(The following is part of an article from the Gospel Banner, May 22, 1930. It was the official publication of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, which is a significant part of the Missionary Church heritage.) Each person of the Trinity is co-operative in the work of Entire Sanctification.
God the Father wills it.
Jesus Christ makes provision for it.
The Holy Ghost accomplishes it.
Its Importance and Place in the M. B. C. Church.
It is important because:
(1) God has provided it for us and demand it of us.
(2) We cannot meet God’s idea of salvation in its completeness without it.
(3) It is the only thing that will completely satisfy the souls of our people.
(4) It will give us power with God and man.
(5) It prepares men for life and heaven.
(6) Because it is the greatest need of the church.
(7) Because it is a necessity to the greatest Christian usefulness.
We as ministers cannot be at our best without the experience. Nothing else can take the place of it. Men lay great stress on education, culture and training, which are good in their place, but the great qualification for the ministry is The Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without this we become mere ornaments, just simply filling a place, and entertaining our people. We believe that the success of our church, and ministry in the past is attributed to the stand we have taken on this important subject. We must continue to give this truth a prominent place in our preaching and teaching. It is not only essential as an article in our creed, but we must teach it, and preach it, so as our people can understand it, and see the importance of seeking the experience. Oh! Let us enjoy it, and preach it, so that our people will become hungry for it, that we will have many press their way into the blessing.
I sometimes wonder if we have not let down somewhat, in giving this truth to our people. How many holiness meetings do we have in a year? Where are our holiness conventions gone that we used to have? Were they of no benefit? Are they too much out of date for these modern days? To my mind no doctrine is of more importance than the doctrine of Entire Sanctification. All other doctrines point to this, and all other doctrines are intended to lead to this. This should be the great end of all our church teaching.
God’s method for saving the world is by and through the sanctification of His people. Jesus commanded His disciples that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait (how hard it is to wait) for the promise of the Father. Then He also said, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
Many a time our heart’s cry as workers and ministers is “O God revive thy work again.” We see the great need of this all over our church. We see the great need of extending our borders, and branching out, and opening up new work. We see the need of more workers at home and abroad. We see the lack of finances to send out more workers. Oh! the appalling need of our church and of a lost world facing us in this day. What is the remedy? What can meet the need?
Brethren and Sisters, the only thing that will meet the great need, is a genuine old time revival of Bible Holiness, among us as preachers and workers, as well as among our laity.
Our mission as a church is to promote Holiness. All our church work ought to be that end.
The Bishops of the M. E. Church (Methodist Episcopal Church) in 1824 said that in an address to the general conference. “If Methodists give up the doctrine of Entire Sanctification, or suffer it to become a dead letter, we are a fallen people. Holiness is the main cord that binds us together. Relax this and you loosen the whole system.”
This can be said of our own little church in this present day. Let us as workers together, enjoy it, teach it, preach it, and live it. Urge our people to seek it and I am confident that our work as a church will flourish and grow, and blessed revival will be the outcome.
