THE PERFECTING OF HOLINESS

The wisdom of the fathers

THE PERFECTING OF HOLINESS

We are taught in Hebrews that the first veil of the ark represents regeneration, which is the beginning of the holy life, and the second veil represents the perfecting of holiness and the FULL baptism of the Spirit as the shekinah flame between the wings of the cherubim. We see from this typology in this promise that the experience of sanctification is always placed, in Scripture, soon after the work of regeneration.

The great mass of the nominal Church have an impression that Christian holiness must come very late in life, that it is by added growth of long years of Christian service, and many suppose it is hardly consciously received until about the time of death. But all such views are the results of mis-education, and of the natural unbelief of the human heart.

Throughout all Scripture, both in precept and type, the blessed work of heart purity and the fullness of the Spirit are set forth as coming soon after conversion. Thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a type of the new birth, and the crossing of the Jordan is a type of sanctification, and we see from the history in Exodus it was God's design that the Israelites should not stay very long in the wilderness, but come up in a few month and possess the land. In like manner it is His expressed will that all converts should come up soon after justification into the inheritance of the full baptism of the Holy Spirit.

(from "Steps to the Throne" by George D. Watson)