Scriptural Sanctification - Media Sabda Org

SCRIPTURAL SANCTIFICATION:
An
Attempted Solution of the Holiness Problem
By The
Rev. John R. Brooks, D.D.
Chapter 8
SANCTIFICATION
SUBSEQUENT TO REGENERATION AND INSTANTANEOUS
-- SCRIPTURE PROOF --
Our first appeal is to the Bible. Our thesis, as explained in the last chapter, does not require us to
prove that no believers are wholly sanctified at regeneration, and that hence a second change must
be wrought in all the regenerate to thoroughly save them from sinwardness or depravity, and fit them
for heaven. For it was conceded that full provision has been made for complete salvation in
conversion, and that this thorough work may be wrought at that time if the human conditions are
perfect. It may not be amiss here to restate and emphasize this last noted fact or theory. We again
quote from Dr. Withers, who has written very thoughtfully on this subject. He says:
"Scientifically it stands thus: Jesus died, God is satisfied; I believe, the Spirit enters; I am
sanctified. But when the sinner comes to reduce that science to practice, we find that he was not
sanctified at first. In truth he did not expect it, for he did not clearly comprehend the full force of the
definition. He did not know what he needed further than to be forgiven. He felt himself a sinner, and
wanted God to forgive him. He did not think about sanctification. He was not far enough advanced
in grace to have an opinion on the subject."
Continuing, Dr. Withers well says again:
"So far as the system of grace is concerned, he might have enjoyed the full blessing by a single
act of faith. But generally men do not make that step. So universal is the practice of making a second
step to stand when we might have stood with one step, that both the Scriptures and the standards,
viewing the subject from the practical and not the scientific standpoint, describe it as a second
blessing. It is in here between the initial faith, with its accompanying grace, and the perfected faith,
with its perfecting grace, that we find the majority of experiences and a numerous class of scriptures.
All, then, that we are required to prove from the Scriptures and experience is that some believers,
it may be many or few, are not fully sanctified in regeneration. Our position might be strengthened
should it appear that this is generally, if not quite universally, the case with believers.
1. As our first Scripture proof, we cite the case of the apostles at Pentecost. We think it has
already been shown in the sixth chapter.
(1) That they had previously been regenerated. They had been "chosen out of the world," and had
been sent out to preach the gospel. Jesus had said of them, "They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world," and that their names had been "written in heaven." They seem to have received