What is (and isn't) Entire Sanctification? // John Wesley

When people hear about "entire sanctification" (or "Christian perfection), they often reject it outright. It's confusing at best and worrying at worst. In this video, Dr. Matt O'Reilly points out that such language is in scripture, and that means we have to wrestle with it. He then draws on John Wesley to explain what entire sanctification is and what it isn't.

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Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor of Hope Hull United Methodist Church near Montgomery, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians.

VISIT

[frankshalom]

Full sanctification is God's call to every true believer!

[scottyslearningcorner]

This is lit! thank you so much.
Sometimes I watch random educational videos on youtube and I learn about different stuff. I am glad to see there is a coherent articulate one about this online. what a cool thing. i'm in seminary and I appreciate it so much.

[ebolds]

Your reflection was a helpful discussion of this important doctrine. Thanks

[stevehoward]

Good video. Thanks for sharing. The way I understand this and explain it is that we are what we are but we don't have to be. Sanctification to me is also about constant growth. For those that say we are covered by the blood of Christ, while that may be so, we should not use it as an excuse to let down our guard or even try to be better. We have responsibility not only to Christ but those new to Christ because we don't want to set a poor example.

[paologeminiani]

An attitude is a mental posture, it can be a positive attitude or negative. Is the way one pose himself towards others.

[henrka]

I disagree with Wesley that Christian perfection is not freedom from infirmity. Christian perfection demands we be free from infirmities, our sinful nature must be eradicated just like a cancer must be eradicated. God takes away and heals cancer or heart disease the same way he cures an addiction to alcohol or pornography, eradicating our sinful desires is no different from eradicating a cancer tumour, God has to change the physical properties of our bodies. That is how God heals disease, whether a moral infirmity or non-moral infirmity like diabetes, our free will cannot heal infirmities, only God by his grace can do it.

[danaras]

sanctification to set apart for GOd s purpose to use for His purpose. For example we keep something separate for certain use, knife for example for cutting not for use as a spoon.

[jasonusaf]

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…the Apostle John was talking to Christians when he wrote that. The spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Oh wretched man that I am said the Apostle Paul

[brotherjim]

People, even born-again Christian people, will always limit theology to either that which they've personally experienced, or what they're willing to yet undergo.

While I coined the above decades ago, within the past year I began adding to it, "and know exists." I since realized, however, that we can receive even that which is unknown to us, God's Presence able to overcome any fears, etc.

I heard a professor on a 7-minute clip elsewhere, claim Wesley stated someone will likely not receive entire sanctification until their time of death. When I researched Wesley's teaching for myself, I discovered that that professor gave only half the teaching, Wesley NOT confining it to such--not even in the same paragraph! The prof. was, like the Luke 11 "lawyer, " limiting truth via self-justification of his own deficiencies.

There's actually even several more steps to so-called entire sanctification (a really bad choice of words) than what Wesley knew, as I expound in X Posts and a small book. Suffice it here to say, if the pastor doing this video were to teach such in his church, he'd likely soon be working at Walmart instead--which is okay. Or perhaps at best a small group--which is okay.

And of course in my mind I know, that just when we've reached perfection the Lord will momentarily remove His Graces [sic] of such, we will fall, be humbled before His throne, reminded of that old man we once saw in the mirror but since forgot.

Perfection is not sinlessness, at least not always, the latter entirely dependent upon Providence. (But it IS "walking in the Light as He is in the Light, " yielding immediate or soon thereafter, repentance, etc. if and when need be.)

People by nature take things for granted. Just as the Lake of Fire will always exist as a reminder "apart from Me (Jesus and his Grace) you can do NOTHING, " so too do we need to occasionally be resurfaced from our 'stupor' of further/'entire' sanctification.

[thenewhope]

Interesting topic, methodsit tradition is super fascinating to me, is this doctrine similar to the eastern Orthodox doctrine of theosis or am I way off?

[reneemilton]

Thank you for posting this video. I think you do a very good job of outlining Wesley's doctrine. However, I lived in street holiness environments for the last 33 years as a minister and I taught exactly what you are teaching. However, I did not see one person ministers included and myself included. That could truly live up to this. I have since revised what I have taught for the last 30 plus years because I wanted to be honest. I don't think the Bible teaches something that we cannot live up to although I do believe that we can let go of our past sins and be free from the slavery of sin, I think to say that All that is left for us. Is" mistakes" tends to make people dishonest about the sense they arguing with

[shanelozoya]

The entire doctrine ultimately leads to "I might not even be saved" very sad.

1 John purpose statement is "I write these things so that you KNOW you have eternal life" if you have to some how prove you're saved by your walk you'll struggle with assurance your hole life.

"...believe on the lord Jesus christ and you will be saved..."

[josephparungaoandchristine]

Even if we are born again, there is still possibility to make sin. Sin is against the will of God.sin is not external from us, flesh is part of us, it is not a result of what others did, that lead to losing accountability of our actions, but that is part of us being human.because all fall short in the glory of God. That is why Holy Spirit rebuke us and bring us into our awareness and we confess and claim that those sins are part of what Jesus paid for on the cross. It does not mean we lose our salvation...with our surrendered will to the Holy Spirit instead of our will satisfy our old desires.this lead us towards the process of holiness like God is, that is sanctification

[JamesDonovan-br]

We are
Sanctified when we trust Christ. No later or further blessing or action.

[shanejeffries]

So was Revelation 5 wrong when it said that "No one" was worthy to open up the scroll and look inside? No one except the Lion of the tribe of Judah?
Im pretty sure it didnt say "except those guys over there. They've obviously been entirely sanctified and are also worthy to open the scroll"

[numbers_]

The word perfection should be translated COMPLEATE. Our use of the word perfection for man in this life is the wrong word.

[emilyacoxpsychic]

It’s not about perfection. I completely agree with Santification

[JohnDoe-vfes]

Paul: I’m bound to my sinful desires. Rom 7.
Wesley: I’m perfectly sinless!

Too bad St. Paul never reached to the level of perfection that Wesley reached.

Nothing crushes the believer quite like this kind of bad theology. The point of the gospel is that in your past and current continued sin, Christ has chosen you and has exchanged your sinfulness for His Righteousness. The Christian life is a 100% reliance on His righteousness. Everyone knows you’re still a sinner. Including you. But Christ has chosen you in spite of the best you have to offer and has paid the penalty for your sin. That is the gospel. Not this garbage that Wesley taught.