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Current 2016 Church of God of Prophecy revised view of SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification, like salvation, ultimately spans the entire life of the believer. Initially, it is a work of grace subsequent to being justified, regenerated, or born again. It is an instantaneous work, which both sets one apart for God (1 Corinthians 1:2) and crucifies and cleanses the old nature, enabling the believer to be free from the dominant rule of sin: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For, he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6, 7). “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). This dethroning of the old nature, this cleansing, this setting apart, places upon the believer the scriptural demand to “mortify the deeds of the body” through the Spirit (Romans 8:12, 13) and to “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication [sexual immorality], uncleanness, inordinate [abnormal] affection, evil concupiscence [desire for earthly things], and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). Second Peter 3:17, 18 further encourages growth in God’s grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ: “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” There is then in sanctification, a responsibility on the part of the believer to “put off” some habits and practices, and to “put on” others, which means there must be intentionality to holiness (Ephesians 4:22–32). Sanctification empowers us against sin’s control; the believer responds with a renewed mind to be transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 12:1, 2) and to be holy in life and conduct (2 Corinthians 7:1).
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Jon Ray
Seems like a more current source on entire sanctification Eric Ayala Fr. Timothy Cremeens Vinson Synan William DeArteaga http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/church-of-god-of-prophecy-changes-doctrinal-statement-to-include-progressive-sanctification/
Sia Khan
Sanctification is not imitation ,
it is impartation
Sia Khan
Sia Khan liked this on Facebook.
Terry Wiles
Sounds like progressive.
Varnel Watson
Could it be both among continuing Pentecostals?
Mary Ellen Nissley
I think both is the correct view.
Larry R Talley
Having grown up in the CoG and later serving in the AG, I have struggled with the teachings of both views on the doctrine of Sanctification. Before I could move my family to the AG I needed to resolve this difference in my heart. I came to see both points of view. There is a separate distinctive “act of grace” (CoG) in most believers (I say most because in some this occurs so close to the first act of Grace, Salvation, that the believer does not realize there has been a seperate occurrence). A point where the believer decides that they must be separated apart from this world system, where we know we are “in the world but not of the world”. However, since the first act of Grace cannot occur without the Spirit of God, there is a “Progressive” component to the Christian experience as well. On our Spiritual journey to develop the “Fruit of the Spirit” ((“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, , temperance…”)) we are progressing Spiritualy as well. Hence, personally, I can see both points of view.
Varnel Watson
Dr. Melvin Harter I have been meaning to ask Dr. Tony Richie WHY the entire sanctification chapter in his Pentecostal Essentials is reflecting more or less this 2016 move by the COGOP rather than the original COG stand that has been upheld since AJ Tomlinson received his entire sanctification at Burger Mt.
http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/a-j-tomlinson-prayed-through-to-his-own-sanctification/
Darryl Forbes
As a member of the Church of God of Prophecy, we believe in walking in the light as God shines it. We take a covenant to walk in the light to the best of our knowledge and ability. A.J. Thomlinson believed this as well. Yes, sanctification is both an instantaneous work of grace. But it continues. Remember in 1 Corinthians 6:11 says we ARE sanctified. That speaks of the instantaneous work. And 1 Thessalonians 5:3 speaks of God sanctifying us WHOLLY (completely). That’s the process that continues.
Again the church of God of Prophecy believes in the Bible as our only rule of faith, practice, and discipline. That heritage was emphasized by A.J. Tomlinson at our organizations beginning. The Church of God and the Church of God of Prophecy strive to continue to honor that heritage .
Varnel Watson
Darryl Forbes Melvin Harter and I believe your representation of entire sanctification as Tomlinson and others received at that time of good ol religion is distorted – the least to say I visited one time Burger Mt and the lightning stricken tree and the altar on the top of hill I read whats written on stone and no where it said progressive What has changed since ? http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/back-to-the-basics-sanctification-and-holy-living/
Darryl Forbes
Troy Day again, Look at scripture. Scripture teaches holiness and entire sanctification. Scripture indicates both an instantaneous work and a continuous work. I’m not trying to argue or contradict Bis. Tomlinson. Obviously he was speaking of the instantaneous , second work of grace in his testimony. We still believe that. Again although I only listed 2 passages, SCRIPTURE describes an instant work and an ongoing work. We are to grow in grace… That’s scripture too. We are to rightly divide the word of truth. That’s not lowering the standard. That holding the biblical standard. A.J. Thomlinsons legacy is to teach us to take this Bible as the word of God.
Ray E Horton
I agree that scripture speaks of both instantaneous and progressive sanctification. I understand it best in the light of our tripartite being, spirit, soul and body. While many don’tundrrstand the distinction between spirit and soul, it is key to our growth and maturity.
Spirit is my identity, made in God’s image and likeness. It is who I am, and that is what is instantly saved and sanctified. Our soul (mind, will and emotions) however, is in progress. There, our savation is being worked out and we are gradually sanctified from glory to glory as we renew our mind in the mirror of God’s Word and see who we are now in Christ, made perfect and righteous in spirit. That knowledge gives us motivation to go on and run the race.
Varnel Watson
Darryl Forbes which is scripture again ? For starters BE YE HOLY – now not in a the far distant future
Ezequiel T. Garcia III
Amen . Well Said.
Varnel Watson
Darryl Forbes which scripture exactly? Melvin Harter has given us plenty of Scripture for entire sanctification For starters BE YE HOLY – now not in a the far distant future
Darryl Forbes
Troy Day Holiness is required. Period. I don’t know what the disagreement is about. God requires us to be sanctified Wholly. 1 Thessalonians was written to a Godly set of believers. Yet he prayed that God Sanctify them Wholly (completely) . If they had ALREADY been sanctified in absolutely every way, there’d have been no need for him to say that. The Corinthians were referred to as Sanctified. Yet they they needed instructions in living as they were called to live.
Paul stated that he had not already been made perfect. But he pressed towards the Mark.
The Colossians were told in chapter 3 to put off and put on.
Peter told the saints to GROW in grace. And to ADD various things. Those things enable us to live more holy as we grow in grace.
Am I saying that we take our own sweet time? No. Am I saying that we have permission to sin? No! But the very fact that we become MORE and MORE like Jesus as we follow him let’s us know that we aren’t COMPLETELY what we should be when we are first saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. Our Adamic nature is gone. But we still have OUR flesh that we must crucify daily.
Varnel Watson
Darryl Forbes For starters BE YE HOLY as I AM holy
Darryl Forbes
Troy Day Hebrews 12:14 Tells us to follow peace and holiness…
Follow means to pursue. Let us do just that. If we pursue holiness, we’ll BE holy. No argument here. We are also to follow or pursue Peace. If we neglect either, we will never see The Lord. Colossians 3 gives us a list of things we are to PUT OFF and to Put ON. Let’s do that also. If we see anything in our lives that is not like Christ. Get rid of it with the help of God, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen. That way we’ll be sanctified wholly or COMPLETELY.
Varnel Watson
Darryl Forbes IF there were NO Biblical foundation for entire sanctification WHY did AJ Tomlinson prayed and preached and WHY does cogop goes back to it every few years? Melvin Harter
Melvin Harter
The writer posting the above (I do not think it represents a formal statement of the CoGoP) makes a fatal error. He defines Sanctification as Christian Growth. This cannot be. They are not the same. Christian Growth is a lifelong process of walking in the light as it shines on your path. Sanctification is not.
Varnel Watson
actually Bro Melvin Harter the article is STRAIGHT from the COGOP website They changed their view in 2016 Here is the official link Pls scroll down to item #4 SANCTIFICATION https://cogopreading.org/about-us/doctrine/