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Originally Posted by Luke
Not what I meant at all. What I was referring to was the same thing that Paul talks of when he speaks of the inner war that rages within believers between the flesh and the Spirit
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
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It seems the context of this verse indicates Paul is talking about the church, meaning, there were certain elements in the church causing trouble (the Judaizers, who were 'of the flesh') and because of this conflict between 'flesh and spirit' the church could not 'do the things' that they wanted to. Ie the church could not function properly because of the conflict.
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At the point of sanctification the flesh (carnal nature) is done away with/removed. Then there is total submission. Before this happens total submission is not possible
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If total submission is not possible prior to a
second work of sanctification, then those who have been regenerated and baptised have not in fact repented. There can be no 'partial obedience' or 'partial submission'. The great commandment is to love God with all you have. If one does this, one is
fully in the will of God, entirely consecrated to God, set apart entirely to God. 'With all thine heart, mind, soul, and strength' leaves no part out, thus 'entirely'. If the ENTIRE heart, soul, mind, and strength is loving God, then the person loves God FULLY, they are submitted FULLY.
Failure to submit FULLY, to love God FULLY, is a clear breaking of the Greatest Commandment, and is SIN. A person who is a 'believer' but is not thus FULLY submitted to God, is not repentant, for they have not repented of their sin of breaking the First and Greatest Commandment.
If what you say is correct, then one does not repent fully until one has got the 'second blessing'. But if one has not repented fully, one is not SAVED, one is not truly a Christian, one is only deluded with a false hope. Thus, if what you say is correct, one is not a Christian until they get this second experience.
I do not see how it can be otherwise. Either one may be saved and regenerated and justified while STILL in rebellion to God, without repentance, or one is fully submitted to God in repentance, loving God with all they have, which according to your definition is 'entire sanctification'.
Using your definition of entire sanctification, brother, it seems that the bible indicates such 'entire sanctification' (as you defined it) happens in initial conversion (or at least ought to happen then), and is not a necessarily 'second' work.
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Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
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Sinners are 'in the flesh', and have the 'carnal mind'. Those who have the spirit are not in the flesh, and have the spiritual mind, and are 'spiritual men', according to the same chapter.
A person who is 'not subject to the law of God' is a sinner, in need of repentance. It is strange to call a genuinely regenerated child of God 'not subject to the law of God' and at 'enmity against God', don't you think?
The more I look at the Scripture, the more it seems that sanctification goes hand in hand with regeneration, justification, 'conversion', 'salvation', or whatever term one wishes to apply. It is all by faith, it is all by grace, and it is all made possible by the cross.
Therefore, there is no need for a 'second' work. It's all available NOW to 'whosoever will'.
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