There are still others, and these God's children, as we may charitably
believe, who do not even regard holiness as a desirable thing. They
assert that it is needful and salutary to retain some sin in the heart
as long as we live, in order to keep us humble. It is true that they
are never able to tell how much sin it takes to have this beneficial
effect, but a certain amount they are bent on having.
Another class takes the opposite view. They regard holiness as very
desirable, and a very lovely thing to gaze upon and think upon, but
they also regard it as quite impossible of attainment. They hope to
grow towards it all the days of their lives, and to get it at the
moment of death. Not sooner than the dying hour, do they believe any
human being can be made holy. Not till death is separating the soul
from the body can even God Himself separate sin from the soul. The
whole doctrine of entire sanctification, therefore, they regard as a
beautiful theory, but wholly impossible as an experience, and wholly
impracticable as a life.
In general terms, we may say that carnal Christians, as described by
Paul in I. Corinthians 3:1-4, are opposed to the doctrine of entire
sanctification. "The carnal mind is enmity against God," and the
carnal mind is irreconcilably opposed to holiness. This opposition may
take one of the forms already described, or, possibly, some other forms
which have been overlooked, but the root of the hostility is the same
in all. Wherever "our old man" has his home in a Christian's heart,
there entire sanctification will be rejected.
But we must not forget that there are many exceptions. There are
thousands of sincere, believing hearts in all Christian denominations,
in whom inbred sin still exists, but not with the consent of the will.
They are tired--very tired of the tyrant that rules them, or of the
ceaseless struggles by which, with God's added and assisting grace,
they are enabled to keep him under. They long for deliverance. They are
hungering for full salvation, and rejoice to hear the message of entire
sanctification through the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. The
Lord bless all these hungering multitudes, and give them the desire of
their hearts by saving them to the uttermost, and may their numbers be
vastly increased, so that the banner of Christ's church may everywhere
be unfurled--the banner on which is inscribed the glorious motto of
Holiness to the Lord.
Now we meet all objections to the doctrine of entire
sanctification--whether in the form of indifference, or dislike, or
undesirableness, or impossibility--with the simple proposition, It is
necessary. If this proposition can be established, all objections, of
whatever character, must fall to the ground, and the eager cry of every
Christian heart must be, How can I obtain that priceless blessing which
is essential to my eternal bliss, which is indispensable, and without
which I shall never see the Lord?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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