A Presentation of Perfection - Media Sabda Org

A PRESENTATION OF PERFECTION
By
Dr. Mark Eckart
Chapter 6
Interpretation
As was stated earlier, there were four theological categories designated for this study. This chapter
interpreted the data found in the articles in view of those categories.
The two hundred articles selected for this study predominately represented the
Pentecostal-Substantive category. The other category that was represented in a lesser way was the
Christological-Substantive. The other two categories were not represented in the data at all.
A fifth category was established for those articles that did not represent any of the four theological
camps. It was simply referred to as undetermined. Also, at the end of the chapter, other significant
shifts and emphases were noted that took place from period to period.
Pentecostal-Substantive/1906-1910
Of the fifty articles chosen for this period, thirty-five of them supported the theological views of
the Pentecostal-Substantive category. Consequently, the authors saw sin as an entity to be removed
from the heart, and this work was done by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Four of the writers during these five years that presented the Pentecostal-Substantive view were
A. M. Hills, Oswald Chambers, W. B. Godbey, and Martin Wells Knapp.
In March of 1906 an article was published that was written by Hills called "The Third Blessing."
This article wholeheartedly taught this view. He wrote,
Fire as used in connection with the Holy Ghost is a symbol of His influence upon the
heart. Fire burns, purifies, empowers, shines, illuminates, energizes: so also does the
Holy Spirit effect believers when He comes into the heart. [1]
This quote shows, among other things, that Hills believed when a person is sanctified the Holy Spirit
"burns or purifies" the heart from the substance of sin.
An article was written by Oswald Chambers in which he talked about the predominant work in
the life of those who were sanctified. He said it this way,
There is only one holiness, and that is God's holiness, and the holiness of the just
name is of exactly the same nature. When the Holy Ghost indwells, that man bears
an exact family likeness to Jesus. [2]
Later in the article Chambers was talking about what happens to sin when he stated,