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Justification, Sanctification, and the Holy Spirit: Difference between revisions
Justification, Sanctification, and the Holy Spirit (view source)
Revision as of 05:12, 22 March 2019
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This "second work of grace" is something that he took from the Holiness movement and which was clearly laid out in Keswick theology. | This "second work of grace" is something that he took from the Holiness movement and which was clearly laid out in Keswick theology. | ||
There are two types of Christians in Keswick teaching. The “average” or “carnal” Christian behaves much like an unbeliever. Keswick conventions were “spiritual clinics” designed to turn the average, carnal Christian into a “normal” or “spiritual” Christian, one who is filled with the Holy Spirit. This transformation from the carnal to the spiritual Christian takes place not by a long struggle but by a simple, single act of faith. The secret to the victorious life is for the Christian to make an unconditioned and absolute surrender to God in faith. One must not strive for spiritual victory; rather one must simply ‘Let go, and let God!’ ” H. C. G. Moule, probably Keswick’s best theologian, described this state of victory for the believer as “a blessed and wakeful Quietism.” | |||
It appears that Keswick teaching was the first to describe the second blessing as surrendering to Christ’s Lordship. <ref>William W. Combs, “The Disjunction Between Justification And Sanctification In Contemporary Evangelical Theology,” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal Volume 6 6 (2001): 26.</ref> | |||
John Wesley used various terms to describe this second work of grace: Christian perfection, salvation from all [willful] sin, entire sanctification, perfect love (1 John 4:18), holiness, purity of intention, full salvation, second blessing, second rest, and dedicating all the life to God. Its essence is unreserved love for God with one’s whole being and, consequently, love for fellow humans. This complete sanctification occurs instantaneously at a point in time subsequent to one’s justification, but God’s gradual working both precedes and follows it. | |||
Wesley’s primary contribution to the doctrine of sanctification is that he is the father of widespread evangelical views that separate justification and sanctification in a way that the Reformed view does not. <ref>Andrew David Naselli, “Keswick Theology: A Survey and Analysis of the Doctrine of Sanctification in the Early Keswick Movement,” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal Volume 13 13 (2008): 19–20. | |||
However, the separation of justification from sanctification is effectively a rejection of Christ’s Lordship in conversion because it is only at the time of the believer’s one-time act of dedication ("sanctification") that he submits to the Lordship of Christ.<ref>William W. Combs, “The Disjunction Between Justification And Sanctification In Contemporary Evangelical Theology,” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal Volume 6 6 (2001): 30.</ref> | |||
===Filled with the Holy Spirit=== | ===Filled with the Holy Spirit=== | ||