The CHANGE Wrought by Sanctification

What happens when a Christian responds to the challenge of Romans 12:1,2 to make a total and complete consecration and with abandon presents all things to the pleasure and disposal of a loving God? Growing up in the holiness movement that calls 'second blessing holiness' or 'entire sanctification' the 'cardinal doctrine' I knew all the answers to this question before I really knew the question. Often the answers were presented dogmatically, and with the blithe assurance of sincere ignorance. I truly believed that people who were sanctified wholly never got really angry. They didn't wear lipstick or wear much jewelry. They kept a strict Sabbath-type Sunday. Their lives were pretty much circumscribed by their holiness church. They didn't go to the picture shows or permit their children to dance, even in gymn class. They had rules and regulations every bit as strict as the Amish. Maybe I'm painting a picture unique to my perspective . . . I don't mean to be too pejorative-- it was a way of life with its own measure of fulfilment. Lots of things have changed in the "holiness movement." The legalism is long gone. "Holiness people" look just like any and everyone else. We keep a "convenient" Lord's Day. I have not heard any preacher claim that entire sanctification eradicates anything for maybe 45 years. As a matter of fact I can't recall too many sermons insisting on a clear-cut consecration subsequent to a clear-cut repentance, confession, justifying experience. But in spite of all that I still heartily believe in the kernal of truth I learned in the holiness movement. I believe in the call to holiness. I believe in what John Wesley preached as GOING ON TO PERFECTION. I believe I am sanctified because I have given myself to God. I understand this as something like-- but even more profound-- something like I believe I am married because I said some vows and heard some vows and gave myself to Helen and she gave herself to me and from August 27, 1954 to this moment I have been married. Covenant. Two-sided. With this sanctification-- early on I gave myself to God without reservation as best I knew how. I don't pretend that I knew then nor do I understand now all that this consecration meant. But because I knew it was God's will, and His Word I made a Romans 12:1 type of surrender to God and have never ever taken it back. Covenant. Two-sided. Have I ever sinned against Helen in these 54+ years? Well, I've had to ask her to forgive me lots of times. I may have been thoughtless or even selfish at times-- so, yes, I suppose I have. Have I ever one time been unfaithful to Helen? No, I have not, by the grace of God! I will be true to those vows, God helping me, until we are parted by death. Have I ever sinned against God in these nearly 61 years? (January 1948 was when I made those beginnings with God!) Well, I've had to ask God's forgiveness lots of times, too. It is in the Lord's Prayer--did you notice? But HAVE I EVER BEEN UNFAITHFUL TO GOD? Never one time have I removed one item from His hand. I may have plowed ahead sometimes-- or lagged behind-- but I have not rebelled. I am HIS! I AM sanctified! I WAS sanctified when I first came to repenance in that I was redeemed and included in the Family. But when I made that full consecration without reservation, I belonged now not from fear of hell but from trust in God's love. But I also am BEING sanctified-- in the sense of being made more and more like Jesus. One day I WILL be sanctified-- when the human weaknesses of emotion and ignorance and sins I cannot even see are taken away. So-- the question remains- what changes have taken place-- or what changes are supposed to take place in the character, nature, soul of the believer who is a living sacrifice? This morning I read again the 17th chapter of Genesis where God visited Abram and challenged this man of God to go on to perfection. When Abram responded in affirmation of the covenant already made (see Genesis 15) God changed his name to Abraham. Significant. Very significant. Abraham went on to become almost a picture of God! The Father of Faith. Well, I've raised more questions than I've answered. I don't see our holiness movement going back to legalistic ways, and in most respects that is a great plus. As an old man I can even live with drums and guitars and projection screens and casual dress in worship, although I really feel like I dress in my best for worship for good reasons. But I really yearn to see in our holiness people a deep hunger after God and holy joy that comes from total abandon to Him that is manifested in the totality of life. The fullness of God's Holy Spirit is available when in simple faith people make covenant with Him with no reservation or qualification-- simply an eternal "YES!" to God for time and eternity. We holiness people have been exposed to the concept of that deliberate covenant making, but it goes without saying that covenant is more than words. Many Christians in many denominations have come to the place in their walks with God where consecration became both deliberate and entire, complete. They live in the Spirit. Their 'names have been changed'. What is that change?