The End of Self-Help (2012)

The apostle Paul indicates that to be chosen by God, you must be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In other words, you must be holy in reality. But how is this to happen? Is it by “progressive sanctification,” or “entire sanctification”?

Many in the church today are trying to “grow into” holiness, or to “gradually become holy,” through a self-help process–though they don’t recognize it as self-help. This often includes Bible studies, Sunday school classes, retreats and workshops, small groups, and private prayer and Bible reading. In reality, these are works-based approaches to salvation. It is trying to make myself holy. However, the holiness required for us to enter heaven can only come by humble submission to Jesus.

When a person is born again, they are in one sense sanctified. They stop sinning and live a holy life. But, this is not the end of the road.

Brother Bevington shows us that Holy Spirit completes this work by “entire sanctification.” This is a second work of grace, after the new birth. After you are sanctified, you then grow. However, you do not grow into a state of sanctification.Will you humble your heart, and let Jesus make you holy, as only he can?

Podcast: Download (Duration: 53:43 — 24.6MB)