Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Sanctification, What It Will Not Do

by Dr. Quinton J. Everest

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17.

Dr. Quinton J. Everest, was the speaker for Your Worship Hour which was heard around the world for over fifty years. He and Seth Rohrer were two of the founders of Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana and the Everest-Rohrer Chapel pictured above is named in their honor.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." II Corinthians 4:7.


For the past few Sundays we have spoken to you on the subject of sanctification -- what it is, whom it is for, when obtained, and why necessary. I fear there is considerable confusion as to what God accomplishes for us when we are sanctified and filled with His Spirit; therefore, I have felt directed to speak to you on what sanctification does not do, or what God does not perform for us when we are sanctified. There are two dangers; one is to place the standard too low, and the other is to place the standard too high. Placing the standard too high will cause confusion; placing it too low will rob us of God's promised blessing. What we are interested in is knowing exactly what God has to say about this all-important subject of sanctification.


Free Moral Agency


Fundamentally man always has been, and always will be, a free moral agent. God never takes away from man this original quality; in fact, He removes nothing from man by grace that He gave him in creation. We have sometimes heard it said as an objection to sanctification and the Spirit-filled life, that it is an experience which makes it impossible to sin. God has not provided any degree of grace that takes away our possibility to sin; we shall always be free moral agents, which in itself shows that any man may sin, and that any man can sin, but proves also conclusively that no man must sin. I have never heard a reputable minister teach that God has provided an experience of grace that makes it impossible for man to commit sin. Free moral agency has been the inherent right of man since the creation of Adam. God does not destroy this in sanctification. Man still has the power to choose his conduct as he wills to do. The power to choose and the right to obey or disobey are the moral privileges of the sanctified man, as well as the justified man, or even the sinner. To be born of the Spirit, or to be filled with the Spirit, does not mean that I have come into possession of something that it is forever impossible to forfeit under any condition, for it is clearly stated that Jesus Christ became the author of eternal life to them that obey Him, and I am sure that latter part needs to be emphasized -- TO THEM THAT OBEY HIM. (Hebrews 5:9).


The term "eternal life" does not mean that it is an eternal, unconditional possession, but rather expresses the kind of life imparted to us as the gift of God. Eternal life is God's life, spiritual life, divine life. Just as Adam and Eve, who were holy and in the image of God could sin; and just as angels, who were holy and in the very presence of God in a holy Heaven, could sin; just so, they who have been sanctified and filled with the Spirit may again yield to temptation and fall into sin.

Sanctification does not exempt men from temptation, and neither does sanctification destroy the free agency of man and so change him into a machine, making him do the things which he does not desire to do. While God has not provided a state of grace whereby we do not have power to sin, or could not sin if we wanted to, I am glad to say that God has provided something for us that will take the desire to sin out of our hearts and lives and also give us power to overcome in this world.


Neither one who professes to be born again, nor one who professes to be born again and filled with the Spirit, has license or liberty to sin. "He that committeth sin is of the devil." I John 3:8. Men are not primarily admonished to seek sanctification, or seek to be filled with the Spirit, in order to quit sinning. This was taken care of in the new birth-when one was regenerated and justified in God's sight. A man goes out of the sinning business when God regenerates him. Genuine conviction and repentance many times will result in the forsaking and abhorrence of all sin. Someone may be asking, "What then is the advantage of being sanctified?" I would answer, "Much every way." While there is yet the possibility of a man losing this grace out of his heart and committing sin, the inward responses to the temptation of Satan without have ceased in the sanctified soul. Hence the probabilities and liabilities to commit sin are not nearly so great as where there is evil within and a foe without.


When our hearts are cleansed and we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the inward conflict has ended, thus giving us a free hand to cope with the enemy without. If, after God saves us, there is no possibility of falling, why has God given us the admonitions and warnings all through the New Testament, implying this possibility? Peter said, "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." II Peter 1:10.


Paul says, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." I Corinthians 10:12. Again, "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil." I Corinthians 3:6. Here is a warning given as to what bishops should and should not do, and the warning climaxes with, "lest they fall into the condemnation of the devil." Surely a man cannot fall into the condemnation of the devil and remain a child of God. The Apostle plainly declares, "There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 If there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, and this man has fallen into condemnation, surely it is made as plain as the English language can make it, that he is no longer in Christ.


Temptation


In the second place, I want to call your attention to the fact that sanctification does not place the soul beyond temptation. Even though God has filled us with His Spirit, we are human and fallible, thus being susceptible to temptation. Jesus Christ was both human and divine, and therefore susceptible to temptation. God cannot be tempted, neither tempteth He any man; yet we are told that Jesus was tempted in all points, like as we, yet without sin. Why was He tempted like as we? Because, like as we, He was human, having taken upon Himself the human nature which was susceptible to temptation. It was for this reason that the Apostle declared, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when 1 have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." I Corinthians 9:27. We must remember that the sanctified man has all the human elements with which to reckon. He has appetite, passion, human propensities, and human desires. All of these must be kept in their proper and lawful relation. In other words, the body with all its natural desires must be kept in subjection. Though we may be tempted and tried, we can be overcomers in the warfare of grace, because as John says, "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." I John 4:4


We must remember that even though God has saved and sanctified the soul, yet sin continues to exist in the world and will be temptation to the child of God. Also, to the saints, Satan comes as an angel of light. The beast is transformed into the likeness of a lamb. The very elect are deceived if they cease to live in the Spirit, through Whom comes discernment as well as power. God is able to keep us from stumbling and to bring us in the presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy, but we need to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation.


It is by trial and temptation that God proves us and discovers the spirit of our purpose and the fidelity and loyalty of our hearts. As He said to the children of Israel, "The Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no." Deuteronomy 8:2


Not only does He thus prove us, but it is in the hour of temptation that we prove God and demonstrate to others His faithfulness and the reality and power of His saving grace. It is thus as Peter says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7.


As long as there is a devil, we will have temptation. Temptation is that which proceeds from the enemy, but sin is that which proceeds from the individual. The devil works through the intellect, sensibilities, and the will; and so long as you have not willed to sin, you have not transgressed God's law, and can be assured of the fact that you are still God's child; your heart is cleansed, and you are filled with His Spirit.


Let us not be surprised when the devil tempts us. He will do all in his power to drag us down, because the victorious life is the only one that really counts. Every child of God will be tempted, but we can count it all joy, for we are told that the shield of faith is able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)


Mistakes


In the third place sanctification does not guarantee against mistakes. Some have said that those who teach this truth not only claim deliverance from sin, but from all error, limitation, and defect. Such have not understood, or have perverted, the teaching of God's Word on this subject of the Spirit-filled life. Christian perfection or sanctification is not infallibility. It does not deify men; it does not rob us of humanity, but sanctifies us. A clean heart does not imply a perfect head. So long as we are in this world, there will be unavoidable errors and imperfections of judgment. A mistake is that which you do because you do not know better. Sin is that which you do when you do know better. Many have confused mistakes and sins, and cast away their confidence. We may be perfectly honest and sincere, and yet err in judgment. Having wrong premises, we may arrive at wrong conclusions, even though the heart is pure and the motive right.

In Matthew 5:48, we read that Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." It must be remembered that here He speaks of the perfection of love. Our hearts may be perfect in love, and yet our powers of discrimination may be at fault. Thus, it is evident that though the heart is perfect toward God, the work of God in the soul is perfect, and the experience of heart cleansing is without fault -- our ethics may not be perfect because of limited light and lack of keen discrimination.


As I have said, the Bible demands perfection, but we must remember that there are different standards of perfection. The highest state that we know anything about is absolute perfection. None but God lives in this realm. Then there is another standard of perfection that is called angelic perfection. There is still another, which is much lower, called Adamic perfection. Finally, there is what we call Christian perfection. This is the only kind which we are commanded to attain, but Christian perfection is not expected to exempt us from mistakes. Sanctification is only love made perfect and not judgment made infallible. If a man is faulty in his judgment, he will likely go astray in his conduct, for one cannot do better than he knows.


To be filled with the Spirit does not carry with it the gift of omniscience, thus making infallibility an impossible fruit of the sanctified life. Someone has said that there are only three classes that never make any mistakes; those who are dead, those yet unborn, and those who have never done anything. I am sure, of course, that you are not among the first two classifications, and I trust that you are not one of those who have never done anything. Therefore, if you are saved and filled with God's Spirit, there is certainly a possibility of making a mistake, but we can be assured that God will not hold this against us, and we can go on serving Him faithfully, having His smile of approval upon our lives.


Maturity


The fourth thought is that of maturity. Here we must remember that there is a difference between purity and maturity. Our hearts may be pure, and yet we are not mature Christians. The new birth brings us into the family of God, making us sons and daughters of the Most High. Sanctification cleanses our hearts and fills us with the Holy Spirit; then we are in a position to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christian maturity comes as a result of growth and development. Purity is an obtainment; maturity is an attainment. Purity is moral cleanness; maturity is moral stature. Purity is the work of destruction; maturity is the work of construction. Purity is a crisis; maturity is a process. To have the heart cleansed and to be filled with the Spirit is not the final goal of the Christian, but is only the gateway into the blessings of the Christian life.


There is always more beyond. God said to Joshua after he had been in the land a long time, "There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." Joshua 13:1 What He said to Joshua, I am sure could be said to each one of us in our Christian life and experience. There remains much land ahead of us in various realms. Much land ahead to be possessed in Christian living; in the Word of God; in Christian work -- especially in the effectiveness of that work; and also in the realm of Christian experience. While sanctified people are likely to make mistakes because of mental infirmities and physical limitations, it is nevertheless true that the liabilities are not so great and the mistakes perhaps not so numerous, owing to the fact that they are walking in the clear light of God, and hence have keener discernment, a clearer vision, and quicker moral perception.


A man working in the clear light of the noon-day sun is certainly not as likely to stumble as he who walks in the shadows. Doubtless because some have failed to distinguish between mistakes and sins, they have concluded they could not live the Spirit-filled life and consequently concluded also that no one else could live this life. We conclude this thought, then, by saying that sanctification does not produce infallibility but a holy heart. We should be thankful to God that we can have a holy heart, and in the sight of God, can live a holy life.


Uniformity


Finally, let me say that sanctification does not produce uniformity; in fact, this would not be, or is not desirable. In John 17 Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified, that they might be one, that the world might believe. This is sanctification, in order to unification, in order to evanglization. When we speak of unity, there are some who seem to think that we mean uniformity, and because they do not find uniformity, they seem to have the idea that we do not have unity, and therefore there is no such thing as sanctification or the Spirit-filled life. This certainly would be a monotonous world in which to live if we would all think alike, act alike, dress alike, and so on. Someone has said that there are Irish "taters," sweet "taters," commentators, but the worst kind of a "tater" is an imitator, and I am sure God does not desire imitators in His kingdom. He does not change our personality; He does not make us like someone else, but He gives us an experience that exactly suits our own personality and our own make-up. To be sure, many times the personality of the individual is beautified and becomes more attractive after an individual is saved and filled with the Spirit, but we should not seek something that will cause us to appear or act like another individual.


Many churches and preachers have seriously impaired their ministry because they insisted on uniformity. Some seem to feel that we must act and talk just as they did on the day of Pentecost, or we have not been filled with the Holy Ghost. The important thing is not to seek something that will make us all speak with other tongues, but to seek that which will enable us to use the tongue we have to the glory of God. We may be well saved and sanctified and yet differ in our abilities. Jesus recognized this in the parable of the talents. The question is not whether we have as many talents as our fellow church member, or a fellow minister, but are the talents which God has given us sanctified and being used for His glory?


I am also sure that those who are filled with the Spirit will not always think alike. Their minds will differ. We will never be able to think alike on the practical things of life. Some will see things in one light, and some in another. We do not think alike doctrinally. We cannot all think alike regarding the doctrine of water baptism, the doctrine of divine healing, the doctrine of the second coming of Christ and so on. I fear that many people have given way to unkind criticism because the opinions of others did not always coincide with theirs. May God help us to have the Christ-like spirit of tolerance that seems to be lacking in many circles.


I am not asking for the broad shallowness that is leading us into compromise, but that we have a Christlike consideration for our fellowmen who are serving the Lord to the best of their ability and who may not always see as we do. I am sure we do well to study carefully the admonition of the Apostle Paul when he says, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-3.


These are a few of the things that sanctification will not do for us. I am sure if we ask God to help us to be sane and sound in our study and interpretation of the scriptures, it will save us much confusion. Paul has said in our text, "Let us remember that we have this treasure in earthen vessels."


We are still human, and the failure to realize this will cause considerable difficulty. Carnality is wilful rebellion. Thank God, provision has been made for that, but humanity is weakness, rather than willfulness. If you are a believer, if you have been born into the family of God, your sin.s are forgiven; but if you are conscious of the fact that there is something in your heart that should not be there, I am glad to tell you that right now God can cleanse you and fill you with His Holy Spirit. If you will right now consecrate your all to God, ask the Holy Spirit to come into your heart, you will be the possessor of a new joy, love, power, and a new effectiveness in your Christian life. May God bless you and help you to follow the leadings of the Spirit is my prayer.


Note: This is the last of a five series radio broadcast originally aired from June 15 - August 3, 1947. Let God Lead Us will be posting all the sermons in the series as follows: 1) Sanctification, what is it? 2) Sanctification, whom is it for? 3) Sanctification, when obtained? 4) Sanctification, why necessary. 5) Sanctification, what it will not do.