Question & Answer
Bro. Ostis Wilson
QUESTION: Several questions have come in regarding sanctification: the need of this experience, the process of it, what it is and what it does, how it is done, what the conditions are for it, and when and how it is obtained, etc.
ANSWER: When one is born again, born of God, he does inherit from Him a righteous nature as the following scriptures will prove. "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:10. "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:24. "...That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Acts 26:18. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Colossians 1:12. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Acts 20:32. See
II Peter 1:1-4. Verse four says, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." Romans 8:29. These scriptures all declare that for the twice-born soul, saints in light, sanctified, there is a special inheritance which consists of a conformity to His image which is declared to be "righteousness and true holiness," and being a "partaker of His divine nature." So we see that when one is born again of the righteous One, he does inherit a righteous nature. But we must not overlook the fact that everything checks back to Adam and Christ, who are the royal heads of the two races-natural and spiritual.
Once when I was discussing the native depravity before a class and spoke of it as corrupt, someone asked, "What do you mean by corrupt? Do you mean vile, wicked, ungodly?" Now all these terms are all right when applied properly, but not in their common usage or as they are usually looked upon in their extreme form. All of these have varied degrees from the lesser to the greater as there are also degrees of holiness. When we think of these terms, we commonly think of them in their finished, extreme, exaggerated form and connect them with the drunken sot, the woman of the streets, the lascivious and unclean wretch and profane and vulgar persons, etc. Consequently we revolt at the idea of looking upon a child as in that class, and that is exactly right. The child is innocent. But at the same time, that child has deep within his being a nature which contains in an undeveloped and embryonic form the seed that may later on produce in his life any or all of these fruits of sin in their extreme form.
We see then that the entire human race was in a sad plight under the thralldom of sin and stood in need of redemption. Jesus Christ is declared to be our Redeemer. Galatians 4:4-5 says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Titus 2:14 says, "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,..." Colossians 1:14 says, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Revelation 5:9 says, "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."
But redemption implies a restoration to a primitive or former state. For an example: Suppose you borrow $1000 and make a note for that amount to be paid in twenty $50 payments and secure it with a mortgage on your home. Then suppose you pay ten of those payments and go to the banker and tell him you would like to have the mortgage lifted off your property. He will check the record and find that you have only paid half of what is owing on the note and will tell you that the mortgage cannot be cleared until you have paid the full amount. Then suppose when you have paid nineteen of the twenty payments you go to him again and ask for the mortgage to be lifted. He will check his record again and note there is still one payment owing on it and inform you that it cannot be cleared until that payment is made. But when you make the last payment, the full amount of the note is paid, and you can require him to clear the mortgage. If he should refuse, you could take him to court and compel him to. This makes it clear that in order for a thing to be redeemed, it must be just as free from debt as it was before any debt was made on it.
This is true of redeeming the soul also. As already observed, at some length, the transgression and consequent fall of Adam affected all of his posterity and plunged the entire human race into sin. Paul said in Romans 7:14, "...I am carnal, sold under sin." Our father, Adam, sold all of his posterity down the river and delivered us to be bondservants to another man. The devil held a blanket mortgage on the entire human race which God would not lift until a suitable sacrifice to satisfy His sense of justice was made. Jesus Christ made this sacrifice.
Mankind today is, in general, the same as he was created, and possesses the essential characteristics that he did then, except in one particular sense. He has undergone a change in his moral nature through the fall and has lost the moral likeness, purity, and holiness in the image of God which he possessed when he came fresh from the hand of God.
This is the full aspect of the redemptive plan as it affects man morally. The redemption of the body from death is also part of the plan and that will be realized in its fullness at the resurrection of the dead in the last day when death shall be destroyed and his dominion broken, and the body comes forth to live forevermore.
Since man in his unregenerate state is two steps below the state of moral purity and holiness (the image and likeness of God) in which he was created, and since those two steps are of a different nature consisting first of the native depravity (an inherent, corrupt nature in the child at birth, but which is not productive of guilt) and later on the committing of actual sin which produces a state of guilt and condemnation: it must be evident that there must also be two steps back to the original state; two parts to man's salvation, or two works of divine grace. It would surely be clear to anyone's mind and thinking that in any flight of stairs there are as many steps going up as there are coming down. The two forms in which sin exists in the human soul must be dealt with in different ways to suit the nature of the case. The Bible throughout teaches this twofold salvation-saved, justified; then sanctified (heart cleansed), baptized with the Holy Ghost. This is what I believe in.
(I just received a letter from a party reminding me I had made a mistake earlier in saying that when one was born again he received the nature of his father (God). It is possible that paragraph may be a little misplaced, because the discussion had not reached the point of sanctification. But that paragraph should be read as an extension of the preceding paragraph regarding parents transmitting to their children some characteristics and natures like their own and especially in regard to the transmission of the corrupt nature of fallen Adam to their posterity. Then follows the paragraph regarding a person who is born again and receives the nature and likeness of his Father, God. All the scriptures in that paragraph refer to the finished work of salvation-sanctification. It seems likely to me that when Jesus said to Nicodemus, "...Ye must be born again," (John 3:7.) He was referring to the transmission from nature to grace through a full salvation without breaking it down and dissecting the parts or steps in arriving at it and that being born again covered the whole ground to the finished product. For anything I have written in this case or any other that is confusing or not clear, I apologize and ask forgiveness for it.)
And now to go on. In II Corinthians 1:15 we read, "And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit." The margin here says "grace" in the place of "benefit." We believe in that. A person is saved from his sins, regenerated by a work of God's grace upon his heart and then he is sanctified-perfected in his experience-by a second definite work of God's grace upon his heart.
Again in I Thessalonians 3:9-10 we read, "For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day prayingexceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?" We would judge from the first epistle to the Thessalonians all the way through that these people were truly saved and their condition was commendable. Yet there seems to have been a lack in their faith. Sanctification is a work of grace or experience that is entered into by faith the same as justification. If a person does not have sufficient faith to make the required consecration and then receive the sanctifying grace, he certainly has a defect in his grace. Then, too, the faith which was once delivered to the saints involves a complete experience of full and uttermost salvation and if one is only saved, no matter how truly saved he is, and not sanctified, there is something lacking in his faith. Paul was anxious to see these folks that he might perfect that which was lacking in their faith, and he declared in I Thessalonians 4:3 that "...This is the will of God, even your sanctification,..." and goes on in that chapter and the next to describe the experience, the need, and to declare God's ability and faithfulness to do that for them.
Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." This makes it clear that the perfecting of our experience is in our sanctification, and this is what Paul was anxious to see the Thessalonian brethren obtain.
In Jude, verse 3, we read, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." This does not mean to enter into strife of words and to contend physically and carnally. These things are all condemned in the Word of God. But we are to contend for that faith in its entirety-its doctrines, its personal regenerating and sanctifying experiences, its spiritual life, its holiness, its power, its gifts of the Spirit, its unity of believers, and its fruit. But first contend for it within yourself (don't settle for anything less in your own personal experience) against the devil and unbelief, and doubts and fears that you may possess within yourself about the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ. This is to be done by all, and if we all do this we will find the entire Church in possession of all the provisions of the faith which was once delivered to the saints.
The early Church possessed this faith in its entirety and was able to produce its fruit, and as a part of it they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. It was a wholly sanctified Church, able to live victoriously and triumphantly over all opposition. The Jerusalem Church actually had power over all the power of the devil and was able to triumph over him in all his efforts to hinder their work for God. The emphasis with them was on the Holy Ghost. Jesus emphasized the Holy Ghost. In Luke 24:49 He said, "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." But He said again in Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:..." The baptism of the Holy Ghost was the promise of the Father. (See Joel 2:28; John 7:37-39; Acts 2:16-17.) Again in John 16:7 Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Then in Acts 1:4-5 just before He was taken from them into heaven He, "...being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." All believers in the early Church were filled with the Holy Ghost. (See Acts 2:4; 4:31.)
It is the ultimate aim and objective of God's perfect plan of salvation to completely eradicate sin, both committed and inherited (the inherent depravity which all of us received from Adam) and to totally restore mankind to the likeness and image of God in which man was originally created, by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. There is an old, old song which in the first verse says: "All of self and none of God." This is the way of life of unsaved, unregenerate mankind. Then the second verse says, "Some of self and some of God." The third verse says, "Less of self and more of God." Then the last verse says, "None of self and all of God." Ah, folks, this is the ultimate; let us move on to it, for God has provided it for us. One of the songs which we sing often, says:
"If thou wouldst have the dear Savior from heaven
Walk by thy side from the morn till the even,
There is a rule that each day you must follow:
Humble thyself to walk with God.
"Just as the Lord in the world's early ages
Walked and communed with the prophets and sages,
He will come now if you meet the conditions:
Humble thyself to walk with God.
"Just as the stream finds a bed that is lowly,
So Jesus walks with the pure and the holy;
Cast out thy pride, and in heartfelt contrition
Humble thyself to walk with God."
Paul's first question to the disciples at Ephesus was, "...Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" (Acts 19:1-2.) When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God by the preaching of Philip, they sent Peter and John unto them to see to it that they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17.)
Surely that is the next thing in order after one is saved, and the sooner, the better and easier it is. When one is just in his first love and in possession of a brand-new experience with God and relationship with Christ, the burden of sin, guilt and condemnation has just been lifted off him and he is bubbling with zeal and spiritual energy and feels well able to "run through a troop and jump over a wall," it would be really easy at that time to present his body a living sacrifice and complete his experience of salvation by receiving the Holy Ghost. Much of the difficulty in obtaining this experience and much of the confusion surrounding the doctrine comes from folks who halt too long in a justified state until they have some ups and downs, their zeal kind of cools off, their love kind of wanes and they actually need a renewal of their experience. Knowing they need something, they decide it is sanctification they need and they put in for that, when it is actually a renewing of their justified experience and covenant with God that they need. When such people receive a blessing upon their souls from God, they call it sanctification, when really it is just a renewing of their justification. Then, when it does not do for them all that they think it should, they become confused and begin to flounder around and sometimes never get really established.
Now let us return to the thought that man in his unregenerate state is two steps below the state of moral purity and holiness in which he was created. It must be evident unto all that there are just as many steps in a flight of stairs going up as there are coming down. Also that the last step coming down the stairs will be the first step going up, and that one cannot take the second step until he has taken the first one. And when one has taken the first step, it puts him in a natural position to take the second one in stride.
In this case the first step down is the fallen, depraved nature which we all partake of from Adam, and the second step is the actual sins committed in the life of the individual after he comes to the age of accountability before God which produces condemnation in his soul.
Since man is two steps below the plane of holiness and purity in which he was created, it must naturally be understood that there must be two steps to his redemption or restoration-two successive steps in bringing him back to the primitive state of purity and holiness in God's image and likeness-and he cannot be reckoned to be completely restored, to be perfect in purity and holiness, until both steps have been taken.
This thought has been objectionable to some on the grounds that they feel that the God whom they serve just does not do any halfway work. I agree to that point without reservation. But what I am talking about here is not any halfway work. It is two complete entire works. When God saves a person from his sins and forgives his transgressions, He saves him from all sin and forgives him and all his transgressions-no halfway work here. It is the same when He sanctifies a person. He sanctifies him wholly, entirely, through and through-no halfway work here-and fills him full of the Holy Ghost and thoroughly purges his nature from all impurities.
It is sometimes argued that our God is not so puny that He has to take two efforts at anything to accomplish it, and certainly not with our salvation. I readily agree with this point that there is no weakness in God and that from God's end it would be very easy for Him to accomplish the entire thing in one operation. But the difficulty here lies in man's weakness and inability, not in any weakness or insufficiency on God's part.
Letters
Readers
LA-Dear ones: Greetings in Jesus' name. I was sorry to read about the electrical storm in Guthrie but am thankful that repairs to your telephone system have been made.
I do praise the Lord for His love, mercy and blessings to me. My heart has been stirred this morning concerning "zeal." The Lord does want us to be "zealous" for souls. Be of good courage and continue on until Jesus comes.
-Sis. Dorall Forbes
MO-Dear Bro. Wayne and Print Shop workers: We are so thankful for all the Lord's mercies to us.
The other day I read a quote that said, "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters."
I have given much thought to this idea in relationship to our Christian walk. Surely it is true. It was that integrity, genuineness and wholesomeness of heart which Jesus sought in people. I believe that is what will be required for us to make it into His beautiful Kingdom. It is also the spark which makes one the light that reaches to the searching world. It is my desire to seek daily to have a greater integration of godly aims and qualities in my life. He is so worthy of all, and there is surely no other cause worth giving one's life to....
-Sis. Marilyn Cole
LA-Dear Bro. Wayne: Trust this finds all well with you and yours, and that all are encouraged in the Lord. We are surely living in a time when sin is raging. It seems that the influence of the devil is strong in the world today, but I am thankful that the Word of the Lord is forever fixed and settled in Heaven. The forces of evil cannot, do not, and will not affect the power and working of the Word; it is forever fixed. I am so very thankful that I have allowed it to work in my life....
It seems that my physical condition is slowly worsening. My physical activity is very limited, and I have to go very slowly and stop frequently to catch my breath. Just talking very much gets me out of breath. I am so thankful that I have learned to trust God and I have no other thing in mind but to keep my faith and trust anchored in Him.
I know you surely must be enjoying the new facilities. I guess sometimes you just kind of have to stop and say, "Is this real?" I am thankful for all of you and trust it will stand as a lighthouse for guidance and encouragement for many souls for many years.
Please remember me in your prayers.
Yours in Christ, -Bro. Randall Flynn
IN-Dear Bro. Wayne: It has been a long, long time since I last contacted you dear people.
The Lord is keeping me saved and He keeps blessing my life in Christ Jesus. Oh, how good our great and loving Lord is.
I pray for you and the Print Shop. I know our Lord hears and answers our prayers....
Christian love to you and Mary,
-Sis. Ruby Blanchard
CT-I purchased a copy of God's Gracious Dealings in 1991, and read the whole book. Ten years have gone by now, and the Lord has put it on my heart to reread this wonderful book published by Faith Publishing House. I would encourage those who haven't read it to purchase a copy. I believe in this Evening Light on the Gospel which our Lord is still using to bring us to a holy sanctified life and to prepare us for meeting our Lord.
I was impressed to note the first edition of the Faith and Victory paper was put in the mail in March, 1923. Seventy-eight years have come and gone, and the Lord is still using the paper. Praise God....
Please offer to our Lord, as I'm sure you do, prayers for all of those who obtain subscriptions to grow hungry for the Word of God.
Your brother in Jesus Christ,
-Bro. Tom Stoliker
OH-I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, telephone calls, visits and every act of kindness shown to us during our loved one's illness and death. May God bless each one.
-Sis. Alberta Bruner and family
Mission Reports
From the Philippines. . .
May 21, 2001-Dear Brother and Sister Murphey: Greetings in the name of Jesus! I hope this finds you and your dear ones in the best of health and happy in the service of the Lord.
We are most happy with the wonderful experience of fellowship with brothers and sisters from the U. S. A. at our camp meeting. You left a great encouragement to every one of us ringing in our hearts. "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1. Thank you so much for your love, concern and care for us. It is a great encouragement to us as we go along the battle of life and advance the message of salvation to the lost.
With God's help we are opening new places for the gospel work....
May the God of mercy pour special blessings for you from above.
Your brother in the mission field,
-Matias Tangunan and family
From India. . .
June 22, 2001-Dear Bro.Wayne Murphey, saints in America and all over the world: Greetings to all of you dear ones again in the most Holy name of Jesus Christ. "Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." Psalm73:23-24.
I believe the Oklahoma State Camp Meeting at Guthrie came to an end with many spiritual blessings and good results. May God bless all other camp meetings in the U. S. A. this year for the edification of the whole Church.
Monsoon rains have already started here, which may last for several months.
All of our congregations are going on fine. I visit all of them continuously. Recently one Orthodox church family, and a Hindu family, were saved and added to our church at Anayam.
Please continue to pray for and support the needs of our 20 ministers. May God bless the saints all over the world.
With love and prayers, -Bro. John Varghese
Editorials
Wayne Murphey
Mankind was created by a loving God for the purpose of praising Him, and we delight in doing just that. After tasting the mercies which are in His forgiving nature, it is not hard to sing His praise. And learning of the riches which He has in store for us causes great gladness of heart.
No matter the condition of life in which we find ourselves, we should maintain a spirit of adulation. Epictetus, a stoic philosopher who lived shortly after Christ's time, once said, "What else can I, a lame old man, do than sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would play the part of a nightingale. But I am a rational creature; and I ought to praise God. This is my work. I do it; nor will I desert this post so long as I am allowed to keep it. And I exhort you to join in the same song."
Today we praise God for the way He has blessed the work here at the Print Shop. During June we mailed out a large quantity of literature, much of which was purchased to be sold at various camp meetings throughout the country. This is possible because of those who have been willing to sponsor the spread of the gospel. We thank everyone who has been an instrument of God's grace to us and the work here. Your interest, prayers and words of encouragement have been a blessing.
As is our usual custom, we will not print an August edition of the Faith and Victory . This will lighten the work load so we can attend to other duties and operate the book store on the Monark Springs campground during the National Camp Meeting, which is scheduled for July 20-29. We invite everyone to visit the book store to see what is available.
OK-"Please remember me in your prayers. I want to get closer to God. I also have a health problem." -Mildred Hall
MO-"I have a son who is seriously ill, and he isn't saved. Please pray for him." -Sis. Nelva Stanley
MO-"I can hardly walk because of my left knee and I can hardly see to read. Pray the Lord to touch my afflictions." -Sis. Laura Jarvis
OK-Sis. Leoma Duvall has an unspoken prayer request.
CA-Bro. Charles Pierro has been afflicted and needs special prayer.
LA-Sis. Clarice Pruitt has suffered a stroke and is in need of the saints' prayers.
Sis. Lydia Bennett
Sis. Alscene Breckenridge
Bro. Jon Busbee
Sis. Mamie Butcher
Bro. Nathan Carver
Sis. Estelene Cramer
Bro. Daniel Davis, Jr.
Bro. Dale Doolittle
Sis. Elaine Dunn
Sis. Eleanor Fingerle
Bro. Randall Flynn
Sis. Pearlene Gerald
Sis. Esther Gordon
Bro. Huey Gordon, Jr.
Bro. Ben Harrison
Bro. Lee Hilton
Sis. Mary Hughes
Sis. Daisy Johnson
Sis. Janice Johnston
Sis. Earnestine Jordan
Sis. Betty Lassché
The Lounds sisters
Bro. Jimmie McDonald
Sis. Mattie McIntyre
Sis. Bertha Miles
Bro. Allan Miller
Sis. Virginia Myers
Sis. Dollie O'Neall
Bro. O. C. Porter
Sis. Melba Powell
Bro. John Robinson
Sis. Myrtle Savoie
Bro. M. Agenemoh Sidi
Sis. Violet Sinkhorn
Sis. Kay Stover
The Mitch Taylor family
Sis. Anna Mae Thompson
Bro. Preston Vulgamore
Sis. Dorothy Wilkins
Bro. Curtis Williams, Sr.
Bro. Max Williamson
Sis. Esther Wilson
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