There has been a doctrine floating around in the church for quite a few years which I have personally had occasion to witness, and it is this “Through a special sanctification process a person can be made free of their base sin nature, and never commit sin again.” This is a devilish lie.
The idea that we do not need to daily take up our cross, submit ourselves to God, crucify our flesh, and follow Christ, is a deception of the devil.
Satan wants people bound in sin, putting up no resistance to him. It is a doctrine that binds peoples minds with condemnation, and leaves yet others bound by self righteousness.
Where did it stem from?
The following quote is by Brother Dan Mace of Zion’s Trumpet:
“The doctrine of the Second Blessing, or Entire Sanctification began with none other that John Wesley, the 18 century revivalist, from whom sprang the Methodist Church (and its off shoots), the Wesleyan and Nazarene Churches, the Salvation Army, and more. According to Wesley, the Second Blessing is an instantaneous experience that happens subsequent to the new birth, which is the first blessing. When this event happens, the believer is cleansed from all inbred sin which is the same as saying the sinful nature is removed. This experience enables the believer to walk in the same sinlessness that Jesus walked in on this earth. There is no more transgression of any moral law of God. The believer walks in perfect faith (no doubts), perfect hope (complete fullness of joy), and perfect love (no fears).
Wesley preached this doctrine of the Second Blessing to all his converts, constantly encouraging them to seek this instantaneous experience in which their sinful nature would be eradicated and they would receive perfect love. All doubts and fears would be being removed once for all, and there would be no more inward struggle to be holy. After this experience, there is no longer any inward inclination to sin, no inward struggle to fight against the fallen flesh and sinful nature, and in Wesley’s own words, the perfectly sanctified believer now possesses “all the mind of Christ”, with no evil thoughts, doubts, motives, etc Though this may sound like an experience every true Christian would love to have—after all, who among us who hates sin and hungers for righteousness wouldn’t love to be sinless once and for all?—but it is totally unscriptural. Not only is there no mention or any clear evidence in Scripture of this kind of work in the Christians life, there are clear teachings against such a thing.” End Quote
I am so thankful to brother Dan for teaching on this form of false doctrine, he is the first person I have ever heard touch the subject.
My experience with this doctrine is as follows : I witnessed it embraced by one who manifests self righteousness, who desires to appear superior to others, who strives to maintain control and manipulate the souls of the unlearned, by keeping them feeling inferior to their “enlightened” leader.It seems to be taught amongst many so called "Holiness" movements as well.
This doctrine brings people under condemnation because when people are taught this doctrine and then find themselves being tempted by the devil, and still overcome by their faults, they feel inferior when they are unable to attain to the level of the so called “enlightened” one.
These type of false teachers hold themselves up above the flock, which is a stench in the nostrils of God. It is actually the sin of Pride in these teachers. This sin of Pride is a character trait of all false teachers, pastors and prophets. It is what caused sin to be found in Satan himself. Naturally his ministers are full of Pride. Satan wants people to say, "I am like the most HIGH, I am as God." This is what this false doctrine teaches, "I have no sin nature I am as God."
As long as we the children of God live on this earth, we will face temptation; our base sin nature is not removed. That is why we are instructed in the Word of God to crucify our flesh daily, submit ourselves to God daily, resist the devil daily, and fight the good fight of Faith daily, that is how we are able to endure to the end, and be overcomers, not by some "special sanctification".
Remember the subtlety of Satan:
Genesis 3:4-5
4. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
1 comment:
Hi sis, I am glad you wrote on this. I personally came under this teaching some years ago, and believed the writings of John Wesley, the doctrine of 'sinless perfection' I think it is called. And yes, I became proud and self righteous. Whilst I believe that the new birth gives us a new heart, as Ezekiel 36 promises us, we must continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and die daily to the old nature, which whilst we remain in these frail bodies of flesh, will always be a challenge. We will always require pruning and disciplining, as the author and finisher of our faith does His work. ( I will talk to you more on this sis!)
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