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THEMATIC INTRODUCTION
The Truth about the Pursuit of Holiness |
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By Dave DeVoll Editor-in-Chief |
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The title of this issue’s theme comes from Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” We are to follow, or to pursue, holiness. A superficial reading of this injunction might lead some to think we can never actually find holiness, since we are to “follow” or “pursue” it. That, however, is not the meaning, for we can never see God if we can never find holiness! It means to practice holiness. (Incidentally, if we do not practice peace with all men, the same is true—we will not see God.)
When someone uses these terms in other ways we know what they mean. A person who “pursues an education” is actively participating in the educational process. One who “practices law” is a lawyer—not one who somehow “rehearses” the law as actors rehearse their roles. In the same sense, one who pursues holiness is actively participating in the life of holiness, and one who practices holiness is one who is living a life of holiness. This is one of the major historical emphases of the Church of God Reformation Movement.
It is much easier to sing and preach holiness than it is to practice holiness, but that is true of every Biblical doctrine. It is easier to preach faith than it is actually to rely on God and His grace. It is easier to preach that we are to love everyone than it is to love those people who irritate us. It is easier to preach unity than it is to live in unity with our sisters and brothers in
Christ who disagree with us. And it is easier to preach holiness than it is to “follow holiness.”
The Church of God Reformation Movement was born in the heat of the great holiness revivals of the late nineteenth century. In common with the emphases of that revival, we have always taught that holiness, or sanctification (the words derive from the same Greek word and, therefore, are exact synonyms) carries more than one meaning. It is used to refer to “initial salvation,” that is to conversion, to which the sinner is called. It is used to refer to “critical sanctification,” that is, to a crisis experience of inward cleansing to which the believer is called. And it is used to refer to the progressive working out in one’s life of that inward cleansing.
2 Corinthians 7:1 is a classic example of this truth: “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Olive Winchester writes concerning this verse, “Here let us again notice his tenses. The word for ‘cleanse’ [purify] is an aorist, indicating a definite act of cleansing, whereas the word for ‘perfecting’ is in the present tense and plainly indicates a progressive process. This is to say to us that the negative side of holiness, the cleansing, is accomplished in a moment as a divine act, whereas the positive growth in holiness is an ongoing process of ‘perfecting’ the believer in Christian ethics and maturity. Here Dr. Steele reminds us that Paul’s exhortation, by virtue of the tense, is, ‘Let us cleanse ourselves at a stroke from every filthiness of the flesh and spirit.’ He then continues, ‘If Paul had been exhorting to a gradual inward cleansing he would certainly have used the present tense.’”
In other words, while this verse teaches the doctrine of instantaneous sanctification, it also teaches the paradoxical Wesleyan doctrine of progressive sanctification. It teaches that once we have appropriated this instantaneous experience of holiness, we must consciously strive to exhibit it in our daily living. We are sometimes more successful in this endeavor than at other times. Indeed, more damage is done to the cause of holiness by the careless living of holiness people than by all the theologians who oppose the Wesleyan understanding of this doctrine.
Romans 8:13-14, as rendered by The Amplified Bible, demonstrates this same principle of a daily renewal of the once-for-all consecration of the believer: “For if you live according to ([the dictates]) of the flesh you will surely die. But if through the power of the (Holy) Spirit you are habitually putting to death—making extinct, deadening—the ([evi]) deeds prompted by the body, you shall (really and genuinely) live forever. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God” (brackets and parentheses added by translators).
This text teaches that we must choose each day whether to live after the Spirit we are led by, being the children of God. To be led by the Spirit does not mean that we are led by vague impressions, dreams, visions, or trances. It simply means that we mortify the flesh, that is, that we deny impulses arising from our human nature that are contrary to the Spirit of God. As Otto F. Linn observes, “This does not mean that every detail of a person’s life will be dictated by the Holy Spirit, but that since a person has been sanctified the general direction of his life will be that of the Spirit. ‘Sons of God’ rightly expresses the intimate and tender connection between the Christian and God. Divine guidance is personal, even though we are often led unconsciously. Hard experience has impressed upon us all the untrustworthiness of self as a guide and the need of heavenly leadings.”
This issue of Truth Matters explores the Christian’s call to and pursuit of holiness, both as a crisis experience and as way of life, and tries to do so in a balanced, realistic way.
Winchester, Olive M. Crisis Experiences in the Greek New Testament (Kansas City, MO.: Beacon Hill Press, 1953) 72-73 Linn, Otto F. Studies in the New Testament, Vol. 2 (Anderson, IN: Warner Press, 1943) 33
Come and Be Sanctified Charles Wesley Naylor
Come, justified soul, to the cross The veil of the holiest place The fullness is waiting for thee; Is rent and wide open for thee; The will of the Lord is revealed in His Word, A new, living way giveth entrance today That thou shouldst now sanctified be. To grace that is boundless and free.
Why harbor a foe in thy breast? The blood of the Savior will cleanse Why have such a battle within? From all the inherited sin; Oh, come and be blest with a perfect soul-rest— Then grace to thy heart will the Spirit impart, A rest full of freedom from sin. Thus make and keep holy within.
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