When God created Adam and Eve, their heart was completely free of sin. God gave Adam and Eve only one commandment, to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They had all the other fruit trees God created to choose from, but Eve listened to the devil and chose to disobey. Since that time, everyone is born with a carnal, sinful nature. At the age of accountability, when children recognize they’re sinning, they are a sinner because they know they’re sinning. They need repentance to be made just with God. Repentance is asking God to forgive us in true godly sorrow for sinning against God, and turning away from sin (forsaking). We have to let go of our worship of false gods and idols. We can’t have a statue we’re praying to, like Buddha or Mary. God is the only one we can be praying to. We have to forsake sin 100% and then we’ll be saved.
There are two types of sin: our committed sin and the sin of the carnal nature. This is why we need two works: 1) justification through being saved, and 2) sanctification through the cleansing of the carnal nature.
When we get saved, we don’t receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is with us but will be in us through sanctification. The disciples were saved but Jesus prayed for them to be sanctified, for the Spirit to be in them.
John 14:15-17 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 17:16-19 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Jesus told the disciples to wait at Jerusalem and that they were going to be baptized with the Holy Ghost. As they waited, they weren’t arguing or having strife because they were praying in one accord, in agreement and unity.
Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…
They waited together for ten days and when they were filled, the Spirit gave them the gift of tongues to preach the gospel in the languages of many nations, so the people could hear in their own language.
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:5-6 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Some people mocked and said they were drunk, but they were speaking languages that were clearly understood.
Acts 2:11-13 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed…saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Sanctification gives us power to be witnesses for God. Without sanctification, there’s a battle with the carnal nature that tries to get us to sin. The carnal nature causes division and strife. The Holy Spirit unifies and gives comfort.
Acts 1:8 But 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus’ prayer when we’re sanctified is for us to be one, so the world will believe in him. People are not being in unity or walking in the light when they walk after their own agendas and opinions.
John 17:20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
God promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. Coming out of Egypt is like coming out of sin, and going into Canaan is like getting sanctified. The men Moses sent saw it was a good land.
Numbers 13:17-20 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them…go up into the mountain: And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean…And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
Numbers 13:23-24 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down…
The first part of the men’s report was that Canaan was a good land.
Numbers 13:26-27 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
It was fear of the giants that kept the Israelites from going into Canaan. People don’t like to die to the flesh, so they don’t get sanctified if they see the giants of opposition, hardness, or hard work. The people with Moses saw themselves as grasshoppers and were afraid of the giants. They didn’t believe God’s promise or that God would help them. They doubted and they said “I can’t” but it is through Christ that we can do all things.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
When the Israelites came to Canaan, they thought God hated them and were ready to stone Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:6-10). When people aren’t willing to be sanctified, carnality (sinful selfishness) will control their actions. We have to give ourselves completely to God without any reservation or limiting what God wants us to do.
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Notes from the Mature Class Bible Study, teacher Edith Tolbert)