And, therefore, we ask again when is this indispensable gift to be
obtained? The Roman Catholic and the Restorationist answer, in
purgatorial fire, or in some kind of a second probation after death.
But the Holy Scriptures tell us absolutely nothing either of a
purgatory or a post-mortem probation. On the contrary, they clearly
teach us that our destiny for all eternity is to be determined in one
probation, which is allotted to us in the present life. Let no one
suppose, for a moment, that he can be made fit for heaven at any time,
nor in any place, nor by any means, after he has left this mundane
sphere. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation."

But all the Calvinistic churches by their creeds, and also a large
portion of the membership of Arminian denominations, without regard to
their creeds, if asked when are we to obtain entire sanctification as
an essential meetness for heaven, would answer, at death. The
prevailing idea on this subject, among Christian believers, seems to be
as follows: First, through repentance toward God and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ, we are converted. Our past sins are pardoned, and we
are born again. After that, our sole business is to grow in grace, and
by this growth to approach nearer and nearer to the standard of entire
sanctification, but never even suppose that we can reach that standard
until the moment of death.

Now, grace is the gift of God, and we cannot, possibly, grow in grace
until we receive it. And we can never grow into grace, but grow in it
after we get it. We can grow, it is true, in the grace of justification
to a limited degree and for a limited time. The degree is limited
because of the presence of inbred sin, which is the great, if indeed,