Pentecost Sunday

The sermon this morning was a winner! (all of our pastor's sermons are really good but i especially like it when a difficult doctrinal issue is handled) This morning in his Pentecost Sunday sermon (with the obligatory Acts 2 text) our pastor used the opportunity to speak on the difference between "salvation" and "entire sanctification". Sanctification, as a doctrinal tenet, was not used by the church i attended growing up but i do remember the term "Christian perfection" being used for the same concept. Some will use the term "second work of grace" but that can lead down a completely different road and i don't feel like chasing that rabbit right now.

Let me see if i can (briefly) mention the core of what i got out of the message.

At salvation, we get all of the Holy Spirit that we are gonna get (a light is turned on in a darkened room). At sanctification we don't get "more of the Holy Spirit" (the same amount of light is given) but at sanctification the Holy Spirit gets "all of us" (the furniture is moved out of the room so that the light can permeate every corner). This decision is not for salvation but for full surrender. The Holy Spirit by His nature is opposed to any unholiness. These two (the Holy Spirit and unholiness) cannot co-exist. To let someone make themselves completely at home, things have to be moved out of the way.

Now i can go to church this afternoon and tell my pastor, "Hey man, i summerized your sermon on my blog. Now you're famous!" :-)