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The Differences of the Sanctified |
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By the late Dr. Bill Neece Pastor, Evangelist, Author NOTE: This article first appeared The Reformation Witness, Autumn 2002 |
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Paul prayed that Christian believers might be “sanctified wholly,” meaning “entirely, completely, through and through.” This is in order that “your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then he said, “Faithful is he that called you, who also will do it” (1 Thess. 5:23-24).
The doctrine of Entire Sanctification is one of the most glorious truths Gad has ever bequeathed to His children. It has often been called the “central idea” of the whole Christian system. But I am quick to say it far more than a mere doctrine or idea. It is a glorious, personal, present-day experience, obtainable here and now in the life of every born again child of God through consecration and faith!
Some think the doctrine of [Entire] Sanctification is so mysterious and incomprehensible that only a few can understand its true meaning. Often it has been associated with the freakish, the fanatical, or both, and this has caused many Christians to miss or shun the experience altogether. It was John Wesley who said, “If you preach it too high, you drive men to frustration. But if you preach it too low, you drive men to perdition,” for “without holiness [sanctification] no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
The Bible teaches that this “Highway of Holiness” where the redeemed walk, and where the unclean never pass over, is to be so
clearly marked that even “fools . . . shall not err therein” (Isa. 35:8). Entire sanctification is synonymous with Bible expressions, each of which presents this truth from a different angle: holiness, heart purity, perfect love, the rest of faith, etc. It is the glorious cleansing, empowering, and control of the Holy Spirit which enables us to maintain the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Jesus prayed for His followers, “Sanctify them through thy truth: Thy word is truth . . . . that they all may be one” (John 17:17, 21). This sanctifying experience is the unifying experience in the body of Christ because it delivers from the carnal spirit which causes envy, strife, and division. Yet, there remain many ways in which sanctified people still differ.
First, the sanctified differ in their per-sonalities. No two faces, voices, walks or fingerprints are exactly alike. This is a great blessing because these differences help us to identify each other, thus saving us from a world of confusion. Because of these differences it is not possible to have uniformity in all matters of thinking, understanding, dressing, acting, and reacting. It is foolish for us to expect the mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit to merge our personalities into a single common monotony until we would all think, feel, and do everything exactly alike. Personality is something which is all my own, and God can use that which is my own when I surrender it to Him, far more effectively that anything I may borrow from someone else.
Second, the sanctified differ in their capacities. In the parable of the Sower Jesus said some of the seed “fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred” (Mark 4:8). It was all “good ground” and “good seed,” but it had differing capacities for reproduction.
Because of these differing capacities all Christians don’t enjoy God to the same degree. It depends on the capacity of the individual. Our capacities may be enlarged as we walk with Christ, study His Word, and grow in grace. God has so very much to give us, but some of us don’t have the capacity to take it all in. One time Jesus said to His followers, “I have yet many things to say to unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). In other words, “You can’t bear them now, but you will be able to bear them later. The Spirit of truth will guide you.”
It is not possible to put the Pacific Ocean into a teacup. Not because of the ocean’s quantity, but because of the teacup’s capacity. The teacup limits the ocean. God is like the ocean, infinitely so, and He has so many great blessings to give us, but some of us don’t have anything to carry them home in. We limit God by our capacity.
Third, the sanctified differ in their perceptions. Some people are very quick to comprehend, while others are quite slow. There are two reasons for this: 1) Heredity. Some are just naturally slow, and others are quick. They are born that way. 2) Environment. Some have had more Bible truth preached to them and lived out before them than others. They have more light, and all light comes by degrees, like the rising of the sun. It does not come in one big flash, but gradually. This is why Peter admonishes us, “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). It takes time to grow.
Remember, light comes by degrees, and as light comes in, darkness goes out. The way to drive out darkness is with light, not with a club. We can’t crowd the truth it took us 40 years to learn into a new convert in six months. And because there are degrees of light, and our responsibility is according to our light, some people will get to heaven much easier than others. If a tiny baby would die today, it would get to heaven much easier than I will. If a new convert would die today, he would get to heaven much easier than you who are well taught in the Word of God. I know of no group of people on earth that will be more responsible to God for His truth that the church of God! Oh, what a rich heritage of Bible truth we have—but this makes us more responsible than others who are not so blessed.
Fourth, they differ in their convictions. All of us hold opinions, but our convictions hold us. These convictions are principles that form the foundation for our lives. Because we have all come up in different environments with different training, we don’t all think alike:
1) Ethically. Some think it is wrong to drink coffee, wear a necktie or wedding ring, have instrumental music in worship services, etc.
2) Doctrinally. Some of the world’s greatest Christians are mistaken on parts of their doctrine. At least, I believe they are confused on such matters as baptism, feet washing, divine healing, the unity of the church, the kingdom of God, and certain events that will accompany Christ’s second coming. Of course, they think I am wrong, but they have trusted Christ and are saved by God’s grace, and they love Him with all their hearts.
This is the spirit we need in the church. I am not advocating compromise of God’s Word. Never! But we should be big enough to allow some room for our brother to see a few things just a little differently than we see them. One time the apostle John said, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:49-50).
Finally, the sanctified differ in their Christian experiences. No two people are saved alike, or sanctified alike, and no two express their joy exactly alike. The Bible talks about “joy,” “great joy,” “exceeding joy,” and “joy unspeakable.” Some Christians will laugh, weep, or shout. But, if they have “joy unspeakable,” they will be as quiet as a mouse. You can’t be saved and sanctified and not manifest it, but how much noise you make about it will depend largely upon your temperament.
I have never shouted and jumped in my life, but I had a grandmother and two aunts who would get in the middle of the aisle and shout and jump a foot off the floor. When they came down, they walked straight, too. They didn’t “wobble!” If you “wobble” when you come down, you don’t have anything to jump about.
Someone has said there are four kinds of people: 1) the intellectualist who stresses his mind, but is weak in his feelings; 2) the emotionalist who stresses his feelings, but is weak in his mind; 3) the moralist who stresses his will, but is weak in his feelings; 4) the sentimentalist who stresses his feelings, but is weak in his will.
You may be one of these, or a mixture, but, praise God, the full salvation of Jesus Christ meets the needs of all kinds of people. It suits everybody! Our concern should be that we have the true Bible experiences of salvation from sin through the blood of Christ, and sanctification through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
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