Holy When
Holy, When?
Acts 9:1-19 NIV
Thesis - We are made holy partially, punctiliarly and progressively.
Sanctification Objective - To cause people to be holy.
Thus far in this series of messages we have determined the who and what of holiness. This morning we need to consider the next question in the WH series - when? When are we made holy or when are we sanctified?
While [holiness] is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity, and of vast importance to the church, there are few subjects in theology concerning which there is a greater variety of opinion. All evangelical Christians hold that it is a Bible doctrine, that it includes freedom from sin, that it is accomplished through the merits of Christ's death, and that it is the heritage of those who are already believers. They differ widely, however, as to its nature, and the time of its attainment. -H. Orton Wiley
[Some] believe that we are saved and sanctified all at once. Others think we are saved and then begin the long process of growing into the experience of sanctification. Some think we are sanctified just before death, and others believe glorification and sanctification are synonymous. -Leslie Parrot
I believe that holiness commences in regeneration, is completed as an instantaneous work of the Holy Spirit subsequent to regeneration and continues to expand until glorification.
I want to consider these three aspects of holiness or sanctification in greater detail. We'll begin with
I. Partial sanctification
A. “Positional holiness refers to our standing when we receive Jesus into our lives at conversion. The Bible describes even new or immature believers as ‘saints’ (holy ones).” -Gerald E. McGraw
1. To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours. 1 Corinthians 1:2
2. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
B. “Initial sanctification (italics mine) accompanies regeneration, as does also justification and adoption, but regeneration is the impartation of life, and initial sanctification is the cleansing from guilt and acquired depravity.” -H. Orton Wiley
After partial sanctification we are candidates for
II. Punctiliar sanctification
A. “It's a dynamic point holiness, a punctiliar holiness, meaning we enter into this experience at a definite point in time.” -Gerald E. McGraw
1. We often speak of this in terms of a crisis.
2. The aorist tense which “denotes a momentary, completed act without reference to time” is used in many verses dealing with sanctification.
a) Sanctify them by the truth. John 17:17a
b) ... for he purified their hearts by faith. Acts 15:9b
c) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. 1 Thessalonians 5:23a,b,c
B. The secondness of this sanctification
1. Illustrated throughout the New Testament
a) The Disciples
(1) “Evidences of Salvation before Pentecost
(a) They were ordained and commissioned (Matthew 28:19; Mark 3:14, 15).
(b) They were empowered to cast out devils (Luke 9:1; 10:1, 20).
(c) Their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20).
(d) They spent 10 days praising God and waiting in prayer (Luke 24:53).
(e) They belonged to God and Christ (John 17:9, 10).
(f) They were kept by Christ and were not lost (John 17:12).
(g) They were not of the world (John 17:14).
(2) “Evidences of need
(a) They were sometimes carnally sectarian (Matthew 15:22, 23).
(b) They were at times carnally selfish and carnally ambitious (Matthew 19:27; Mark 10:28, 37-41).
(c) They were sometimes unstable and disloyal (Mark 14:50).
(d) They were occasionally vindictive in spirit (Luke 9:54, 55).
(3) “Evidences of a change after Pentecost
(a) Their hearts were purified by the [infilling] with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 15:8, 9).
(b) They were changed from man-fearing, unstable people to bold, courageous witnesses for Christ (Acts 2:14).
(c) Spiritual illumination (Acts 2:14-40)
(d) Oneness of heart (Acts 2:44)
(4) “It is evident that the disciples were Christians before Pentecost and that something happened at Pentecost which dramatically changed their inner spiritual response as well as their outer spiritual expression. The biblical record contains no further witness to such a radical change in these men and women who had been confused, unstable, and mediocre prior to Pentecost. After Pentecost the thread runs without variation and without break in the direction of Spirit-directed people who ‘turned the world upside down.’ Even the resurrection of Christ did not produce the change that was brought by Pentecost. It was the crisis of Pentecost, a crisis in the lives of those already enjoying a personal relationship to Christ, that launched the Early Church on its conquering career. As such, Pentecost was more than a climatic event in the transition from one dispensation to another. It was an intensely personal second crisis in the transition from one level of spiritual living to a higher level of spiritual living.”
-Donald Metz
b) “The biblical historian also points to the conversion of 3,000 in Acts 2:41 (who received the Holy Spirit in Acts 4:31).” -Donald Metz
c) The disciples at Samaria (Acts 8:12-17)
d) The apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-19) (three days between partial and punctiliar, cp. v. 9 with v. 19)
e) Cornelius (Acts 10)
f) The disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7)
2. Two works of grace are required because sin is a two headed monster.
3. “[This] second aspect of holiness marks the point at which the Christian, identifying with Christ in His death and resurrection, makes a full dedication of himself or herself to the Lord (Romans 6:11, 13). By faith he or she claims the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).” -Gerald E. McGraw
4. Entire sanctification continues as the conditions continue to be met.
a) “Be being filled” Ephesians 5:18
b) But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Partial and punctiliar sanctification which are crisis experiences give way to
III. Progressive sanctification
A. There is a growth in our knowledge of Christ, and the application of the same, between initial and entire sanctification and afterwards.
1. Philippians 3:12-16
2. Micah and zurblurts
B. “Still a third aspect of holiness is what theologians refer to as progressive holiness--growth in Christlikeness. Neither at salvation nor at sanctification have we fully arrived. God expects us to progress in holiness. Hebrews 12:14 uses a verb tense suggesting an ongoing effort to live this holy life. Thus the main thrust here seems to be the need to make progress. The imagery of the runner running a race (12:1) bears out this idea.” -Gerald E. McGraw
When are we made holy or sanctified? Now! God wants those of us who have never repented of our sins and trusted in Jesus to become partially holy now. He wants those of us who have had our sins forgiven but are still being ruled by the sinful self to be entirely sanctified now. And He wants those who have experienced both blessings to grow up in Him now. Now, who needs prayer? There's a place here for you.
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