How to Be (Entirely) Sanctified - Psalm 51:2-7; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 9:11-14

By David Woods

Note: Because most every one in my Sunday School class is entirely sanctified and knows the doctrine well enough to teach me, I plan to cover the scripture, but hope to spend a good part of the application in discussing ways to encourage people toward holiness, rather than simply talking about "how" to be entirely sanctified. Furthermore, you may have noted the slightly modified title. I think it is very important to be precise when teaching doctrine. The born-again believer is initially sanctified. His/her need is not to be "sanctified", but to be "entirely sanctified."

Read Psalm 51:2-7

The background of this psalm is that King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Then, when he learned that she was pregnant with his son, he attempted to cover up his sin, but finally resorted to arranging the death of her husband.

An interesting note to this story is that Bathsheba's husband is listed among The Thirty who were a select group of warriors in David's army. David did not murder just any private in the army; he murdered a close friend.

Nathan the prophet had confronted David with his sin. This psalm is David's confession to God and plea for restoration. Granted, murder and adultery are pretty "big" sins on a relative scale. The very words of this psalm drip with remorse and contrition.

Discussion: Should we consider the great sorrow for sin (both committed and inbred) written about in the psalm unique to David's situation, or should the relatively "good", yet carnal believer also feel a similar great remorse for his inherited depravity? Why or why not?

Discussion: David said that he was "shapen in iniquity." What does this say about David? What does it say about his attitude toward himself?

Verse six says that God desires "truth in the inward parts." We typically talk about the need for heart purity, having a single desire for God.

Discussion: How does verse six help us in our understanding of what it means to be entirely sanctified?

Last quarter we talked about wisdom and what biblical wisdom is.

Discussion: What does it mean to "know wisdom" - to have godly wisdom?

Discussion: Why do you think David said that God could make him whiter than snow? Why did he want to be whiter than snow?

Read Romans 12:1-2

The "Key Comments" says, "Consecration begins immediately in the new believer. Actually, his consecration should ever be as complete as the Christian knows how to make it." (p. 37)

Discussion: How does the consecration talked about in the "Key Comments" lead us to the experience of entire sanctification?

Discussion: How does the consecration talked about in the "Key Comments" differ from the consecration ("present your bodies") urged by Paul in Romans 12:1?

Discussion: What does it mean to you to be a "living sacrifice"?

Discussion: Why is the complete consecration of our lives (so that we might be entirely sanctified) simply our "reasonable service"?

Discussion: What does "reasonable service" suggest concerning the life of the entire sanctified Christian?

Discussion: Is this command not to be conformed to this world merely the opposite of the command for consecration? Why or why not?

Discussion: How is our mind renewed?

Discussion: Explain the practical implications of the ability of being able to test/prove/know the will of God because of our transformation into Christlikeness.

Read Hebrews 9:11-14

Consider what it means that Christ has obtained eternal redemption for us. In the Old Testament economy, God's people had to continually offer more sacrifices to atone for their sins.

But Christ offered a one-time sacrifice of Himself that atones for all the sins of all mankind in the past, present, and future. His blood removes the guilt of sins that we have committed, but His blood also removes the corruption of inbred sin with which we are born. Christ was a much better sacrifice!

Discussion: What does it mean to be purged of something?

Discussion: Why does Christ purge us of sin?

The final line of the "Introduction" sums up well how to be entirely sanctified. First, we must confess our problem - that our nature is corrupted by carnality.

Secondly, we must consecrate ourselves completely to Christ's control. Thirdly, as we confess our need and consecrate ourselves to Christ, Christ cleanses our nature of carnality. He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. Then, cleansed of all sin, the Holy Spirit comes and fills us fully, empowering us for service for our King.

I am teaching a group of people who, as far as I know, are convinced. They are entirely sanctified. Many could probably teach the doctrine of entire sanctification as well or better than I can.

However, over the past several decades, the holiness movement seems to have been in decline. It appears that more churches are stagnated, declining or closing than are growing or are being started.

Furthermore, of the younger generations and many of those who are joining our churches seem not to have the understanding many of us do of holiness.

Many have never been entirely sanctified. If the holiness movement is to continue, we need to find out a way or ways to better perpetuate the Biblical message of holiness.

One thought from our lesson really stuck out to me as I was studying for this message. The "Central Truth" says, "Conviction of need is a condition for the personal quest after holiness." (p. 37)

The writer of the "Doctrinal Discussion" states, "The real crux of the matter of being sanctified rests with our walking in the light of a regenerated experience until such a time that the Holy Spirit reveals to us the pollution of our hearts and gently leads us into following His guidance into the experience" (p. 40). In other words,

Big Idea: We seek holiness when convinced of our need for holiness.

I realize that this conviction of the need to be entirely sanctified is much the work of the Holy Spirit. We must be careful not to rush the His work in people's lives. At the same time, I think the Church bears the responsibility to assist and encourage people to understand the doctrine, know Christ's desire, and understand how to seek entire sanctification.

Discussion: What can we do to guide people to the experience of entire sanctification? Before they accept Christ as Lord and Saviour? After they become Christians?
(Some ideas: continual stress the need for holiness through the ministry of the local church, teach about our holy God, live a testimony of entire sanctification, stress the need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's voice, organize a system for new believers to go through that includes a class/study on entire sanctification, be careful that teaching about entire sanctification is clear and understandable, encourage people to seek more of God, personal testimonies of entire sanctification)

I have been taught that, in regards to church growth, an emphasis on God's love tends to attract people and stressing discipleship, etc. tends to consolidate/restrict church growth.

Discussion: How would you react to the idea that holiness teaching is anti-church growth? If holiness is anti-church growth, should that affect our promotion of holiness?

Discussion: How can we "raise the bar" spiritually within the church and encourage people to be entirely sanctified?

Discussion: Since conviction of need is essential in order for people to seek entire sanctification, what can we do that people might be convicted of their need for holiness?