Entire Sanctification: Expect it now!
Photo by Prixel Creative
“The times they are a changin’.” Lately, more and more I hear conversation around entire sanctification, especially in Global Methodist circles. Entire Sanctification is one of the hallmarks of Methodism. It is also known by other names, such as Christian perfection, perfect love, holiness of heart and life, and the baptism with the Holy Spirit (John Fletcher and the Holiness movement). Wesley defined entire sanctification as
a full salvation from all our sins, --from pride, self-will, anger, unbelief; or, as the Apostle expresses it, "go unto perfection." But what is perfection? The word has various senses: here it means perfect love. It is love excluding sin; love filling the heart, taking up the whole capacity of the soul. It is love "rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks (Sermon 43 – “The Scripture Way of Salvation,” §I.9).
Another clear definition is found in Article XI from the Confession of Faith of both the United Methodist Church and the Global Methodist Church:
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.
For more on the definition of scriptural holiness see Doug Koskela’s article in Firebrand, October 29, 2024. Beyond defining entire sanctification, my task here is to move the doctrine from the status of unattainable ideal to one that is attainable and real.
Wesley’s words from the sermon quoted above, “Full salvation from all our sins,” “perfect love,” “love excluding sin,” are a tall order. In fact, if we are left to our own ability, then perfect love is an impossible order to fill. Anyone who claims to have attained sanctification due to their own power or holiness is deceived, prideful and misguided. However, I often hear this indictment made not just against those who claim the experience by their own effort but against any claim of entire sanctification. Many fear claiming perfect love because they believe it would be hubris, but both Scripture and Wesley claim it is attainable because it is not our work. Rather, the work is God’s. Entire sanctification, like justification, is accomplished by grace. It is a work of the Holy Spirit that is received through faith not by our works (Acts 26:18; Eph. 2:8-9). Just as we have boldly claimed justification, we can claim entire sanctification without thinking it prideful or presumptive.
In my experience, I have found that there are three basic takes on entire sanctification. The first is that it is an ideal that we are to pursue but never claim or receive. The tortoise will forever chase the hare but never overtake it. I find this view held by many United and Global Methodists. The second is the view of the Holiness movement, made popular by Phoebe Palmer. The propositions are as follows: The altar is holy. The altar sanctifies the gift. Thus, whoever touches the altar in consecration is made instantly and entirely holy. This view, “the sanctifying syllogism,” has often been called “the short way” to entire sanctification. Finally, the third way, which I believe was Wesley’s, is that entire sanctification usually comes just before death, but one can expect it earlier. Expect it even now! (Plain Account of Christian Perfection, pp. 42-45)
Additionally, Wesley claimed that entire sanctification occurs instantaneously and then gradually (Plain Account, p.30). However, it is the immediacy and entirety of the work that causes many to stumble. They think that the experience claims too much, leaving no room for growth. It is on this point that we forget it is not divine, angelic, or adamic perfection, free from mistakes and human weakness, but a relative (Christian) perfection of love wrought in the heart that Wesley claims, Further, we forget that the instantaneous work is followed by a continual growth in grace, for there is no perfection that cannot be improved upon by degrees, a perfecting perfection.
An example would be of my granddaughter. She is in first grade and is a “perfect” math student. She has received grades of 100% on all of her assignments and tests. Does she still have room to grow? Is she a “perfect” math student as in “finished”? No, she will be learning new math lessons tomorrow and in second grade. She is a “perfect” math student although she does not know algebra or calculus. If she continues on the road she is on now, she will hopefully continue to grow into a more perfect math student, mastering algebra and calculus. But for now, as a first grader, she is a “perfect” math student and is exactly where she needs to be. So, we also can be made perfect in love, though not finished yet, but right where we need to be in God’s perfect will. Christian perfection is being and walking in perfect love and will (Christlikeness) in the moment and relying on the power of the Spirit every moment to keep one from sin and in God’s love (1 Jn. 1:7).
Wesley did not consider entire sanctification to be an anomaly or a peripheral experience within the Methodist movement. He understood scriptural holiness as the DNA of Methodism. Wesley claimed that the doctrine was Methodism’s “grand depositum which God has lodged with the people called Methodists; and for the sake of propagating this chiefly He appeared to have raised us up” (Letter, Wesley to Brackenbury, 1790). Simply put, scriptural holiness is our Methodist signature. It is our distinguishing mark. Historically, this may be the case, but what God has deposited in Methodism, for the most part, has not been withdrawn in well over one hundred years.
I am in my fifteenth year of teaching at a United Methodist affiliated seminary. Our students come from various theological traditions, but the majority in our Master’s program are from the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition. I teach a variety of courses, and when the subject of entire sanctification comes up in my lectures, I always ask the students if they are familiar with this Wesleyan teaching, or if they ever heard of it. Crickets! At best, one or perhaps two students out of every four classes answer affirmatively. For many, it seems entire sanctification is a well-kept secret and thus no longer available as a Methodist option but has been relegated to the museum of early Methodism. The teaching is considered a rare Methodist relic or a curious, cryptic item of Wesleyan nostalgia, rather than an active, grace-given reality in the lives of our churches. Entire sanctification is seen as something quaint and dated, like the telegraph, the typewriter, or the rotary telephone that has been rendered obsolete.
Yet, things seem to be changing lately. There seems to be a growing intrigue for this antiquated Methodist artifact. I have found an increasing number of Methodist clergy and laity who are blowing off the dust and asking questions around scriptural holiness, particularly in the GMC, which has made it their official mission statement – “The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.” Many are even able to explain the doctrine and its nuances, which is exciting. Although in many of my conversations, when I ask if they have or know anyone who has actually received entire sanctification, you would think I asked them if they had ever met the Easter bunny. Eyes become vacant. Mouth drops wide open, and a deafening silence fills the air.
This past Fall, we witnessed one of the most thrilling and record-breaking World Series ever played between the Dodgers and the Blue Jays. Shohei Ohtani and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., among others, in dramatic fashion, broke long-standing records. Records can be broken! However, when we discuss the reality of experiencing entire sanctification, it is as if we are talking about breaking an age-old unbreakable record, like Cy Young’s 511 wins, Nolan Ryan’s 5714 strikeouts, or Ty Cobb’s .366 lifetime average. However, I am reminded that no record is written in stone. Heck, I remember when records, such as Babe Ruth’s lifetime homeruns, Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games, Ty Cobb’s lifetime hits, and Walter Johnson’s lifetime strikeouts were considered unbreakable. But as they say, records were made to be broken. Holiness is attainable. What seems impossible for us is possible for God!
Though many see entire sanctification as unattainable, Wesley preached the doctrine with the expectation that people would seek after it and actually receive it. At one time in London alone Wesley had counted 652 souls who had experienced perfect love (Sermon 83, par. 12). Wesley’s journals provide detailed accounts of some of these. Following early Methodism, the Holiness movement of the 19th century witnessed thousands who claimed the experience as well, including well-known holiness figures such as Phoebe Palmer, Bishop R.S. Foster, Bishop L.L. Hamline, Missionary Bishop William Taylor, Professor Daniel Steele, revivalists S.A. Keen, Beverley Carradine, J.A. Wood, and Martin Wells Knapp, and Asbury Seminary President H.C. Morrison and many others including E. Stanley Jones in the 20th century. In my pastoral ministry, I also have seen several claim entire sanctification. The archives of Methodism contain many faithful witnesses to Christian perfection. But must entire sanctification remain in the museum of our outmoded Methodist past?
Back in late October, there was a 102-million-dollar heist from the Louvre in Paris, France. The thieves nicked an assortment of diadems, necklaces, earrings and other items from the 19th-century French Crown Jewels collection. The Louvre had not been lifted since 1998. It is heartbreaking to see timeless pieces of art defaced or stolen. However, there is one museum piece I wish we would take. I think it is about time that we break into the museum of early Methodism and make off with the precious doctrine of entire sanctification. Remove it from the dusty crypt of denominational nostalgia and share it with the world. Remove it from the museum of early Methodism and make it our own once again. Entire sanctification is not an unattainable ideal but an expected reality of the Christian life. Our challenge is to teach and preach scriptural holiness with the expectation that God who promises it is willing and able to perform it in us.
St. Paul prayed that the Thessalonian believers would be sanctified entirely, spirit, soul, and body. His prayer was not mere wishful thinking or a proposal of an unattainable ideal. He expected God to accomplish the work of entire sanctification in their lives. He concluded the prayer, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” God will do the work of entire sanctification in us. We cannot do it for ourselves. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 was one of Wesley’s favorite verses that promises heart holiness to those who believe. Because entire sanctification is solely the work of the Holy Spirit, we can be hopeful when we offer our people the promise of scriptural holiness, not by reducing it to an inaccessible ideal or watering it down to a sanctified syllogism, but by teaching that perfect love is received by trusting God to do it. Our expectation is realistic. Heart holiness, or Christlikeness, is not only our Methodist heritage, more importantly, it is our scriptural inheritance.
Essential to a people’s heritage and culture is language. In our house, we speak three languages: Italian, Sicilian, and English. I am a Sicilian-American. My wife was born and raised in Sicily and came to America in her late 20s. When our adult children were growing up, we always wanted them to know the languages of their roots. Use them or lose them. Today, Sicilian is practically a lost language in Sicily, and Sicilian and Italian are becoming forgotten languages among third, fourth, and fifth generation Sicilian and Italian-Americans. Only 4.5% of Italian Americans can speak the language. Still, many claim the heritage and the name, but few speak the language, and language is the primary carrier of culture.
Similarly, many claim the name Methodist and its heritage but have forgotten a vital component of our Methodist theological grammar, entire sanctification. Entire sanctification as a lived reality runs the risk of extinction among Methodists, because we do not believe realistically that it can be attained in this life as John Wesley proclaimed. Let us hear the words of Wesley himself as he gave practical direction for receiving entire sanctification by faith through these four simple points found in “The Scripture Way of Salvation.”
It is divine evidence and conviction that:
God hath promised it in the holy Scripture.
What God hath promised, He is able to perform.
God is able and willing to do it now.
He doeth it. (And) in that hour it is done.
Thus, regarding entire sanctification God promises it; performs it; performs it now; and accomplishes it in that moment. Then, Wesley concludes with this wisdom regarding the requirement for entire sanctification:
Look for it then every day, every hour, every moment! Why not this hour, this moment? Certainly you may look for it now, if you believe it is by faith. And by this token you may surely know whether you seek it by faith or by works. If by works, you want something to be done first, before you are sanctified. You think, I must first be or do thus or thus. Then you are seeking it by works unto this day. If you seek it by faith, you may expect it as you are; and expect it now.
Expect it now! That will preach! Here is another practical summary from Wesley:
(1)That Christian perfection is that love of God and our neighbor, which implies deliverance from all sin.(2) That this is received merely by faith. (3) That it is given instantaneously, in one moment. (4) That we are to expect it, not at death, but every moment, that now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation (Plain Account, p.50).
May our altars be full every Sunday in 2026, as we expect it now! Wesley did not think that such expectation was prideful or beyond God’s ability. Instead, he believed it was biblical. Sanctification is God’s promise and his gift. Ultimately, the point is not merely to say that we are sanctified, though it’s a start. Wesley knew that spreading scriptural holiness would result in reforming and transforming the nations and, in particular, the church - “To reform the nation and, in particular, the church; to spread scriptural holiness over the land.” (from the “Large Minutes”). Our world, and even the church, is steeped in darkness, sin, addiction, and bondage. God’s response is a needed, deep-reaching work of holiness in the human heart that will set captives free. Believe for it! Expect it now!
Peter Bellini is the Professor of Church Renewal and Evangelization in the Heisel Chair at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.