise of the Father in the Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost.

The Bible setting of this great truth makes the experience a vital part of our salvation. It is, therefore, clearly taught that it is received, as is every part of salvation, wholly by faith. In Acts

26:18 where we have the record of Paul's ministry, the scope of it climaxes in this truth: "To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Here we have the whole purpose of the Gospel declared from turning a sinner to God, first for forgiveness and then for sanctification. Both facts obtained by faith; both parts of one full salvation. That is the basis for Mr. Wesley's speaking of sanctification as the "second blessing properly so-called. Not simply being blest, but obtaining the blood-provided cleansing of all indwelling sin, a definite part of the one salvation. The Bible setting of this doctrine makes it indeed "The Central Idea of the Gospel." This is the ultimate moral objective of the whole revelation of God, and His atoning provision for man, His moral creature.

Truly, He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us (as redeemed holy ones) unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" Eph. 1:4-6. Glory to His matchless grace forever and forever. Amen.