Convince me of Entire Sanctification

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Look over Keith Drury’s Shoulder as he answers his mail

QUESTION

I have read some of your writings on holiness and I’m asking you to convince me on the idea of Entire Sanctification. Two years ago, I began doing an in depth bible study on Entire Sanctification and the "Second Blessing." I want to be honest with you and say that I was discouraged.   I can't find it anywhere in Scripture.   I understand Wesley's progression logically, and experientially, and I don't think it is a harmful doctrine, however, I do not think it is as biblical as the Keswickian model of Progression from salvation which excludes the second blessing.   I can’t preach something I don’t believe is explicated stated in Scripture. Prove this doctrine to me. Convince me it is true. 

--Pastor

ANSWER

I probably won’t help you, pal.   I'm not going to convince you.  Yeah, I've written things on the subject--including whole books on the issue that’s posted online.  But I probably can't convince you with a hundred emails. In fact I'd say you ought to quit trying to get convinced--just seek the truth in the Scriptures, in life and through the Holy Spirit's leading and preach what you are convinced of. It sounds to me like you are seeking truth--good that should drive you to find it—keep reading and seeking

Indeed if your bias is to disallow any construction of belief that is not explicitly stated in Scripture I should warn you that you will really have a wild ride ahead of you!  For if you use the same standards on explicit teaching of “Scripture’s original intent” that you are using for accepting "Entire Sanctification" on many other issues you'll be in for some shocking discoveries.  For instance be careful of using that standard on the notion of instantaneous personal/individual conversion. That is, try to find the notion of a person being saved in a moment, transformed in an instant, in Scripture without "reading into" Scripture modern evangelical assumptions.  Be careful where this trip takes you. People who insist on “explicit teaching of Scripture” for believing a doctrine get in trouble eventually. Be careful about this when seeking doctrines on the Trinity too, or slavery. When you are done with this search I bet you’ll find you really didn’t have the hermeneutic you claim—that you believe only those things explicitly stated in Scripture.

But, of course that exercise would only make things worse wouldn’t it? You’d discover many of the beliefs you ho9ld dear are not explicitly stated in Scripture—but are read into Scripture, or spring from our theology and experience then supported by a proof text here and there—usually not the meaning of the original text.

So, you say you don’t believe “Entire Sanctification” like John Wesley did. And you can’t preach what you do not believe. Well Wesley’s answer to this question was “preach it until you receive it.” He was so convinced that the whole Bible taught it (the whole Bible mind you, not selected proof texts) that he thought you should preach it based on the Bible’s evidence.

But my answer is probably different than Wesley’s. I’d say keep studying and until you are convinced preach what you are sure of.   Do you have surety the Bible calls Christians to stop sinning? Then preach that.  Or do you believe the Bible calls Christians to sin less frequently? Then preach that. Do you believe the Bible calls every man and women to progress gradually forward in holy living?  Then preach that.  Do you believe a Christian should surrender to God completely?  Then preach that.  Do you believe a Christian can gradually put off sin and put on holiness?  Then preach that.  Do you believe a person should cease the continual and habitual practice of sin?  Then preach that.  Do you believe a Christian should present herself to God as a living sacrifice?  Then preach that.  Do you believe the Keswick interpretation of holiness is right? Then preach that. Do you believe a Christian who has grown to a point but gets "stuck" in progress and begins resisting should surrender to God?  If so preach that.  Preach what you have surety of, and see if this preaching forms Christ in your community of believers.  Does it make a godly people?  Does it produce the fruit of both individual and corporate holiness?  If it does, keep preaching it and worry less about recruiting people to convince you of this or that doctrinal issue.

If you keep preaching these things and keep seeking the ways God makes a holy people, you will find the answers to your questions.   I’d worry less about inputs than outcomes.  Preach to make a holy people and watch how the inputs care for themselves.

How can I, a proponent and supporter of Wesley’s view on this subject say the above? Because if you focus on making a holy people—if that is truly your passion—then sooner or later I believe you’ll probably come to a doctrine not far from Wesley’s approach—even if you call it something else. The pastors who worry me are those with little concern for making a holy people. If you really care about making a holy people—not just in position but in actual performance—then preach whatever you can to accomplish the goal of a holy church—then watch what turns up. I’m confident if you keep your eyes on (practical) outcomes and not (doctrinal) inputs you’ll wind up in the right ballpark.

Keith

So, what would you add?

To suggest additional insights I missed write to Keith@TuesdayColumn.com