Chapter 6 -- TEMPTATIONS PECULIAR TO THE SANCTIFIED -- (Continued)
Depreciating The Former Experience
One of the early temptations peculiar to the sanctified, is to underestimate and undervalue
their former experience in justification. At times they may be heard to say, "When I was just only
converted," etc., as though that experience had not had much meaning to them. This, of course, is a
most serious mistake.
There is absolutely no need nor occasion for anyone to minify or depreciate the experience
of justification in order to exalt and magnify the experience of entire sanctification. While we may
appreciate the fact that by comparison the latter experience may seem to transcend and outshine the
former in its fervor, and freedom, and fulness -- in emphatic and ecstatic manifestations -- it must,
nevertheless, be remembered that the mercy which provides the forgiveness of sins, and quickens a
dead soul into newness of life, is the greater miracle; and that without the work of regeneration --
at which time we pass from "death unto life" (1 John 3:14; Eph. 2 :1), the experience of entire
sanctification would have been impossible.
It is a wonderful, a most glorious experience, to be clearly, and scripturally "born again;"
indeed, we think there is nothing comparable to it. And in no sense is it a half-way work. In
analyzing the experience of the new birth, it will be seen that at least ten distinct things have taken
place, as follows: 1. Holy Ghost awakening, and conviction for sin; 2. An unconditional surrender
of the will; 3. . Repentance; 4. The exercise of a lively faith; 5. The pardon and forgiveness of
every sin; 6. The quickening of the soul into newness of life; 7. The washing of regeneration; 8 .
Adoption into the family of God; 9. The bestowment of love, peace, joy and power to become the
sons of God; 10. The witness of the Spirit, attesting, and certifying, the fact of our acceptance with
God. While much of this occurs coetaneously -- so that to have one is to have the other -- they are
nevertheless distinct, and all enter into the experience designated as "the new birth." And this
experience will save and keep the soul from sinning. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit
sin" (1 John 3:9). Instead of minifying, we would ever seek to magnify the experience of
justification.
* * *
Mistaking Liberty For License
Another temptation peculiar to the sanctified life, is that of mistaking liberty for license.
Human nature, like the pendulum of a clock, is inclined to swing from one extreme to the other.
Having been in bondage and enslaved by sin for so long a time, and now suddenly emerging into
liberty, and the perfect freedom of the Spirit, there is need of constant watchfulness, lest this
liberty should be used as "an occasion to the flesh." There is liberty always to do anything and
everything that is right, and pure, and holy; but this must not be mistaken for license to do anything
that is doubtful, sinful or unholy. Irreverence, undue familiarity, insubordination, lightness,
foolishness, inordinate affection, tending to free-loveism -- all these things are the temptations and
devices of Satan, in order to destroy the souls of men. To love too much is just as fatal to spiritual
life, as not loving enough. Paul said, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not
expedient" (1 Cor. 6:12) . "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free"
(Gal. 5:1).
* * *
Mistaking Light For Guilt
Another temptation peculiar to the sanctified soul comes as a result of an increase of light.
As the Holy Spirit illuminates the mind, and unfolds new duties, and new responsibilities -- and
thus indicates some things that should be done -- such as tithing, or fasting, or the call of God to
certain lines of service: or, He may reveal some things that should be left undone -- though other
devout people may not seem to have any convictions or conscientious scruples in the matter -- such
as the wearing of gaudy attire, reading secular papers or traveling on the Sabbath, indulging in
questionable amusements or doubtful habits -- as light and conviction come upon the heart
concerning such matters, the enemy is almost certain to accuse and condemn the soul concerning
the past, and seek to prove that such a person evidently had not been sanctified -- and if the person
is not careful at this point, there will be a casting away of his confidence, and a questioning in his
own mind whether he really had the blessing: Whereas, such person ought to thank God for an
increase of light, which in itself is an evidence that he is growing in grace, and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Savior.
Such a person has nothing to do but walk in the light, and obey the promptings of the Spirit,
and stick to the original contract to which he had agreed when first he made his consecration. No
one is expected to do better than he knows, nor is he condemned for what he has not known. But
when light is given individual responsibility cannot be evaded. Indeed, light is ever the measure of
our responsibility. As Jesus said, concerning this, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they
had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin." "This is the condemnation, that light is
come . . . and men loved darkness rather than light" (John 15:22; 3:19). It is only when men refuse
to walk in the light, and deliberately disobey, that guilt is incurred, and condemnation sets in.
* * *
Gratification of Physical Appetites
Paul said, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when
I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:27). Physical appetites, which
are God-given, and wholly innocent, may nevertheless become the avenue of temptation, and the
occasion of sin, when indulged and gratified excessively. Hence, the body must be kept under, and
every physical appetite be brought into subjection, lest the tempter gain an advantage over us.
While eating necessary food is God-ordained and absolutely legitimate and necessary,
nevertheless, eating that which is known to be injurious, or eating too much and thus becoming
gluttonous, is to yield to temptation, and become guilty of sin, While there is no sin in the body --
no sin in matter -- the body may nevertheless become the occasion and the instrument of sin.
"Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against
his own body" (1 Cor. 6:18). Thus the married, and the unmarried, may sin against the body by
forbidden or excessive indulgence of fleshly appetites. Hence the injunction, "As ye have yielded
your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity into iniquity, even so now yield your
members servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Rom. 6:19). "What? know ye not that your body
is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's" (1 Cor. 6:19, 20).
* * *
Misguided Zeal
Misguided zeal invariably leads to fanaticism. When Satan cannot keep a person in the ruts
of a dead formalism he will invariably seek to rush that person over the precipice, into the snares
of some soul-destroying fanaticism. While "it is good to be zealously affected always in a good
thing," Paul complains concerning the Galatians, "They zealously affect you, but not well" (Gal.
4:17, 18). All fanaticism has in it some phase of truth; but invariably it is distorted truth, and
distorted truth is error. It places first what God placed last, or vice versa, and thus diverts the
mind from that which is most essential and imperative. Usually a misguided zeal will place undue
emphasis upon demonstration, or upon some of the gifts of the Spirit -- such as "healing," or the
"speaking in tongues," or "miracles" -- and thus sidetrack the soul from the main line of that
"charity," which is perfect love in a pure heart. A fanatic is not at the first an evil minded person,
but one who has a misguided zeal for truth, and has lost his equilibrium, He has "a zeal of God, but
not according to knowledge" (Rom. 10:2).
* * *
The Temptation To Doubt
The writer to the Hebrews warns against "an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the
living God" (3:12). Many speak of their doubts, as though it were merely an infirmity, or human
weakness, and excuse themselves by saying, "I am just naturally a doubting Thomas;" but instead of
doubts being a human weakness, it is a devilishness. To doubt God, is to dishonor Him. A person
should no more consent to being a doubter than he would consent to being a thief, or a liar. A thief
or a liar might as readily be counted a Christian, as one who doubts God. Doubts invariably
proceed from an evil heart. In sanctification this "evil root of unbelief" is utterly destroyed. While
the enemy may present or suggest the temptation to doubt, it is instantly rejected by the sanctified
heart. There is no soil in a pure heart in which the seeds of doubt and unbelief can germinate and
grow. But says one, "I do not doubt God, but I doubt my experience; I doubt that He has sanctified
me." But the whole question here is, Have you fully met conditions? If so, there can be no doubt
concerning the faithfulness of God, in doing His part. Surely you would not say that you had met
the divine requirements, but you now doubted God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.
Remember, "Without faith it is impossible to please him" (Heb. 11:6); and that He is ever saying,
