Full Handout with Diagrams: Here

Justification = God forgiving the believing sinner’s sin and declaring him to be righteous in Christ. Sanctification = Christian growth in holiness.

Higher life theology is commendable in some ways, but its harmful features far outweigh its positive ones:

1. It creates two categories of Christians (this is its primary error)

2. It portrays a shallow and incomplete view of sin in the Christian life.

3. It emphasizes passivity, not activity.

4. It portrays the Christian’s free will as autonomously starting and stopping sanctification.

5. It does not interpret and apply the Bible accurately.

6. It assures spurious “Christians” they are saved.

7. It uses superficial formulas for instantaneous sanctification.

8. It fosters dependency on experiences at special holiness meetings.

9. It frustrates and disillusions the have-nots.

10. It misinterprets personal experiences.