The Three Stages Of Grace

78 How He led us to Himself, to a tabernacle in us, by three stages of grace; just like He’s led the world in three stages, to come to the world. As God will come to the world after it’s gone through three different stages of purification, that’s exactly how He comes to us through three stages of grace. I taught that at the beginning; I’ve never changed, since. It’s God’s Word.

79 You have to keep your three’s together, your seven’s, your twelve’s. The numerics of the Bible must run perfect or you’ll get your picture all mixed up. If you can’t understand it, just keep praying. You watch, it’ll cut right in, exactly. God is perfected in three’s. See?

87 Now, the first step is “repentance towards God.” And then follows after that, is water baptism, “water baptism,” “Repent, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.” See, water baptism follows, showing that repentance was genuine. Or, to “remit” our past sins, that has nothing to do with future sin. It only remits. “Repent, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.” What for? “Remission.” Taking away of past sin has nothing to do with the future. Just, your sin has been chopped off, what you did.

91 Then, secondly, comes sanctification, which sets our mind in order for holiness, to think right. Taken away…sanctification is a compound Greek word, which means “cleaned, and set aside for service.”

92 Then, the next, comes the baptism of the Fire and Holy Ghost, that God might dwell in us. And the Fire of God cleanses our hearts from sin, and puts the Holy Ghost inside. Then we bring forth the same Life that This did, because That’s in us.

93 Notice, in the natural birth, when a woman gives birth to a baby. The natural life types the spiritual life. When a woman gives birth to a baby, the natural, the first thing happens is breaking of water, then blood, and then the spirit (the life). Grab the little fellow and spank him [Brother Branham claps his hands together once—Ed.], and away he goes, screaming. Water, blood, spirit.

94 And now when a baby is born into the Kingdom of God, he comes the same way: water, Blood, Spirit.

64-0802 - The Future Home Of The Heavenly Bridegroom And The Earthly Bride

Rev. William Marrion Branham

http://table.branham.org

Three Stages of Grace = New Birth

First - justification - by faith in Christ; expressed in water baptism

Second - sanctification -by the blood of Christ; demonstrated in sanctified living

Third - baptism of the Holy Spirit;

Q - ...If the natural birth requires water, blood, and spirit, does not the spiritual birth require all three stages of grace before the person is truly born again?

91 Absolutely, I just explained that this morning, the same, on the same thing. You’ve got to have all stages. You’re begotten of the Spirit, just like a baby is begotten, and in the womb of a mother, but not born until they receive the Holy Ghost. That’s right. You’re born then. You’re not converted, you’re in the procession of being converted until that time.

Historical Background on the subject

What WMB called “stages”, was in church history called “woks” of grace.

Martin Luther

Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics and Philosophy of Religion (Luther, Martin)

Luther, Martin (1483–1546). German theologian and father of the Protestant Reformation. The heart of Luther’s understanding of the gospel stressed that salvation was a free work of grace that is grasped through faith. Persons are not saved because of any merits they may possess but because the work of Christ is imputed to them by God.

John Wesley

In 1740, John Wesley started teaching that there were two separate works of grace. The first work of grace was justification by faith as the Protestant Movement taught; the second work of grace enabled a Christian to live a holy life. The second experience of sanctification purified the motives and desires and gave a pure love toward God that resulted in holy living. This experience also brought a release of great joy. There was a birth of new songs that portrayed the truth being restored. Charles Wesley published over 4,000 songs with words that expressed the messages that his brother John was preaching.

Systematic Theology: Revised Edition Sanctification in Church History

John Wesley himself was even more extreme, teaching that those without spiritual vitality had been saved, but not sanctified. He believed that justification and sanctification were two separate works of grace. Salvation was the first; sanctification the second. He often called the latter work Christian perfection, saying that it precluded any voluntary transgression of the laws of God

Systematic Theology: Revised Edition Sanctification in Church History

“This,” he said, “is perfection.” The solution to the spiritual problems of the Church in his day was this second work of grace, sanctification. Sanctification would provide a greater personal spirituality and increased power for work in the harvest fields of the world.

Holiness Movement (1800s)

Systematic Theology: Revised Edition (Sanctification in Church History)

The Holiness movement of the mid-1800s to early 1900s, faced with the lackluster spirituality of their own (often what became “former”) denominations, adopted many of the features of early Methodism. These features included the distinction between a first and a second work of grace and the emphasis on personal spirituality. In many instances, this second work of grace was identified as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. As in the teachings of John Wesley, this experience provided both increased spirituality (or “holiness”) and more power for service.

Charles Finney

Systematic Theology: Revised Edition Sanctification in Church History

Charles Finney, who took a more modest approach. He agreed with the Wesleyan teaching of a second (instantaneous) work of grace, but taught that it was not a work of sanctification; it was an enduement with power.

Reuben A Torrey

Systematic Theology: Revised Edition Sanctification in Church History

Reuben A. Torrey was another important church leader in this area. Encouraged by evangelist Dwight L. Moody, he offered a different slant on this doctrine. He taught that sanctification was a process, but that power for service came from the baptism in the Spirit. In other words, he rejected the Holiness identification of the baptism of the Spirit as a “second work of grace” that provided holiness. He retained the term “baptism of the Spirit,” agreed that it was subsequent to salvation, and taught it was solely a divine gift of spiritual power.

2-stage Pentecostals

There Is More!: The Secret to Experiencing God’s Power to Change Your Life Two Approaches to Impartation

The two-stage Pentecostals, on the other hand, believed the first stage was conversion, sanctification was a process and the second stage was the baptism in the Holy Spirit. These were the more reformed or Baptistic types of Pentecostals. They believed sanctification was already ours in the finished work of Jesus.

3-stage Pentecostals

There Is More!: The Secret to Experiencing God’s Power to Change Your Life Two Approaches to Impartation

The three-stage Pentecostals believed that the first stage was conversion, the second stage was sanctification as a “second definite work of grace” that was instantaneous and the third stage was the baptism in the Holy Spirit. These three-stagers were the ones who left the Methodist denomination to form new Holiness denominations over the issue of this “second definite work of grace”

Comparison

Martin Luther - single work of grace

Justification - Conversion and salvation

John Wesley - 2 works of grace

Justification - conversion and salvation

Sanctification - maturity/perfection

Pentecostals - 2-stage

first stage - conversion, followed by a process of sanctification

second stage - baptism of Holy Spirit

Pentecostals - 3-stage

first stage - conversion

second stage - sanctification

third stage - baptism of Holy Spirit

Why WMB used “stages” instead of “works”

WMB used typology in his teachings

First typology - Israel’s journey from Egypt to Canaan

Coming out of Egypt

wilderness journey

Entering Canaan

Second typology - from Reformation to Pentecostal movement

Martin Luther - Justification

John Wesley - Sanctification

Pentecostal Movement - baptism in the Holy Spirit

Note

it does not mean that the Holy Spirit was only given in Pentecostal movement

it does not mean souls were not saved during the previous ages

Quote

Now, we’re going to talk about a journey, how that God brought His people out of Egypt into the promised land, a perfect type of leaving sin, coming into the Spirit land. Now, there’s three stages of this journey; First, Israel in Egypt, Israel in the journey, Israel in Palestine, which is a perfect type of justification by faith, coming out; sanctification as it passed through the Blood, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It’s perfect, the stages of the Church. That is where the Church is staged now. 53-1115A - Speak To The Rock Rev. William Marrion Branham http://table.branham.org

We typed that also with the age. We typed them three stages of the journey with the three dispensations of grace to the Church: How that Martin Luther rose up by justification, leaving Egypt. And how that we find John Wesley rose up preaching sanctification. And now, we find out that Pentecost is raised up, the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the restoration of the gifts. 55-1008 - The Results Of Decision Rev. William Marrion Branham http://table.branham.org

How the “Stages” are misunderstood

Misunderstanding no. 1 - that the Holy Spirit was not given until the time of the Pentecostal movement (1906)

If so, how will the true believers be identified in previous ages?

If so, how did they experience new birth?

What the Bible says

the Holy Spirit is a gift to everyone who believes

Acts 2:38 NKJV

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

the Holy Spirit is a confirmation of the believer’s faith

Acts 15:8 NKJV

8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

Misunderstanding no. 2 - that the stages have to happen in succession only

did the Bible say that it has to take place in succession?

What the Bible says

in Samaria - there was a space of time between their belief in the gospel and baptism, and their baptism in the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:4–13 NKJV

4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.

Acts 8:14–17 NKJV

14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

in the house of Cornelius - the baptism in the Holy Spirit came first

Acts 10:44–48 NKJV

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Misunderstanding no. 3 - that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is only given after a person is thoroughly sanctified, or has matured enough

If so, who will sanctify the believer?

If so, how will the blood be applied so that the believer is sanctified?

What the Bible says -

the believer is sanctified by the Spirit of God

1 Corinthians 6:11 NKJV

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 NKJV

7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

WMB used the term “3 stages of grace” to emphasize the spiritual journey of the church

WMB did use the term “3 works of grace” because he did not believe as the denominations taught

what the denominations taught - salvation is gained by faith alone, or in the first work of grace; the second and third works of grace are later experiences

what he believed - the 3 ‘works’ - justification, sanctification, and baptism in the Holy Spirit - are important components of new birth/salvation

1 John 5:7–8 NKJV

7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

1 John 5:7–8 NASB95

7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

1 John 5:7–8 ESV

7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

like the natural birth, spiritual birth takes place when these 3 are present

3. a better way to express this truth is by calling them -

the three elements of new birth

the three elements of grace

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