The Truth about Abiding in Christ [podcast]

“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

Holiness is first and foremost an inner work of God, in the spiritual state, the disposition of the man.

King James Dictionary on holiness:

“The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character, freedom from sin; sanctity. Applied to the Supreme Being, holiness denotes perfect purity or integrity. That which is separated to the service of God. In it’s highest sense belongs to God and to Christians as consecrated to God’s service. It is a personal and gradual development.”

After He who is holy finds and saves you, you then begin to work out, walk out that salvation He gave you ….. and He works in you….

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

Holiness is not a work of the flesh. Holiness is the work of God in the abiding, the dependent, the poor in spirit saint.

“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalms 138:8

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

What God commands of us, He also grants the grace to accomplish. So there will be no excuse.

God is working in those who are working out their own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).

God holds all He’s saved responsible to abide in Him, to continue in the faith, to endure to the end. This all boils down to who we choose to love the most, to love supremely—self or the Savior.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Dying to be Holy

Ever felt this way?

“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3;7

EVER felt like you just wanted something, some biblical truth to GRAB onto in Christ’s kingdom? Here it is beloved of God. Christ and the cross is your anchor. He put His cross and the one He commanded you to take up daily at the center of His original Gospel. Regrettably it’s been lost now by generations of false leaders (Isaiah 9:16).

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

As long as you are dying downward, daily surrender, Jesus is lifting, raising you upward – and His victory is transpiring in your daily life, all day longgggggg! Read that again.

“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7

Perhaps read this verse 5 times right now prayerfully. Memorize it and also Galatians 2:20.

With this cross in mind, it is your duty to “die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

The downward motion (de-motion) results in divine resurrection power filled and raising your life upward.

Resurrection life awaits your dying. The resurrection of your life cannot begin till your own death and burial occur.

We are either denying self or we are denying the Savior.

WHO sits on the throne of your heart today?

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

The Cross Category

Jesus did not find, save, and wash away all our sins only to turn around and give us a license to go back to those same sins.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

Jesus saved you. He’s called you now to abide, to remain in Him and good fruit will be the proof that you are abiding in Him ……. you have personal responsibility Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:1-6; Acts 14:22; Colossians 3:6, 12-14; Revelation 2-3

Sin, bad fruit is the clear indication of your disconnect from Christ.

Abiding in Christ, dwelling in vital union with Jesus, will always bring forth the fruit of a holy life.

“For who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 30:21

“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” 2 Timothy 2:12

How do you remain saved? You remain in vital union with Christ. This is what Jesus means when He said “abide in me” (John 15:1-6). And as we do, good fruit will be the proof our relationship with Him.

When a bride becomes espoused/engaged to a man who is to be her bridegroom….. how does her life now look as she eagerly anticipates the marriage to that beloved bridegroom? If she loves him is she not motivated by her love for him to remain set apart, to remain wholesome …. in anticipation for her marriage? In the same way the true bride of Christ remains chaste and free from the appearance of evil in anticipation for her wedding to the Bridegroom Jesus Christ.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:7-8

Jesus saved you? Good, stay with Him—stay saved.

As you abide in Christ He is going to grant you His grace to overcome the world, sin, and Satan. As he did in the Garden of Eden, one of the temptations of Satan, the lies of the devil is going to be to convince you that you have no responsibility…. so Satan has sown millions of liars, who are bearing false witness against the LORD as they seek to sell you on the evil, the false notion that you will not surely die if you sin against God and fail to endure to the end (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

OSAS/eternal security is the lie Satan uses to get eternal souls back from Christ.

Holiness is not the way to God. God is the way to holiness.

Those making excuse not to “Be ye holy” will be rejected.

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

Jesus died to deliver His people from “ALL” their iniquities and not to grant them a license to sin.

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14

Though it involves your personal engagement, holiness is the work of God in the surrendered saint.

Cry out to Jesus beloved of God.

Let go and let God.

Surrender.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Our personal surrender is what puts us under the care, the enabling grace of God.

Jesus is coming back for those who choose to love, worship, obey, and abide with Christ on HIS terms and no other terms.

“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Prayer: Father, please purify my life. Search and convict me deeply and deliver my life (spirit, soul, and body) from all evil. Let there be no part dark in my heart. Here and now, this moment I dethrone the false god of self and ask You LORD and King Jesus to reign to sit upon and reign in this life You gave. I am crucified with Christ. I am all Yours dear LORD Jesus. Take all of me LORD. In Jesus’ name.

From Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at safeguardyoursoul.com/store and amazon. English and Spanish.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]

Grace vs Holiness [podcast]

“The horrible travesty we have in America today is Christianity without holiness.” A.W. Tozer Grace and holiness come only from God. The LORD is Holy and He extends salvation by grace to repentant, believing sinners at the moment of conversion. Grave vs Holiness: WHY is one of these two so overwhelmingly overemphasized by today’s pastors and self-appointed “grace teachers,” when the other is prioritized by God as is demonstrated by the number of times it appears in Holy Scripture? Which word appears more times in the Bible?: Grace, or Holiness LET’S DO THE MATH: Comparing Grace and Holiness 170 to […]

True or Feigned Holiness? [podcast]

The Cup Holiness is the work of God in the heart of His children. He is moving on and sanctifying the abiding, cross-lifestyle born again believer, causing him to walk in “the new man,” putting off “the old man” (Colossians 3:1-14). If you had the choice to drink from a cup that was dirty on the inside or one that was dirty on the outside, which would you choose? Would the Almighty not do the same? Which type cup are you? Where are you clean? – Are you clean on the inside or outside, or both? “TRUE HOLINESS” IS A BIBLICAL […]

The Correlation of Grace and Good Works [podcast]

“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Ephesians 2:10 We are saved by God through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, by grace through faith, and yet true saving faith ALWAYS produces the fruit of an obedient, holy life. Obedience saves no one and yet is the fruit, the proof one truly knows and is known of God. Anyone teaching otherwise is fulfilling the grace-perverting prophesy of Jude 4. Read James 2; 1 John 2:3-6, chapter 3, etc. FALSE GRACE ALERT. JUDE WARNED US! “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it […]