52.  If entire sanctification is attainable, why do so few experience it?

There are a variety of reasons, the same as there are a variety of reasons why more sinners are not converted. The main reason in both cases is an unwillingness to come to Christ and comply with his conditions. This question can be answered by asking, If conversion is attainable, why are so few converted ? If any are converted, more might be; and if any are entirely sanctified, others may be.

One case of the experience in either, proves the attainableness of regeneration or sanctification. The Church holds that all sinners have the opportunity of repenting, and being converted and saved, and yet we see that but a small share of sinners are converted and saved. For the same reason that millions of sinners are not converted, because they will not come to Christ, multitudes of believers are not fully sanctified, because they do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for it.

1.    It is not that God is unwilling to entirely sanctify all his children. “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.”
2.    Nor is it that some are born more depraved than others. “He is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto the Father by him.”
3.    Nor is it because some have fewer helps and privileges than others. God requires “according to what a man hath, and not according to what a man hath not.” We repeat, the main reason is that they will not come to Christ and comply with the conditions of entire sanctification. We must not measure the possible by the actual.

No doubt, if the Church and ministry were more faithful to the impenitent, more sinners would be converted; and if the ministry and the Church were more faithful in respect to this doctrine and experience, many more believers would be entirely sanctified.

Dr. Lovick Pierce gives his views thus: “The desire of entire sanctification is dying out in the Church, because the grade of religion our people have been running upon is below the level where sanctification begins.” -- Sermon to the General Conference.

From Page 33 "Perfect Love" by J. A. Wood