I am considering involvement with a Pentecostal Holiness Church and would like a better understanding of your views on Sanctification. I am currently a member of an Assemblies of God church and so far find the doctrine to be very, very close to IHPC. Could you highlight any major doctrinal variations?

IPHC and Assemblies of God are very close in doctrine, in fact, through the years we have probably gotten closer, particularly over the understanding of sanctification. Yet, there are some differences.

IPHC is from a Wesleyan background and the theological construct is justification by faith, sanctification as a second definite work of grace, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in other tongues. Wesley understood justification and sanctification in this fashion: He called them the “two great branches of salvation.” Justification means that we are delivered from the guilt of sin and we are restored to the favor of God (or fellowship with God); sanctification means that we are delivered from the root of sin, or what the Bible calls the “old man, the carnal nature,” and we are being restored to the image of God.

We believe that there is a moment in time when we become conscious of our need for sanctification and we receive this work of grace by faith, just as we receive justification by faith. From this we continue to grow in this grace through our entire lives, as you described it in your letter.

The Assemblies of God originated from a different theological construct and while believes in sanctification and holiness of life, did not make it one of their major theological “steps” as did churches like ours that emerged from the Wesleyan holiness movement.

I think you will find that many AoG people and pastors and many IPHC people and pastors are comfortable moving back and forth between the two churches as long as we keep our eyes on Jesus!

Dr. A.D. Beacham, Executive Director
IPHC World Missions Ministries