This morning I want to share with you something that is one of the fundamental messages of the Wesleyan doctrine. Really, it is what sets us apart from many other churches and types of theology. It’s one of the distinguishing tenets, if not the distinguishing tenet, of our heritage. I’m talking about the doctrine of holiness or entire sanctification.
What is holiness? What does it mean to be entirely sanctified? In the year 1741 John Wesley, the founder of Methodism and the man for whom our church is named, preached a sermon entitled “Christian Perfection.” In that message Wesley defined holiness in this way: 1. Purity of intention, dedicating all the life to God; 2. All the mind which was in Christ, enabling us to walk as Christ walked; the renewal of the heart in the image of God; 3. Loving God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves.
As Wesleyans we believe that all men have sinned. There is not a single individual in this room that can claim to be sinless. Paul says, We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And the wages of sin is death. All of us have sinned and if we got what we deserved we would be sentenced to an eternity in hell. But God has made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. In that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. We can have our slate wiped clean because Jesus already paid the price for our sin. We can be saved from our sins and from our rightful punishment. This is called salvation. It’s God’s work of grace in the lives of sinners.
But we, as Wesleyans, also believe that there is a second work of grace. This second work is called entire sanctification. And this morning I want to share with you about this work. I want to share with you about holiness.
C.S. Lewis once said, “How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing, it is irresistible.” Many people feel as though this doctrine is too old fashioned. The only people who believe this way are just a bunch of old fogies, a bunch of holy rollers. It’s a hard doctrine to understand. It’s a work that is seemingly difficult to attain. It’s not worth the effort. But I would tend to agree with Lewis, when you meet the real thing, it’s irresistible.
To be honest with you, though, I have never once dedicated an entire message to this subject. While I do believe whole-heartedly in this doctrine, and I have preached about it in other messages, it is one that, at least for me, has been difficult to know how to explain in a way that’s easy to understand. I have been somewhat intimidated by this doctrine. But for quite some time now I have felt like God has been leading me to preach a sermon on this topic. And so, this morning, that is exactly what I’m going to do. And I am praying that the Holy Spirit will take the words that I feel like God has given me and make them plain to all or our ears and hearts, and that He would use this message to do powerful things in each of our lives.
I. The Call To Holiness
The first thing that I want to talk to you about is the call to holiness. Let me draw your attention to 1 Pet. 1:13-16… Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Paul is quoting the words of God found in Lev. 11:44 where He says, For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy. Jesus also said these words in Matt. 5:48… Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. There is a call to holiness. God commands His people to be holy people.
You know, there is not much more that we need to know than that. God said it. That settles it. Period. I don’t know how many times as a kid demanding a reason why I couldn’t do something I heard my mom or dad say the words, “Because I said so.” Anybody else every heard that response? Any parents here that use that response? Yeah, “Because I said so.” “Mom, why can’t I stay out till midnight tonight?” “Because I said so, son.” You didn’t have to hear much more than that. You may demand a better answer than that, and it may be good to give a better answer than that sometimes. But it was settled just because mom said so.
God said, “Be holy.” God demands that his people be holy. We don’t need any other reason to seek holiness than that. He said that’s what He wants for His people. That’s what we should be. But there is more reason. Why should we seek holiness? The reason is found right in that same passage. We should seek to be holy, because God is holy. We sang about His holiness this morning. God is a holy God and when He created man He created man in His own image. He desires that we, His people, seek to be like Him. He designed us to resemble Him, to reflect His image. Paul says in Eph. 5:1, Be imitators of God. God wants us to love others as He loves them. He wants us to exhibit humility as He did. He wants us to be willing to sacrifice just like He was willing. And He wants us to be holy because He is holy.
But there is even more reason than that. Holiness prepares us for heaven. You see, no sin of any kind will enter heaven, whether inward or outward. John said in Rev. 21:27, And there shall in no wise enter into that city anything that defileth. Heb. 12:14 says, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
What are those verses saying? Are they saying that anyone who has not received the second work of grace, entire sanctification, is not prepared for heaven? Absolutely not. You are made a son and an heir the moment you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. When you get saved you are on your way to heaven. But because God is a holy God and because heaven is a holy place, no one may enter there without first being cleansed and made holy as well. No trace of sin can be admitted into that place.
Dr. Dale Yocum says it this way… “In justification a person receives a right to heaven and an eternal inheritance. However, he does not receive fitness for heaven so long as sin remains within his nature. God’s plan is that a man should not only have his right to heaven, but fitness for it as well.” So when you are saved you are a made a child of God and if you died today you would go to heaven; the Bible teaches that clearly. But it also teaches very clearly that holiness is a prerequisite to heaven.
Now, right now some of you may be scratching your heads wondering what in the world this poor preacher is talking about. So holiness is required to get into heaven, but you can get into heaven without it? Pretty confusing, isn’t it? Well, I think it becomes a little bit clearer when we read the verse in 1 John 1:7 which says if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
God’s plan for His children is for them to not only be saved from their sins, but also be made holy. And because that is His will, He will, in His time, lead His children into that work of grace. For some of us here this morning, His timing may be today. For others He may lead you this way at another time. But whenever He chooses to lead in this direction, He will be faithful to show His children their need to be made holy. He will be faithful to show them His will for them to be made holy. And it’s at that point when your readiness for heaven will be determined.
If, once the Holy Spirit has given you light about or showed you your need for holiness; if at that point you reject His leadings you do risk losing your place in the Lamb’s Book of Life. But if, at that point, you begin your quest to be made holy, even before the point of entire sanctification, you are walking in the light and you still have fellowship with Jesus. The main question is not “Have you made your two trips to an altar?” The question is, “Are you being obedient to God in every area of your life?” Walk in the light, as He is in the light.
So there is a call to holiness. We must be made holy because God expects it of His people. We must be made holy because God Himself is holy and we are to be like Him. And we are to be made holy because it will make us fit for heaven.
II. The Need For Holiness
Not only do we see the call to holiness, but there is also our need for holiness. Eph. 4:22-24 says, Put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. In the letter to the Ephesians Paul was speaking to Christians. In chapter 2 he says, You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Later in that same chapter he says, By grace you have been saved through faith. He was writing to Christians, people who had been saved, and yet he was telling them that they still needed to put off the old man, as he calls it, and put on the new.
You see, as I stated before, everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior has been given the inheritance of eternal life. They have been forgiven of their sinful acts. But still inside of that forgiven Christian remains the sin nature.
What is the sin nature? It is that thing inside of us that causes us to sin. Let me ask you, have you ever had to teach a child to lie? Have you ever had to teach them to disobey? What about throwing fits? Have you ever had to teach a child how to pout and throw things if they don’t get their way? No. Why? Because that is something that comes from inside of them. It’s because there is something that each one of us is born with that is called the sin nature.
There are different terms that are used to designate this sin nature throughout Scripture. For instance, in Hosea 11:7 God says, My people are bent to backsliding from me. In James 4:8 it says, Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. You see, even when we get saved there is still something inside of us that draws us towards sin. You can call it a bent towards backsliding. You can call it being double-minded. You can call it the old man. It doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s there. And it doesn’t go away when you get saved.
Let me ask you Christians a question. Since you’ve gotten saved have you still found it easy to slip back into sin? Do you still struggle with the same things that God has saved you from? Do you still find yourself attached to the same things that had you bound before Christ freed you? If so, have you ever wondered what it was that caused that? It’s the sinful nature inside of you.
You see, the sin nature opposes God. And with that nature inside of us there is constantly a battle going on between deciding to do what God wants me to do or doing what I want to do. Who’s going to be the ruler of my life? Jesus? Or me? Who’s in the driver’s seat? Who’s in control? There is that constant struggle between my will and God’s will. So you’re constantly up and down, up and down. “Lord, I’m sorry for my sins. Please forgive me.” “Ooh, look over there. I want to do that.” “God, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I’ll try not to do it again.” “Oh, man, that looks exciting.” “God, it’s me again. I’m sorry again. I want to quit sinning, but I just can’t seem to stop.”
Paul said it this way… The good which I have a mind to do, I do not do: but the evil which I have no mind to do, that I do. Ever been there? I sure have. I want to serve God with my whole heart. I want to always do what’s right. But for some reason I never seem to choose what’s right when I’ve faced with the choice. I don’t want to sin. I don’t want to hurt God again. But I always find myself back doing the same things I was doing before; I always slip right back into sin. It’s an endless cycle. And you can only hope that Jesus will return on the day that you’re on the right side of that cycle. It’s discouraging. It’s frustrating.
III. The Effect Of Holiness
Many have said that there is no way that we can be victorious over sin. Because we are human we will still sin every day in word, thought, and deed. There really is no hope of ever being conquerors until the day that we walk through the gates of heaven. So we have to be satisfied to come back to God every night and seek His forgiveness again and again.
But my Bible tells me that, for one thing, God expects His people not to sin. 1 John 2:1 says, My little children, these things I write unto you, that you sin not. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more.” God does not want us to sin, in fact, He commands us not to sin. And if I understand who He is, He will never expect something from us that He doesn’t give us the power to do. If He has told us, “Go and sin no more,” I believe He can give us the power to do just that. Were we merely working in our own human strength to keep from sinning, we probably would have to come back in repentance every night.
But God has provided a way for us to be completely filled with His Spirit and His power so that we can live above sin. That’s what holiness does; that’s the effect of holiness: it frees us from the bondage to sin and makes it possible for us to live lives free from sin.
Holiness is the provision God has made whereby we can be cleansed from that sin nature. That is the effect of holiness. Where salvation has cut that tree of sin down in our lives, so to speak, entire sanctification has dug up the roots to that tree. Where salvation has forgiven us of our sinful acts, entire sanctification has eradicated and destroyed our sinful desires. Where salvation has restored us to the favor of God, entire sanctification has restored us to the image of God.
Does it erase temptation? No. Does it make us infallible? No. Does it make us mistake-free? No. But entire sanctification, being made holy, does produce a heart that is free from sin, it is cleansed; and that sin nature is replaced by a perfect love for God and a perfect desire to do what He wants me to do without having to fight with my own desires all the time. It does not make us free from error, but it does, as Paul states in 1 Thess. 5:23, make us blameless until the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. It does not make us incapable of ever sinning again, but it does take that bent towards sinning away and replaces it with a complete surrender to the will of God. It does not make us free from temptation, but it does give us the power to see victory over sin.
Dr. Yocum again states, “The grace of holiness gives inward strength to overcome every adversary and complete our course with joy, that we may have abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom of God. It is not absolute security against backsliding… but it does provide purification of motives, clarification of vision, impartation of strength, and deepening of fellowship with God. All of these assets enhance spiritual growth and maximum advancement toward the final goal.”
So while we are still human, holiness gives us the power to be victorious in our humanity. While we are still an individual, holiness gives us the power to get rid of the desire to please ourselves. We are now made to be conquerors. We are now made to be blameless. We are now made to be perfect in the sight of God. We are now made free from the power of sin and the sin nature.
You know, there is nothing in this world that compares to a freedom from sin. There is nothing like being freed from that bondage to my will and my desire. There is nothing in the world like being totally sold out to God.
John Wesley said that while he would be far from discouraging a Christian who had not gone onto holiness by condemning them, he would “encourage them to come up higher,” and he would “point out to them, what is, in every aspect, ‘a more excellent way.’”
You want to know real joy? You want to know real peace? You want to know what it really means to be freed from all guilt? You want to know what it means to lose all desire to displease God? Holiness will bring you the deepest joy and peace and freedom you’ve ever known.
IV. The Way To Holiness
Lastly, this morning, I want to share with you the way to holiness. I’ve tried to explain to you that holiness is something that God has called us to. I’ve tried to show you that we have a need for holiness. And I’ve tried to give you an idea of what holiness can do for you. So the question now is, “How do I attain this holiness? How can I be entirely sanctified?”
Well, there are a few conditions to entire sanctification. First, in order to receive this second work of grace I think it’s fairly obvious that you must have already received the first. In order for you to be made blameless and holy you must have first been forgiven of your sins. Someone who is still engaging in sinful practices, who hasn’t been justified by faith, cannot receive the fullness of the Spirit or be cleansed of the sin nature. Holiness is not a gift for sinners, it is a gift for Christians.
Secondly, in order to receive the gift of entire sanctification you must have a recognition that you have a need for it. You know, I have attended a few AA meetings, not as an addict, but as an observer. And one thing I noticed when I was in those meetings is the way the people who were there introduced themselves. “Hello, my name is Ben, and I’m an alcoholic.” You see, before those men could receive the help they needed they had to come to the realization that they needed help.
And it’s the same way spiritually. Before you can be saved you have to realize that you need saving. Before you can have your sin nature removed entirely you have to realize your need for it to be removed. Dr. Yocum says, “Those who are born of the Spirit and who endeavor to walk closely with God will soon become aware of and inward resistance to His will.” You must know you have a need for something deeper than just a salvation experience, and you must have a deep hunger for that experience. When you come to that point of realizing your need and longing for it to be met, and when you’re willing to confess that need to the Lord, then you can claim the promise of Jesus that says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
But I think that the most important part of the answer to the question, “How can I be entirely sanctified?” can be answered by looking at one verse found in Romans 12:1. It says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. What does it take to be entirely sanctified? It takes full surrender. It takes consecration.
In order for that sin nature to be removed and destroyed you have to be willing to come to the place where you say, “God, I surrender myself completely to your will. I no longer want to please myself. I want to please only You. I give you full control of my life. I give you the throne of my heart. I give you free reign to do as you will with me. I am fully and completely Yours.”
There can be no holding back. There can be nothing that you keep to yourself. You must be willing to give up your family. Jesus said in Luke 14:26, If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Pretty drastic, isn’t it? Does He really want you to hate your family? No. But He wants your love and commitment to Him to be so strong that your love for family pales in comparison. Will He make you give your family up? Probably not, but you have to be willing to let Him take them.
You must be willing to surrender your possessions. Jesus goes on to say, Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. There can be no earthly possession that has a hold on you. Will God take away all your money and your home and your job and everything else that you have and make you live like a pauper? Not necessarily. But you have to be willing to let Him take those things.
You must be willing to surrender all of self to God. In that verse I just quoted a minute ago Jesus said, If any man come unto me and hate not himself, he cannot be my disciple. We must be willing, as Oswald Chambers said, to give up all of our rights to ourselves. I must be willing to give up my pride. I must be willing to give up my plans and ambitions. I must be willing to give up my will, what I want. I must be willing to surrender myself completely and entirely to God for His glory and for His purpose.
Sounds pretty difficult, doesn’t it? Offer myself a living sacrifice to God? Die to myself? Give up everything that I want? I’ll tell you what, it may not be easy, but I can guarantee you that you will never be sorry you made that surrender. There is nothing in this world like knowing that I am made fit for heaven and that there is nothing inside of me that is standing in opposition to God. There is nothing in this world like loving God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. There is nothing that compares to being made holy and blameless.
And this morning, as Lottie comes and we sing a few verses of “I Surrender All,” I wonder if there is someone here who will say, “Pastor, I want everything that God has to give me. I know there is something inside of me that causes me to keep going through this cycle of pleasing God and pleasing myself, doing right and doing wrong. Up and down, up and down. And I want to have that sin nature removed. I want to consecrate myself fully to God. I want to offer myself as a living sacrifice.” If that is you this morning, I invite you to come and receive this gift called holiness.
