LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA

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27 I CANNOT SEE INTO SANCTIFICATION

The caption of this article is an oft-repeated statement made by persons who hesitate in seeking the blessing of entire sanctification when urged to do so. By this they mean to say, they do not understand the subject, and therefore refuse to seek it.

To such we say, if a sinner refused to seek pardon until he could “see into it,” and understand all about how it worked, he never would be saved. The facts are, no man can understand or explain all about the science or philosophy of the new birth, nor any other experience divinely worked within. Nevertheless, multitudes who have believed and entered in, are glad witnesses to the glorious facts of a personal experience both to the regenerating and sanctifying power of God.

No man is required to “see into it,” or understand all about it, either before or after the experience. One may understand little or nothing about surgery and yet may experience the amputation of a finger or some other member of the body. It is enough that the surgeon understands how to do what needs to be done.

With most people it is not so much mental difficulties that keep them out of the experience, as it is heart difficulties; something the heart is not willing to yield to God; When persons are willing to “see into sanctification,” it is not difficult to make them understand at least the theory of sanctification as a second experience.

To such a willing one we would simply point out the twofold nature of sin—sin as an act, committed, which requires repentance and pardon, and sin as a nature (inherited principle, innate, inborn) which requires cleansing. Sins committed may be forgiven, but the inherited sin-nature, cannot be forgiven, because it is not something we have done, or the result of any volition on our part; it was born in us, and it would be foolish to ask God to forgive that out of us, or to ask God to forgive us for having been born this way. In the nature of things God cannot forgive me something I have not done, something which is not the result of my volition; while He cannot forgive inbred sin, He can nevertheless eradicate, destroy and cleanse out of the heart the very sin-nature, “and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

This is just what He proposes to do, and that brings an experiential knowledge of sanctification. Any one walking in the clear light of justification will soon discover within himself the presence of this “evil nature,” manifesting itself in anger, pride, fear, doubt, unholy ambition, unholy appetites, etc. (all of which are in complete enmity to the new life) and thus become convinced of his need of this cleansing; this sense of need, with the knowledge that “This is the will of God, even your sanctification” is all that one needs to understand in order to obtain this glorious experience.

A person will know more in five minutes after receiving the glorious life-changing experience than he could have known in ten years of cool reasoning and theorizing. “If any man will do His will he shall know of the doctrine.” John 7:17 .