Divine Hope and Prescription for Holiness

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4

HAVE YOU ever struggled with sin? If so, you are not alone. It is through the “communion of the Holy Ghost” in relationship with our LORD, that the sinful nature is put under so that the life of Jesus is manifested in our lives (2 Cor. 4:10-11; 13:14, etc.). Please beware of the diabolical, cheap substitutes such as various forms of perfection by way of self – the flesh. These are deadly and cause many to fall from grace (Galatians 5:4). Memorize Galatians 3:3.

There is divine hope for us! God is able.

These temptations – the pull of them – is a test to see who it is we are truly going to choose to love – God or self (Romans 6:14; Hosea 10:12; Isaiah 58).

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

May our LORD give us grace to cease from seeking to be justified, righteous, or holy by self effort and not out of a grace relationship with Him (which is by faith not works). What a great prayer to pray: LORD grant me the “spirit of Your holiness” to please you through relationship faith. Paul severely rebuked the Galatians for being deceived by the witchcraft of forsaking the Gospel of grace and going BACK under law-righteousness. Going back to self-works to remain justified is gross sin. Self-righteousness was one of the top cardinal sins of the pharisees whom Christ said were going to hell (Matt. 23, etc.) There can be no peace outside of having this truth (of the Gospel of Grace by faith) revealed in our hearts.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Galatians 2:21; 3:3-7

Through relationship and communion with our LORD, the deeds of the fleshly/sinful nature are to be crucified and as they are, there will be the “resurrection” of new life in us.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13

It is through the cross life and the  “communion of the Holy Ghost” in abiding relationship with our LORD, that the sinful nature is put under so that the life of Jesus is manifested in our lives (2 Cor. 4:10-11, 13:14, etc.).

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-11

Is our LORD not calling us to “sentence“ our sinful nature to “death”?

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” 2 Corinthians 1:9

Can there be a resurrection without a death first? Obviously not right?

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

“He who does not know what it is to enter in, and tarry and worship in the Holiest, to separate himself from the world and its fellowship, to hold communion with the Holy One, will seek in vain by his prayers or efforts to become holy.Holiness is found nowhere but with God in the Holiest of All.” Andrew Murray

—- EVER STRUGGLE WITH SIN? The divine prescription for “true holiness” is not about trying harder but rather about dying harder and deeper – that is, experiencing that oneness in the crucified life with Christ (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3; 1 Peter 4:1).

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

Taking the humble approach seems to be the biblical posture toward what Paul called “true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24 says: “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

There are Finneyite preachers today going around declaring that they decided to quit sinning and are sinless perfection. This they do out of self-righteousness and by soul power and personal human will power – without Christ. “True holiness” is a divine imperative (necessity) and is only possible by way of the divine Person of the Holy Spirit and the daily participation and obedience to the cross Christ commanded us to “take up.” (Luke 9:23-24) Charles Finney Exposed.

In the divine economy, Christ alone gets the glory for imparting to His children His “true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)

If I am sinless it’s because I am in the state of poorness of spirit, humbled, broken…. What did Jesus tell us about this as is recorded for us in Matthew 5:3? I’d rather stick to the poor in spirit, needy, desperate for Jesus every moment, be merciful to me a sinner, walk. Never mind this self-righteous touting of “I never sin” pablum! Where’s the cross in that self-righteous declaration? Where’s the humility? Where’s the truth? Read Job 9:20; Prov. 20:9; Heb. 12:4; Gal 5:17-18; 1 Cor. 9:27. Overcoming is an ongoing condition, necessity and pursuit. Yes salvation is granted to the repentant recipient initially and yet faith, patience, and if needed, repentance, are ongoing as our salvation experience/walk is past, present, and future (2 Cor. 1:10; Luke 21:19). “Abide in me” says the LORD Jesus (John 15:1-6).

TAKE a close note to this truth: “He that covereth (tries to hide) his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) … The LORD can work with honesty. Otherwise He shuts out the dishonest. This is what Christ told us and is on record in Luke 8:15.
Want more on this? Pour over Romans 6-8.
God Is Love.

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