Holiness Teachings (Introduction complete)
B.T. Roberts re-examined.
Basis:
The words “sanctification” and “holiness,” in the Bible, mean the same thing.
1. Holiness implies victory of outward sin.
a. It is dependent on the state of justification.
b. A person who is holy does not commit sin.
Rom 6:14 “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
c. Implies grace has dominion in our lives.... In the struggle between sin and grace: grace wins!
1 Jn 3:9 “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.”
d. If you imagine you are holy but do what God’s forbids OR neglects to do what God commands... you are deceived!
“His so-called faith is fatal presumption.”
2. Holiness is a state of being the prompts good works.
a. This state is the condition of the soul which prompts us to perform good actions.
b. It is the imitation of Jesus.
1 Peter 1:14 – 16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
c. Notice this does not say to DO holy things, but BE holy.
1 Thes. 3:13 “So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
d. When the HEART that is established; then the habits will be right.
3. Holiness implies deliverance from all wrong dispositions, tempers, and desires.
a. Deliverance from indulgence in the right in an unlawful manner or to an inordinate degree.
b. Sinful dispositions: anger, pride, and covetousness.
c. Wrong tempers: what is not delivered, yielded to God.
“In a holy person all his powers of body and mind are brought into harmony with the will of God.”
1 Thes. 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Peace is the surest sign of sanctification.)
1.) The body is so far sanctified as to be blameless. (Free from “the cravings for indulgences which were fast hastening him on to destruction.”)
2.) The affections, passions, desires, and propensities are so subdued that they are the occasion of good, and not harm.
3.) The intellect, the judgement, the will, and the imagination are made pure and holy in all things.
2 Cor. 7:1 “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”
d. Holiness is opposed to all defilement (KJV “filthiness”)
4. Holiness is distinct from justification and subsequent to it.
a. When one is converted (justified) he is far from made holy (doesn’t have victory over sin... immediately).
1 Cor. 3:1 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.”
(It is natural to grow up. Remaining an infant us unnatural.)
b. It is possible to be “brothers” and “infants in Christ.” Justified... not sinners or backsliders... The were “carnal” but not holy.
c. Carnal in the Corinthian church: divisions, open sin, disorder in worship, inappropriate misuse of the Lord’s Supper.
1 Thes. 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
d. The language implies the Thessalonians were sanctified in part. Yet they were still exemplarily: 1 Thes. 1:7 “So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”
BOTH churches needed God to do a further work... to sanctify them wholly.
Heb. 6:1a “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity...” (KJV “perfection” also with the idea of “completeness.”)
e. It is possible to live as justified believers yet still be lacking in our Christian walk.
5. Holiness is necessary:
a. ... to qualify us for Heaven.
Heb. 12:14 “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
b. ... for present happiness.
1.) Pleasure is not happiness. People seek after pleasure because they are unhappy.
2.) Pleasures of this world are short-lived and unsatisfactory.
1 Peter 1:8 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”
(Not only is peace a sure sign of holiness, so is joy.)
c. ... for usefulness. “Holiness is power.”
Psalm 51:10 – 13 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
[11] Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
[13] Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.”
a. God commands it! (God never commands that which is impossible.)
1 Peter 1:15 4 – 16 “...as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”
b. It’s God’s work!
Ezekiel 36:25 – 27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. [26] And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
1.) God will cleanse, not from some, but from all idols and all filthiness.
2.) God will remove the heart of stone (unresponsive) and give a new heart of flesh (living).
3.) God will cause us to walk in His ways. (Holy Spirit = obedience)
7. How holiness is attained:
Question: If it is the power of God that we are sanctified, then why are we (professing Christians) not all holy?
Answer: Because they do not meet the conditions.
a. Give yourself fully to God.
1.) Everything: time, talent, property, reputation, influence, life.
Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
2.) The body implies all and the living sacrifice is a constant perpetual one.
b. Confess all sin actual or inbred.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
c. Faith in Jesus our Sanctifier.
Jesus to Paul: Act 26:18 “to open [the Gentile’s] eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
1.) CAUTION: “Beware that your so-called faith is not presumption.”
2.) Faith is the medium through which sanctification is received.
Question: Do you live in this state of grace?
***** If yes, thank God, and press forward.
***** If no, make no delay to obtain it.
Not justified? Have the courage and honesty to confess your condition.
Backslidden state? Seek for holiness by giving yourself up without the least reserve to obey the Lord in everything.
1 Cor. 2:12 – 14 “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. [14] The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
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