Church of God writings explaining the work of entire sanctification

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Terry Wiles | PentecostalTheology.com

               

Are there any early COG writings that explain the work of sanctification as a point in time experience after being born again.

I believe that the company stated position is that the experience itself makes one holy. Is that correct? And does that mean being in a state of not committing sin again.

Could anyone clarify?

70 Comments

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Terry Wiles

    Interesting none of the leaders will make a clear comment on the meaning of their distinctive doctrinal difference.

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Terry Wiles

    I’m trying to understand COG view.

    Personally I believe it is difficult for us today to understand sanctification because we do not think with a mindset of Hebrew covenants. The New Testament writers fully understood covenant language. We tend to think in terms of experiencias.

    Scripture says be holy because God is holy.

    Thus, sanctification has personal actions connected to it.

    Perhaps the initial work of sanctification kicks in when a born again believer makes a command decision to live a covenant life. Just as God separates Himself to His word the sanctified person begins to follow in Covenant with Gods holy ethics and actions.

    An example would be the covenant language of Ephesians which says “husband love your wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for Her.”

    Using this as an example some days I’m sanctified and some days I’m not.

    We tend to get hung up on externals while at the same time we understand it is not in what we eat or drink or wear. It is in lifestyle that mirrors the Kingdom of God.

    So sanctification then must start with the way we think – our mindset.

    Peter says (1 Peter 2) that we ought to see ourselves a a new nation or race of people. This includes a lifestyle that may be mocked by the world but on the day of visitation will bring glory to God when the world is judged for how they treated us.

    These are just musings at this point.

    As I said, I was trying to understand the COG.

    Personally I believe there is a decision point followed by a life of covenant commence to God. I personally don’t use the “times of refreshing” experiences as evidence of personal sanctification.

    Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this.

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Charles Page

    COG position is that sanctification is a work of grace subsequent to the new birth. Whatever regeneration is sanctification is separate and unique to regeneration. I thin it is regeneration that we don’t understand. Nicodemus had a difficulty understanding the new birth. Sanctification is clearer and plainer.

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Stan Wayne

    COG doctrinal statement should be clear – it is 3 step – step 2 is instantaneous sanctification:

    “In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
    Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
    In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
    In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Terry Wiles

    Stan Wayne. The question is how do they know the sanctification has occurred?

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Stan Wayne

    I am not an instantaneous S believer but I understand it to be a type of assurance and heart warming that hits them /

    The vagueness of this contributed to the desire for the initial physical evidence doctrine among 2 step Pentecostals in the early 1900s

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Walter Polasik

    Terry Wiles: For a good grasp of early Pentecostal theology on sanctification known then as “second work of grace” or “second blessing” otherwise known as “entire sanctification”) read Vinson Synan on Pentecostal history. From what I’ve gathered, it was the Holiness churches and then more specifically the Holiness-Pentecostal churches that emphasized “entire sanctification” at the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Fire-Baptized Pentecostal church certainly held this belief. See also William Menzies, “Anointed to Serve”. Any writings would probably be found in the early monthly magazines that some Holiness and Pentecostal fellowships published.
    All of this stemmed from John Wesley’s notion of “Sinless Perfection” (see http://www.theopedia.com/Wesleyan-perfectionism). This notion was taken from its’ original format and plugged into the Baptism experience. The Holiness churches first viewed the Baptism sans tongues but Pentecostalism later rectified that.

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Joshua Bridges

    My understanding is that the Pentecostal Theological Seminary (the Church of God Seminary) has always upheld and articulated the Wesleyan position of sanctification. While the COG declaration of faith is a little vague on specifics of sanctification I have always been under the impression that the COG is in the Wesleyan camp and affirms sanctification as including a second definite work of grace followed by life long growth and development in Christ as our articles of faith articulate in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC).

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Walter Polasik

    Joshua Bridges: All respect to Wesley, but 1.) his doctrine of “Sinless Perfectionism has proven to be an abysmal cow of a failure (both practically and biblically). 2.) Any believers today who hold to “instant sanctification” vie the Baptism in the Holy Spirit have to account for what Progressive Sanctification, i.e. growing and maturing in Christ and the life-long ministry of the Holy Spirit have to bear on the subject. For the believer, biblically, there are two forms of sanctification: 1.) Positional Sanctification: this is where we stand justified and holy before God due to Christ’s own holiness imputed to us. This is true of every believer the moment they are born again. 2.) Progressive Sanctification: This refers to the believer developing, day by day, a holy life as he/she matures in the Lord and interacts with the ministry of the Holy Spirit (via the Word of God) in their lives. It is nonsense to talk about being made “more holy” (positionally) SUBSEQUENT to the New Birth as that is the point where, in our standing before God, Christ’s own sinless perfection is imputed to us.

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Charles Page

    Aren’t you confusing baptism of the Holy Spirit with baptism with the baptism with the Holy Spirit?

    One is the work of Holy Spirit in regeneration and the other is the words of John the baptist telling us of the work of Christ pouring out the Holy Spirit and in Act 1:8 Christ himself acknowledges this work which was accomplished at Pentecost. Peter in retrospect acknowledged the work.

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Stan Wayne

    If it weren’t that this is a Pentecostal site I would think this discussion was normal

  • Reply October 9, 2016

    Walter Polasik

    Charles Page: You do recall, don’t you, that Jesus specifically said, “Ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has COME UPON you.” (Acts 1:8). Again, isn’t this EXACTLY what happened to Saul in I Samuel 10:6,10-12 or am I missing something? That God would give/pour out His Spirit upon His people (as a work of the New Covenant He would make) is prophesied dozens of times over in the O.T. The same Spirit who convicts, regenerates and indwells is the same Spirit Who empowers. Again, this is all one work. That tongues were and are evident in the Spirit’s work on the believer is no confusion to this.

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Charles Page

    Christ was the baptizer and the Holy Spirit was poured out and this was prophecied by Joel

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Walter Polasik

    Charles Page: No arguments there. Only the important question is, “What was the EXTENT and FULL MEANING of that baptizing work”.?

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Charlie Robin

    Terry Wiles This may be a good outsiders observation but is not entirely true. The practice and conversation on sanctification has never stopped within the tradition. As a matter of fact in the past 20-25 years more and more scholars from outside the movement has looked into the doctrine of sanctification and interacted with it as both theology and praxis. One of the last such approach we’ve discussed on many occasions in the group since its publication – a wholistic interaction with Moltmannian pneumatology. Let me know if you cant find the entire discussion – here’s the book https://www.amazon.com/Sanctifying-Interpretation-Vocation-Holiness-Scripture/dp/1935931482

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Terry Wiles

    Tks. I’m headed to the Peruvian. Amazon. Found it for kindle. Will read it on the plane. I’m working on the assignment you gave me. Hard to get more then generalized answers only and the doctrinal statement as written leaves a lot of questions.

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Charlie Robin

    Also ch 2. on modified Wesleyan quadrilateral including discussion on entire / instant sanctification https://www.amazon.com/Pentecostal-Primitivism-Preserved-Donev-D-Min/dp/1477557539/

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Dennis Lear

    My little 2 cents on this. At new birth sins are covered. I stand before in a sinless position. However, the sin nature is addressed only at sanctification where we are put back in balance. Man is a “slave” to the sin nature. When man was created, while he did have a nature to sin, b/c of free will he had and chose to sin. Every person born has this fallen nature in them. What sanctification does is we choose to commit to obedience to God’s word and will. We are put back in balance, but we can and are still tempted and retain free will, therefore, we still fall. Balance puts the responsibility on man while putting him in a position he can make Godly choices that are deflected both outward and inward. As to sinless entire sanctification, is it possible? Yes, God is a just God and would never require anything of me that is out of reach. Either it will be within my abilities or He supernaturally makes it possible. So it is possible, but scriptural accounts and person experience tells us it is not probable. 1John 2:1-2 John anointed by the H. S. commanded “my little children” ( church folk) don’t sin. Use the position of Salvationist , the purity of your sanctification, and the power of the Spirit to live a holy life before God and man. Also, if you do sin, go to your advocate with the Father in true repentance. Christians do not have a sin problem, but many have a commitment problem. GOD NEVER ASKS ANYTHING FROM US HE HAS NOT PREPARED AND EMPOWERED US TO DO. There is continuous sanctification through the word, by the H. S. and our daily walk. You will reach perfection when you look under your feet and see streets as “..as transparent gold.” So I see an experience that begins the journey of sanctification and will not end on this earth. Hope this helps. If not, it comes from an old cornfield preacher. So what do I know.

    • Reply November 21, 2016

      Beverly

      Great post

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Charles Page

    There are no sins to cover at new birth

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Terry Wiles

    Comments like that?make it hard to understand what the old time COG ministers believe about sanctification. 🙂

  • Reply October 10, 2016

    Varnel Watson

    Minutes of the 61st General Assembly of the Church of God

    Place: World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA.
    Date: July 29 – August 3, 1986.
    General Overseer: Raymond E. Crowly.

    Recommendations from the 1986 General Council to the General Assembly (pp.53-55).

    Item 5: Practical Commitments (p.54).

    SUPPLEMENT:

    Declaration of Faith (p.4). [48th A.]
    Church of God Teachings (pp.6-8). [48th A.]
    Resolution Relative to the Principles of Holiness of Church of God. (p.13). [48th A.]
    Project 2000 (p.14).

  • Reply October 18, 2016

    Varnel Watson

    Melvin Harter Minutes of the 52nd General Assembly of the Church of God

    Place: Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, TX.
    Date: August 14-19, 1968.
    General Overseer: Charles W. Conn.

    ” Monday Morning, Aug.19, 1968
    General Council Recommendations:

    Item 13. Declaration of Faith:

    WE RECOMMEND:
    That a committee be appointed to amplify each article of the Declaration of Faith to be approved by the Executive Council.

    The recommendation was adopted.”

    SUPPLEMENT:

    Church of God Teachings (pp.6-7). [48th A.]
    Declaration of Faith (p.4). [42nd A.]
    Resolution Relative to the Principles of Holiness of Church of God. (pp.10-11). [48th A.]
    Modest Apparel (p.58). [48th A.]

  • Reply October 18, 2016

    Stan Wayne

    Modest apparel has a definition?

  • Reply October 18, 2016

    Varnel Watson

    Ref. Modest Apparel (p.58). [48th A.]

  • Reply October 18, 2016

    Stan Wayne

    No access

  • Charles Page
    Reply November 21, 2016

    Charles Page

    An early statement by Tomlinson on the subject of the new birth. This could be a reference to the “finished work” interpretations.

  • Varnel Watson
    Reply November 22, 2016

    Varnel Watson

    The Holy Spirit inhabits the body of the believer in a peculiar and special way since that special Day of Pentecost, when He was poured out on the assembled believers as the promise of the Father (Acts 1:8). The child of God (John 1:12) is accepted in the Beloved, Jesus, (Ephesians 1:6) and blessed with the assurance of God’s presence and blessing (John 10:28-30).

  • Varnel Watson
    Reply September 18, 2017

    Varnel Watson

    Paul Hughes Perhaps you should review again

  • […] Church of God writings explaining the work of entire sanctification […]

  • Reply January 24, 2023

    Anonymous

    Entire Sanctification isn’t biblically possible until glorification.

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Brett Dobbs you must be calvinist like Kyle Williams now

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day nope, I’m non-Calvinist. Maybe I should define what I believe to be “Entire Sanctification” so that there is no misunderstanding.

      Entire sanctification is a state of perfect love, righteousness and true holiness which every regenerate believer may obtain by being delivered from the power of sin, by loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and by loving one’s neighbor as one’s self. Through faith in Jesus Christ this gracious gift may be received in this life both gradually and instantaneously, and should be sought earnestly by every child of God.

      I believe in progressive sanctification. Which is process over a lifetime working towards state of perfect love, righteousness and true holiness which every regenerate believer is enduring an ongoing change by being delivered from the power of sin, by loving God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and by loving one’s neighbor as one’s self. By Gods grace, we do this by the continual renewing of our mind, by putting on the mind of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us a new nature, while we put off the old nature.

  • Reply January 24, 2023

    John E

    Wesley taught that ENTIRE sanctification (a la 1 Thess 5:23) would happen for the faithful believer at least in the hour of the individual’s death, but that it could possibly occur some time prior, even years earlier than death.

    The 19th century Holiness Movement, out of which the CoG eventually sprang, tended to drop the modifier, “entire,” thus confusing the original Wesleyan view.

    Wesley himself denied the term, “sinless perfection,” by the way.

  • Reply January 24, 2023

    Anonymous

    When I read those comments, it’s pretty clear to me that they don’t understand Wesley or entire sanctification at all.

    In fact, I would go so far as to say that most people don’t know what “entire” actually means or “perfection” in “Christian perfection.”

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter I have read a plain account of Christian perfection along with Larry Wood’s book” Pentecost & Sanctification in the Writings of John Wesley and Charles Wesley with a Proposal for Today”. I have found the Seedbed articles helpful, but what I like the most are the writings of Mildred Bangs Wynkoop, H. Orton Wiley, William Greathouse. These are non-CoG. I am troubled with the Keswick View of Don Bowdle and those he influenced. Concerning most have no clue about it, I agree. Few teach it and many of those claiming CoG views only can tell you when they think it happens and not what it is. Others hold to a legalistic view of “sinless perfection”. Didn’t Mark Williams once try with the help of a prof from PTS to explain it in a 5 minute or so session. They were able to check that off their list of having taught the flock. — OH for more men of God like Elmer Odom who in my opinion was a humble, honest man of God who loved those he taught.

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      John Mushenhouse One of the problems is disentangling Wesley from Wesleyanism. Most older CG authors on entire sanctification were actually endorsing Phoebe Palmer’s modification without realizing it.

      Don Bowdle wasn’t even Keswick. He endorsed a straight up Reformed understanding of sanctification that he basically got from John Murray. He even titled his book Redemption Accomplished and Applied after Murray’s Redemption Accomplished and Applied.

      Wesley’s view of Christian perfection must be placed in a patristic and medieval framework or you will misunderstand what he is saying in my view.

      I don’t know anyone who says they reject entire sanctification who has actually tried to read through the Patristic and medieval writers on it as background to Wesley. Instead, they usually read Wesley through some evangelical (really Reformed) lens. When you do that, you are certain to completely misunderstand what he means by perfection. It’s only when you get that Latin perfectio comes from per (through/by) and factio (doing, making) that you see the term means literally to do/make through as in to finish or complete it. Perfection is about completion and wholeness. But, even here, Wesley means not absolute completion since the body will not be whole until the resurrection. He means when love fills the whole. Yet, even here, you won’t get it until you see the link to the Greek term for perfection, which means maturation/completion. Thus, to bring to completion is akin to a child reaching adulthood and bringing the biological maturation process to completion. Thus, Christian “perfection” is about bringing the process of sanctification to a maturation point or a completion in which love fills the whole of our emotional life. But, like when a child reaches biological maturation, it does not mean that he/she cannot continue to mature psychologically, Wesley thinks that reaching Christian perfection is NEVER the end but the end of one process and the initiation of another.

      Of course, everyone says, “Well, we are not entirely sanctification until heaven.” But, when you quiz people who make such a claim, they clearly don’t know what that actually means. If you mean, soul and body, then Wesley would say, “I fully agree.” If you mean, we enter into some final fellowship where we know God with complete knowledge, Wesley would say, “I fully agree.” If you mean, we can no longer sin, Wesley would say, “I fully agree.” In other words, entire sanctification does not mean bodily perfection, perfection of knowledge, or sinless perfection. Wesley didn’t teach any of that.

      I am pretty convinced that most people who reject Wesley, reject a figment of their own imagination–a caricature. This is because they have not done the hard work of actually reading the Fathers and the medievals and what they say about perfection and sainthood, etc.

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter good but I also see Keswick in Bowdle, but he was reformed in much. Why did they keep him at Lee. Did his students pay attention or just had to take the courses he taught? I do see the impact of Palmer and her holiness meetings, but I am not sure if she missed the point. I still think we must not dress Wesley in any views but his own and that includes Palmer and the patristics. I agree perfection = complete 100%. Why has the CoG failed to do much teaching on sanctification? I realize that more are accepting Durham today if they even speak of it. Perhaps you have insight since you are there. I don’t see Tim Hill even trying to address it. Thanks for responding.

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Have you read Larry Wood’s book on the Wesleys.

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      You know Dale M. Coulter sometimes people do read Wesley by their interests being Palmer or even the Patristics. They read what they are interested in and it dresses their views on just not Wesley but others.. After some though, I really believe John Heylyn, Jeremy Taylor, William Law, Christian David. Peter Bohler, other Moravians and some Puritans led to his and Charles’ view. These may have been influenced by the Patristics/ medieval writers perhaps, but when reading both John and Charles they refer to the above. I did see Keswick in Bowdle, but you sat under him so I accept your verdict. I knew he was very much reformed in many of his views. Why did they keep him at Lee? Was it one of the few with a Ph.D.?

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter if I’m getting it wrong please correct me.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      John Mushenhouse I have Wood’s book on Fletcher.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      John Mushenhouse Bowdle taught at Lee what he had been taught by Hollis Gause. Most people don’t realize this, but Hollis only started to recover a Wesleyan framework in the 70s after he finished his work at Emory.

      People also don’t always realize this but the CG has a number of views. The Declaration of Faith was written to allow for a diversity of views on sanctification.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Brett Dobbs I don’t know what you mean by entire sanctification. Wesley gets that language from 1 Thess. 5:23: May the God of peace sanctify you completely/wholly. Peace for Paul is shalom. May the God who brings wholeness (shalom) make you wholly holy. In that short passage is the language of wholeness and holiness. Wesley thought that they went together. So, a couple of questions:

      1. Can we grow in grace so that we become more holy?
      2. If the answer to #1 is yes, then how far can we grow?

      Question #2 is the key question. And, this returns me to my question of what you mean by “entire.” Wesley equates entire with wholly but he then connects it to love. For this reason, Wesley sees all of Paul’s statements about love as related to sanctification. For example, Eph. 1:4 “that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” So, entire is a condition related to love. But, Wesley sees the fruit of the Spirit as virtues that we cultivate in cooperation with the Spirit over time. Virtues are skills that we acquire like the skill of playing a musical instrument. You don’t become great at playing the piano without practicing over and over and cultivating the proper skill set. Remember that asceticism is from the Greek term askesis. It refers to the exercises/practices that Greek athletes would engage in to get better. Spiritual disciplines are exercises (fasting, praying, etc.) that cultivate virtue in us. Love is the culmination of virtue. We know we have reached a level of completion when our skills at living the Christian life become such that love governs our desires and emotions. What does this mean? It doesn’t mean that we cannot be tempted because we can. It doesn’t mean we cannot be depressed, feel pain, grief, guilt, etc. because we can. Our bodies are still bodies and subject to everything that physical bodies are subject to: sexual desire, appetite for food, etc. None of that changes until the resurrection, which our mortal bodies put on immortality. But, when we cultivate enough fruit/virtues, we can more effectively engage in these spiritual battles because love becomes a virtue, a settled disposition. It’s like a musician who can sit down and play beautifully because the skills are there. Yet, it’s also like a husband who has loved his wife for 30 years and now can never think of himself apart from her. His love is not just attraction for his wife. It’s not just emotion or desire. It’s a disposition so strong that he cannot imagine a life outside of her. That’s when love in marriage has reached a level of perfection that carries the husband and wife through thick and thin. Wesley thinks that this kind of love can also be present for God.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter okay. Yeah I definitely got it wrong. I thought entire Sanctification was the idea that when a person is reborn, regeneration, that they get completely sanctified instantly. The sin nature is removed and replaced by the new nature in Jesus Christ. Along with the rest of the definition I provided earlier. And by no longer having a sin nature, we’re completely delivered from sin, and will no longer have a desire to sin. For example, a person will believe that they have been completely delivered and can no longer look at another women with lust. And there is no chance for this person to ever be at risk of backsliding. In fact if the person did backslide or ever fall into sin for a season, then this person would be ruled as he was never saved.

      Does that make sense. By what you describe clearly, that isn’t what I just described. So entire sanctification isn’t the correct term for what I just described.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Brett Dobbs I have discovered that there are a lot of misconceptions out there re Wesley’s view for a number of reasons like people don’t understand what Wesley means when he says Christian perfection is not about the body. Wesley knew from ancient and medieval Christian psychology that bodily drives/appetites like sex will remain. There are bodily drives like eating, sex, etc. and there are movements in the soul like emotions. A lot of this has to do with getting the psychology of the moral life correct.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Brett Dobbs I dont think Dale M. Coulter can get it wrong here 🙂

    • Reply January 26, 2023

      Anonymous

    • Reply January 26, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter Hollis sent me his notes on SysTheo in the late 90s to review for a book he never got to publish. I still have them and shared some with Neil Steven Lawrence I had never gotten around this and many other sent to me by now but DO plan to revisit his notes, Jon Ruthven and several other in a serious of posts in 2023 Lord willing – I have not seen ANY material from Bowdle or referencing Bowdle in what I’ve reviewed so far but one of his students Charles Page has spoken about some possible leads

    • Reply January 26, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day Pentecostals need the summation of Dr. Gause’s doctrine . I’ll be the first to buy the book. Make sure it’s digital! 

    • Reply January 26, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter great explanation of Christian perfection/holiness !

    • Reply January 27, 2023

      Anonymous

      Neil Steven Lawrence this is for yalls organization to compile my brother There will be too much red tape if I get involved AND I am not in direct agree with his commentary on REV 🙂 but as we’ve discussed with John Mushenhouse it is high time your organization hire several real doctors who do not simply publish their work BUT study his and publish on his research and theological framework foundation IMHO

    • Reply January 27, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day The CoG is trying to get out of the wilderness and I am not sure if the leadership knows how.

    • Reply January 27, 2023

      Anonymous

      John Mushenhouse our AG went out the same way claiming the 2017 SUPER growth using mainly international numbers AND when it was clear they can sustain the numbers the whole thing just got silent – it is what it is https://www.pentecostaltheology.com/tribulation-jubilee-special/

    • Reply January 27, 2023

      Anonymous

      The CoG tried many things lately especially seeker sensitive churches. I don’t see much spiritual growth in those churches. What I see are community meeting places for felt needs and a loyalty to the Pastor and the church, but not to the denomination. So many are desperate for growth that they follow the successful churches. They don’t realize you need money and a talented preacher to attain the seeker sensitive style. So much for the Holy Spirit as we are reduced to the talents of men instead.

  • Reply January 24, 2023

    Anonymous

    Dr. Dale M. Coulter are you referring to Dr. John Mushenhouse comments today or Dr. TerryandNita Wiles original comments from the post?

    “Are there any early COG writings that explain the work of sanctification as a point in time experience after being born again.

    I believe that the company stated position is that the experience itself makes one holy. Is that correct? And does that mean being in a state of not committing sin again.

    Could anyone clarify?

    I’m trying to understand COG view.

    Personally I believe it is difficult for us today to understand sanctification because we do not think with a mindset of Hebrew covenants. The New Testament writers fully understood covenant language. We tend to think in terms of experiencias.

    Scripture says be holy because God is holy.

    Thus, sanctification has personal actions connected to it.

    Perhaps the initial work of sanctification kicks in when a born again believer makes a command decision to live a covenant life. Just as God separates Himself to His word the sanctified person begins to follow in Covenant with Gods holy ethics and actions.

    An example would be the covenant language of Ephesians which says “husband love your wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for Her.”

    Using this as an example some days I’m sanctified and some days I’m not.

    We tend to get hung up on externals while at the same time we understand it is not in what we eat or drink or wear. It is in lifestyle that mirrors the Kingdom of God.

    So sanctification then must start with the way we think – our mindset.

    Peter says (1 Peter 2) that we ought to see ourselves a a new nation or race of people. This includes a lifestyle that may be mocked by the world but on the day of visitation will bring glory to God when the world is judged for how they treated us.

    These are just musings at this point.

    As I said, I was trying to understand the COG.

    Personally I believe there is a decision point followed by a life of covenant commence to God. I personally don’t use the “times of refreshing” experiences as evidence of personal sanctification.

    Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this.”

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day The “company” view allows for different views.

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter possibly – just a brief background here. A few years back Dr. TerryandNita Wiles combined several theological views via research parallel in attempt to compare common core Pentecostal beliefs A good example was his post on

      What virtually all Pentecostal denominations believe concerning Speaking in Other Tongues as the initial evidence of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit?

      What virtually all Pentecostal denominations believe concerning SANCTIFICATION?

      and of course the one with Dr. Jon Ruthven Are there Apostles today? What virtually every Pentecostal denomination believes about apostolic ministry in the 21st century

      https://www.pentecostaltheology.com/?s=what+virtually

      It was interesting for me to observe alike him that as n-generation pastor, scholar, minister in our AG we have to adhere by out TRUTHS I suppose cog has to adhere by their doctrinal truth stance as well which includes entire sanctification. Others like Kyle Williams are reformed non-sanctified or 2-part blessers like Peter Vandever How is that Ricky Grimsley was pastored by one of your supreme general’s family and Link Hudson was attended a church led by 3rd Pentecost Messenger pak Niko YET they do not adhere to entire sanctification as part of the cog teachings is quite interesting

    • Reply January 24, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter I suggest we read this view concerning John W and Christian David 17. Wesley, August 8, 1738, Journals and Diaries I (1735–38), in Works of John Wesley 18:270. Christian David equated “full assurance” and being “cleansed from all sin.” Cf. Ibid, 18:272, (August 10, 1738). —

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day What I mean is that the Declaration of Faith in the CG was written in 1948 to allow for a variety of views on sanctification. We have letters from some of the original team members and they did not agree on sanctification.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter original members of AJ Tomlinson’s cog, earlier or later? 1948 was for yall to get into the north american evangelical alliance

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day What I have discovered is that while the CG has always been Wesleyan holiness, it has also had higher life folks in it from the 1930s at least. We have debates over sanctification in the 1940s as a result. The DoF was a compromise document.

      So, you can find CG writers who espouse Phoebe Palmer’s view, higher life, and a Reformed view. We have not really had a writer espouse Wesley’s view because there was confusion with Palmer’s shorter way.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter Land?

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day Land was about as close as you can get because he did try to rehabilitate Wesley’s notion of ordered affections but he never fully developed that part. Still, Land is the closest to a full-orbed Wesleyan position in our ranks. And, some of that is thanks to Hal Knight’s work. They were both PhD students at Emory together.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Dale M. Coulter well MOST of his historical part is echoes in Everlasting Gospel by David Willaim Faupel HOWEVER on his holiness part he starts with Symeon the New Theologian and follows entire sanctification all the way through Wesley to cog – not a small point to be ignored here

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      Troy Day True. He used Bill’s work as the basic framework.

    • Reply January 25, 2023

      Anonymous

      dont think Bill was published till mid 1990s like 95or96 maybe My 1st.ed. ot Land is 1993 and his dissertation much earlier of course

  • Reply January 24, 2023

    Anonymous

    Holy Spirit Symposium – Call for Papers
    On behalf of the Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today, we are inviting you to submit research paper proposals pertaining to the theme of next year’s symposium. Our vision is for this interdisciplinary discussion to traverse the landscapes of the psychological, neurological, spiritual and biblical-theological (although not limited to these areas), culminating in a collective exploration of the Holy Spirit and the healing of the human body.

    This conversation within the guild of pneumatology will be showcased at the upcoming Fall 2023 Holy Spirit Academic Symposium. The selected scholars, along with Biola’s five faculty fellows chosen to engage in this research, will present their findings at this time. Keynote speaker, Dr. Craig Keener, and responses by Dr. Candy Gunther Brown, will provide the biblical-theological foundation for a deeper discovery of the healing work of the Holy Spirit. We encourage you to submit an abstract (300 words) to the committee by completing this form no later than January 31st, 2023.

    Join the already accepted research from the following scholars: Dr. Carmen Imes, Dr. Leon Harris, Dr. Richard Gunasekera, Dr. James Johansen, and Professor Helen Mitchell.

    The research produced for the symposium will serve students across diverse disciplines, including theology, business, social science, and biological science, integrating the work of the Divine Spirit with those areas of study. Additionally, pastors and leaders will also obtain a wider breadth of knowledge and understanding regarding healing within the Church. We truly hope you will consider sharing at this academic event.

    You will be notified of the committee’s decision by the end of February, 2023.

  • Reply January 26, 2023

    Anonymous

    TerryandNita Wiles did you ever find a book explaining this one John Mushenhouse may be able to help with some more references

    • Reply January 26, 2023

      Anonymous

      I researched the COG view drawing from their website. It seemed confusing so I made some individual inquiries to leaders and never received a clear answer. One leader simply said, “The old timers know.” But it didn’t know any old timer. Other Pentecostal thought carries the same confusion from time to time. Example: The AG seems to be saying The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is all about “initial physical evidence” instead of “the enduement of power for life and service.”

      I gave up! Blessings

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