Staying Vigilant – Maintaining the Blessing
One of the dangers of the teaching of Christian perfection or entire sanctification is that it might be thought that once you have it, you have it for good. But Wesley spoke about how some people lost this perfected state of heart, listen to his words from this same book we've been quoting from all week, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection: "Can those who are perfect fall from their perfection? I am well assured they can. Matter of fact puts this beyond dispute. Formerly we thought, one saved from sin could not fall. Now we know the contrary. We are surrounded with instances of those who had experienced the pure love of God, but have now lost it."
And Wesley goes on in the book to speak about John Fletcher, a man whom he held in high regard as the holiest of people, who went through a long period where he would receive this perfect love, and then lose it, and then receive it, and then lose it. It took him a while to finally hold onto it for good – but eventually he did.
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
You see friends, while God's sanctifying grace changes your heart, and inclines you towards God rather than yourself, this doesn't mean that you don't feel tempted anymore. In fact, if anything, the devil will try even harder to tempt you now that you’ve received this gift of perfect love.
CW Ruth, an old Nazarene preacher, wrote this in a great little book called Temptations Peculiar to the Sanctified: "Some Christians have supposed that if they were sanctified wholly they would henceforth have no more trials or temptations, and would have nothing to do but to rejoice and shout the high praises of God; but they soon become disillusioned, for it is likely they will now experience more intense, if not more frequent, assaults from the enemy than ever before... Burglars will make a more determined effort to burglarize a mansion known to possess great wealth and riches, than they would to burglarize some vacant or dilapidated shack... When the soul becomes the custodian of heaven's riches, and becomes a multimillionaire in spiritual treasures, having a good supply of the 'gold tried in the fire,' it should not be thought strange if the old thief would be found prowling about those premises; but the sanctified soul has improved safety devices, and more capital to run his business; more power of resistance."
Standing Firm in Faith
So, if you are walking in holiness, having received God’s perfecting grace, don't be afraid if the enemy comes even harder at you to try and get to the riches within you! Scripture is full of warnings about such things. Paul wrote "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV11).
Just the other day, around the table with some Nazarene minister friends, we were sharing about how temptation never leaves. Oh, we have the ability to say "no", when our hearts are sanctified. Paul said that God's grace "teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" (Titus 2:12 NIV11). So we can do it. But we have to be on guard, watchful, careful. And we have to keep believing that His perfect love will help us overcome.
Be perfected friends, take that step in faith and receive the Spirit's cleansing of your heart. And then keep vigilant – because the holier the person, the more the enemy tries to trip them up.
