Defective and False – Holiness Ephesians 4:24
“True holiness implies there is a false.” [B. T. Roberts]
“Holiness in man is often defective.” [BTR]
I. What is defective and false holiness?
A. “Much
of the current holiness is wanting in spirituality.” [BTR]
1. It
is worldly… acquired what is fashionable in appearance or form.
2. In
other words it appeals to the flesh (and the world).
B. “Much
of it is wanting in loyalty to God.” [BTR]
1. God
is nominally acknowledged… self, society, or church is the primary focus.
2. God
is first unless it interferes with worldly interest.
C. Sometimes
it is the church that hinders holiness.
1. It
ignores the claims of justice… for convenience.
2. “Treason
to God” to stand by a church and its leaders when they are clearly in violation
of Scripture. (Heretic or reformer)
“False holiness… is built upon a false assumption.” [BTR]
D. False
assumption… maintain a respectable standing
in a respectable church.
1. Problem:
love the world.
2. Problem:
friendship with the world.
(These friendships take priority over Christ.)
II. What do we need?
A. Pardon…
under condemnation.
1. Reason: they walk after the flesh not the
Spirit.
2. Roberts
claimed these people were NOT saved. (Question: how good to you have to be to
go to heaven? Is salvation by grace or
works?)
B. “Live
holiness!” [BTR]
1. Caution: don’t try to convince them they
are better or more secure than the Holy Spirit is showing them.
2. If a person is substituting popular religion
for the Word of God… then they are in danger.
C. Courage
1. Don’t close your eyes to popular sin.
2. Without courage to follow God’s Word, we
become prey to the artful and the designing… logic of others.
D. Discernment
“Give your endorsement to nothing that will not stand the
test of the judgement day.” [BTR]
1. “There is no end to counterfeits.”
[BTR]
2. Example: the belief that the
“condition” of the believer is sanctified and the change of character
(behavior) is not required.
III. What is the belief?
A. In
a nut shell:
1. Souls at conversion are sanctified, but
not wholly. [1 Thessalonians 5:23 – 24]
a. “Already/not yet”
b. Sanctified in standing but not in experience.
2. Entire sanctification is subsequent (after)
to justification.
3. Entire sanctification is God’s work
done by the Holy Spirit.
4. Entire sanctification brings body, soul,
and spirit into a blameless condition.
(You cannot be preserved blameless until you are made
blameless.)
5. Entire sanctification is attainable BECAUSE
God will do it.
6. Entire sanctification is attainable
NOW.
7. Entire sanctification CAN be permanent.
B. Sanctification
is NOT a “form of godliness” which
“denies the power.”