What Is The Second Work Of Grace?
/The following is taken from "The Origin and Doctrine of Christ's Sanctified Holy Church", by George Miller.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and that within its pages lies the Hope of all the world.
We believe that Adam was the first person on the face of the earth and his wife. Eve, was made a help meet for him.
We believe that Adam and Eve were deceived by the devil or the serpent and were driven from the presence of God. Because of Adam's transgression, God placed a curse on the human race. Since that day all men are born sinners by nature - the nature of our Father Adam.
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 3:10-12 & 23
As it is written, There is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, NO, NOT ONE...
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ephesians 2:1-3 gives a picture of all unsaved persons: They are dead in sins...walking according to the course of this world - according to the course of the devil...having their conversation in the lusts of the flesh...fulfilling the desires of the flesh...BY NATURE, CHILDREN OF WRATH - Children of the DEVIL.
We believe that God perfected a plan whereby his son was to be a sacrifice and his shed blood would be a REDEMPTION for the sins of the whole world.
GOD, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE and mercy, even when we were HOPELESS and HELL-BOUND, provided for us a GREAT and GLORIOUS SALVATION.
Romans 5:6
For when we were yet without strength, in due time CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.
1 John 4:14
And we have seen and do testify that THE FATHER SENT THE SON TO BE THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.
We believe that this was done when Jesus was CRUCIFIED on the CROSS OF CALVARY, and the only way we can be saved is by faith in the blood of JESUS.
We believe that because of man’s carnal nature, he began to obey that nature and do things that were against the nature of God and God became displeased with us and he calls us all to repentance. We must repent of the sins that we have committed against him; fall on our face and be sorry for them; ask him to forgive us having faith that he will forgive. This we call forgiveness of sins which is the first work of grace.
We believe that when this is accomplished we must then begin to seek for the saving power of his grace, which is Sanctification by the Holy Ghost. This is the second work of grace.
1 Peter 1:18-21
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your FAITH and HOPE might be in GOD.
Without Sanctification no person can be saved. Without the sanctifying power we will, by nature, start back to sinning; so it is absolutely necessary to have these works of grace in order that we may be placed back into the Grace of God.
We would like to say that John the Baptist stands for remission of the sins that we commit, which is the first work of grace. The baptism of the Holy Ghost was the long awaited promise of the Father, the Comforter which was to abide with us forever, and this is the second work of grace - the redeeming power and everlasting life or SANCTIFICATION.
In Acts 2:14-18 we read: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Then the 38th verse of that same chapter says, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Here is another clear indication of the two works of grace. When we repent and believe in the name of Jesus Christ, We will receive forgiveness of our sins and then - and only then - can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which is Sanctification.
When Peter stood up on the Day of Pentecost and began preaching with the power of God and quoting the Prophet Joel, we say this is that effusion of the Spirit on all flesh which should come and we are to look for no other, no more than we are to look for another Messiah. For as our Messiah ever lives in heaven, reigning and interceding for his church, so this Spirit of grace, the Advocate, or the Comforter, that was given on that day according to the same promise, continues on earth to work with those who will harken to the word of the Lord through his people.
Little wonder Christ told Nicodemus in John 3:3, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
I say unto you here, that this is what the second birth is - being redeemed from the death of Satan and believing in the death and resurrection of Christ to bring about this spiritual birth in our lives making us new creatures in Christ Jesus.
And so it is my friends, if you will give your heart to Christ he will come in and take up his abode in your life and live for you the sweetest life you have ever known. We know of nothing that gives such a thrill as serving Jesus. We recommend to those in bondage who want to be free...Seek Christ for the sanctifying power. It will break the bonds of sin and set you free.