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Chapter 7
THE TIME PERIOD
How Long Between The Two Experiences? -- Between the work of regeneration and the experience of entire sanctification there is such a distinction as to make necessary a time difference as to their reception. The question therefore arises, How much time must elapse between the two? In other words, how soon after regeneration may the soul be entirely sanctified? Most Christians testify to an extended period of struggling and of frequent defeat, but we are persuaded that this is not God's perfect plan, neither is it the Scriptural way, as the following passages will show. Acts 2:37-39: It is evident that in Peter's thinking on the Day of Pentecost, "the remission of sins" and the "gift of the Holy Ghost" were not far apart. Acts 8:5-8, 14-17: It is evident that in the thinking of the Jerusalem authorities, the uppermost thought was, "The sooner these new converts receive the blessing, the better it will be." Acts 9:17-19: It is evident that in the thinking of Ananias, Saul should receive the Holy Ghost without delay. Acts 19:1-7: It is evident that in Paul's thinking these Ephesian believers should not be allowed to go on indefinitely without being challenged as to their reception of the Holy Ghost. 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23, 24: Although so recently converted from heathenism -- converts probably little more than six months old-- Paul urges them to seek the experience of entire sanctification.
Rev. J. A. Wood: "There is no time stated in the Scriptures which must elapse after conversion before the soul can be entirely sanctified. The only prerequisite to the seeking of holiness is the justified and regenerate state. Even 'babes in Christ' are exhorted to 'go on unto perfection'; and all believers are included in the command, 'Be ye holy, for I am holy.' The declaration, 'It is the will of God, even your sanctification.' is true of every believer, and was originally addressed to heathen converts who were but babes in Christ. Today, the present time, is the voice both of the Law and the Gospel in regard to our sanctification. It is the duty and privilege of all believers to have hearts cleansed from sin, and filled with love at once.
"When first converted, we should press on into this goodly land which flows with milk and honey. When the kingdom of God is first set up in our hearts, the course is short, the difficulties are comparatively few, and we cannot be too early, or too much in earnest, seeking purity.
"Ancient Canaan was a type of gospel privilege, and is frequently used in the Scriptures to illustrate truth and duty. As entire holiness is the objective point in the whole Christian system, so Canaan was the objective point to the Israelites when they left Egypt. After they left Horeb, on the shores of the Red Sea, they consumed only eleven days in reaching the borders of Canaan, in sight of the beautiful hills of that goodly land. Joshua, the faithful servant of God, seeing their privilege and duty, said to them: 'Let us go up at once and possess it: for we are well able to overcome it. But the unbelieving Israelites remained forty years in the wilderness, with all their disabilities and sorrows, when they might have entered their long promised Canaan in less than a month. "Are there not ten times six hundred thousand in the Christian church today who ought to pass over at once into the Canaan of perfect love? And some of these, we fear, have been more than forty years in the wilderness" (Perfect Love, pp. 30, 31).
Rev. John Wesley: "The next morning I spoke severally with those who believed they were sanctified. They were fifty-one in all -- twenty-one men, twenty-one widows or married women, and nine young women or children. In one, the change was wrought three weeks after she was justified. In three, seven days after it; in one, five days; and in S. L., aged fourteen, two days only" (Wesley's Journal, August 4. 1762). I have been lately thinking a good deal on one point, wherein, perhaps, we have all been wanting. We have not made it a rule, as soon as ever persons are justified, to remind them of 'going on unto perfection.' Whereas this is the very time preferable to all others. They have then the simplicity of little children; and they are fervent in spirit, ready to cut off a right hand or pluck out the right eye. But if we once suffer this fervor to subside, we shall find it hard enough to bring them again even to this point" (Letter Thomas Rankin).
"Every one, though born of God in an instant, yea, and sanctified in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows, by slow degrees, both after the former and the latter change. But it does not follow from thence that there may be a considerable tract of time between the one and the other. A year or a month is the same with God as a thousand. It is therefore our duty to pray and look for full salvation every day, every hour, every moment, without waiting until we have either done or suffered more" (Wesley's Works)
"Many at Macclesfield believed that the blood of Christ had cleansed them from all sin. I spoke to these forty in all, one by one. Some of them said they received that blessing ten days, some seven, some four, some three days, after they found peace with God, and two of them the next day" (Wesley's Works).
"With God one day is as a thousand years. It plainly follows that the quantity of time is nothing to Him. Centuries, years, months, days, hours and moments are exactly the same. Consequently, He can as well sanctify in a day after we are justified, as a hundred years. There is no difference at all, unless we suppose Him to be such a one as ourselves. Accordingly, we see, in fact, that some of the most unquestionable witnesses of sanctifying grace were sanctified within a few days after they were justified. "
No wonder that he exclaims, "Oh, why do we not encourage all to expect this blessing every hour from the moment they are justified?" (Wesley's Works). To Freeborn Garrettson in 1785: "It will be well, as soon as any seekers find peace with God, to exhort them to go on unto perfection."
Rev. Luther Lee: "This progressive work may be cut short and finished, at any moment, when the intelligence clearly comprehends the defects of the present state, and faith, comprehending the power and willingness of God to sanctify us wholly, and do it now, is exercised" (Lee's Theology, p. 214).
Rev. J. S. Inskip: "We are generally inclined to the opinion that between our justification and sanctification there must necessarily be an extended period of many months or years, or well-nigh a lifetime. This is a most grievous error" (Methods of Promoting Perfect Love, p. 14).
Dr. Jesse T. Peck: "They were not wholly sanctified when they were justified. This they have learned by experience, if they did not from the Bible, where it is clearly taught; and they have argued that time is necessary for the completion of the work -- how much they know not, but a long time, and at length; it has been, perhaps in many cases, unconsciously extended to the period of death. In this way, with a few, weeks and months; but with most, years, many long years have passed, and the time of their entire consecration has not yet arrived. "But why might not the work have been sooner completed? ...There is surely no time fixed in the Scriptures which must elapse before the work can be accomplished. The Savior prays for His disciples, 'Sanctify them through thy truth.' Assuming that they were all at that time eligible to this great blessing. And in view of the same fact, Paul prays, 'The very God of peace sanctify you wholly.' Even 'babes in Christ' are exhorted to 'go on to perfection'; and all believers are included in the command, 'Be ye holy.' The want of time is not the difficulty. Alas, how many gracious privileges have been neglected! How long have most of us been called to holiness! What darkness and condemnation have we brought upon our souls by refusing the call or postponing attention to another period! All of which clearly shows that, had we given the subject suitable consideration, we might have been long since wholly saved from sin" (The Central Idea of Christianity, pp. 110, 111).
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