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Conference yukon::christian_v7

Title:The CHRISTIAN Notesfile
Notice:Jesus reigns! - Intros: note 4; Praise: note 165
Moderator:ICTHUS::YUILLEON
Created:Tue Feb 16 1993
Last Modified:Fri May 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:962
Total number of notes:42902

555.0. "Sanctification" by TOKNOW::METCALFE (Eschew Obfuscatory Monikers) Fri Sep 02 1994 16:39

This note is dedicated to the scriptural viewpoint of sanctification,
whatever it is.

As a spring board, this is my church's position on holiness, and by that
I mean sanctification.  The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene has 16 
Articles of Faith.  Article 10 is Entire Sanctification.  It is reprinted 
as follows:


                  ARTICLE X: ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION

   We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, sub-
   sequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from
   original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire
   devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect.

   It is wrought by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and comprehends
   in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abid-
   ing indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the be-
   liever for life and service.

   Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought
   instantaneously by faith, preceded by entire consecration; and
   to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.

   This experience is also known by various terms representing its
   different phases, such as "Christian perfection," "perfect love,"
   "Heart purification,"the baptism of the Holy Spirit," "the full-
   ness of the blessing," and "Christian holiness."

   We believe that there is a marked distinction between a pure heart
   and a mature character. The former is obtained in an instant, the
   result of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth
   in grace.

   We believe that the grace of entire sanctification includes the
   impulse to grow in grace. However, this impulse must be consciously
   nurtured, and careful attention given to the requisites and pro-
   cesses of spiritual development and improvement in Christlike-
   ness of character and personality. Without such purposeful en-
   deavor one's witness may be impaired and the grace itself frus-
   trated and ultimately lost.
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555.1From the A/G Tenets of FaithFRETZ::HEISERMaranatha!Fri Sep 02 1994 17:5511
    Sanctification
    -------------
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of
dedication unto God (Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 13:12).  The Scriptures
teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy,
for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16).  Sanctification is realized in the believer
by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection,
and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering
every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:1-11, 13;
8:1, 2, 13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12,13; 1 Peter 1:5).
555.2Scripture expansions available - send mailTOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersFri Sep 02 1994 18:50130
These verses follow the Article of Faith in .0.  Happy digging.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Ezekiel 36:25-27
Malachi 3:2-3
Matthew 3:11-12
Luke 3:16-17
John 7:37-39
John 14:15-23
John 17:6-20
Acts 1:5
Acts 2:1-4
Acts 15:8-9
Romans 6:11-13,19
Romans 8:1-4, 8-14
Romans 12:1-2
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
Galatians 2:20
Galatians 5:16-25
Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 5:17-18, 25-27
Philippians 3:10-15
Colossians 3:1-17
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Hebrews 4:9-11
Hebrews 10:10-17
Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews 13:2

"Christian Perfection," "perfect love"

Deuteronomy 30:6
Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 22:37-40
Romans 12:9-21
Romans 13:8-10
1 Corinthians 13
Philippians 3:10-15
Hebrews 6:1
1 John 4:17-18

"Heart Purity"


Matthew 5:8
Acts 15:8-9
1 Peter 1:22
1 John 3:3

"Baptism with the Holy Spirit"

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Ezekiel 36:25-27
Malachi 3:2-3
Matthew 3:11-12
Luke 3:16-17
Acts 1:5
Acts 2:1-4
Acts 15:8-9

"Fullness of the blessing"

Romans 15:29

"Christian Holiness"

Matthew 5:1-7:29
John 15:1-11
Romans 12:1-15:3
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ephesians 4:17-5:20
Philippians 1:9-11
Philippians 3:12-15
Colossians 2:20-3:17
1 Thessalonians 3:13
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
1 Thessalonians 5:23
2 Timothy 2:19-22
Hebrews 10:19-25
Hebrews 12:14
Hebrews 13:20-21
1 Peter 1:15-16
2 Peter 1:1-11
2 Peter 3:18
Jude 20-21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jesus prays for His disciples:

          John  17

           6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou
          gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest
          them me; and they have kept thy word.
           7  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast
          given me are of thee.
           8  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest
          me; and they have received [them], and have known surely
          that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou
          didst send me.
           9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them
          which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
           10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am
          glorified in them.
           11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the
          world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine
          own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be
          one, as we [are].
           12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy
          name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of
          them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture
          might be fulfilled.
           13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the
          world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
           14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated
          them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of
          the world.
           15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the
          world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
           16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the
          world.
           17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
           18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I
          also sent them into the world.
           19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also
          might be sanctified through the truth.
           20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which
          shall believe on me through their word;

Rather than highlight things at this time, allow the Holy Spirit to
open the Word of God, the Word of Jesus, the Word to your hearts.
555.3TOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersFri Sep 02 1994 19:169
Re 551.74  (Tony)

I believe "the sealing" occurs individually to present individuals,
to people who were sanctified before our generation, and to
people in the future who become sanctified.  I think you have a different
understanding of what that "sealing" entails; that is, the results being
sanctified, but I hope it is semantics and jargon.  This "sealing" is
not reserved for a future generation but has been available through Christ
already.
555.4SealingYIELD::BARBIERIFri Sep 02 1994 21:0320
    re: -1
    
    By sealing, I was referring to the time of trouble when people
    are wearing either the mark of the beast or the seal of God.
    God's believers are sealed with His name on their foreheads.
    When Moses asked God to show him His name, God told Moses what
    His character is like: "The Lord God, rich in mercy, etc."
    
    I do believe the seal of God/mark of beast event is one of great
    polarization where one group is settled into the truth both 
    spiritually and intellectually and the other is settled into
    ungodliness very fully as well.
    
    During that time, Jesus can say of His followers, "Here are they who
    keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
    
    Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith has finally developed
    in them His faith.
    
                                                  Tony
555.5SnarfTOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersFri Sep 02 1994 22:142
    Oh.  Okay.  Still, perfection can be had (and has been had) before
    this event.
555.6Whats In A Term? (Meaning Behind It More Important)YIELD::BARBIERITue Sep 06 1994 13:1014
      re: -1
    
      Yeah, we understand what perfection is to be different things.
      Hebrews seems to mention perfection quite a bit and part of its
      context includes the conscioussness being completely purged
      from sin.
    
      But, whatever, when I refer to perfection, I am referring to
      perfectly reflecting the character of Christ or sinlessness.
    
      No sense tripping over terms when the meaning we attribute to
      the terms is what mainly matters.
    
                                              Tony
555.7TOKNOW::METCALFEEschew Obfuscatory MonikersTue Sep 06 1994 13:298
>      No sense tripping over terms when the meaning we attribute to
>      the terms is what mainly matters.

Yes.  But Because we use the same term, we (you and I) need to make sure 
that *others* know what we mean when we use the same term (perfection) in
different ways!  :-)

MM
555.8Trinity and the Sanctification of BelieversFRETZ::HEISERGrace changes everythingThu Sep 15 1994 23:248
    The Trinity is evident in the believer's sanctification - The Father 
    (Jude 1; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23); The Son (1 Corinthians 1:2,30; 
    Hebrews 10:10, 13:12); The Spirit (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 
    1 Corinthians 6:11).  It is interesting to note that each person of the 
    Godhead sanctifies through the Word: the Father (John 17:17), the Son 
    (Ephesians 5:26), and the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
    
    Mike