The 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. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. ” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

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

“Oh how the devil hates the message of the cross!” John Umlauf

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, in the flesh instead of by the cross, the crucified life. “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.

Real vs Fake, Plastic, Self-Effort, Plastic Holiness

The daily cross is also at the center of the original Gospel of Christ and His holy apostles and the lives of all who truly repent – they are then “crucified with Christ.” (Gal 2:20) Or, they fall away. Regrettably, in the apostate modern church world, there is nearly no mention of the cross life Jesus mandates for all who will know and follow Him (Luke 9:23-24).

How can we preach holiness without the cross? If there’s no cross in the middle of it, it’s a fake holiness, not the “true holiness” Paul spoke of (Ephesians 4:24).

The life we have with Christ is all about His cross, the cross He commanded that we take up, His resurrection life, love, and grace working in us (Colossians 1:14, 20; Romans 6-8; Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). The life we have with Christ does not require that we do it all but rather that we abide in Christ, working out (not for) our own salvation with fear and trembling, as He works in us to will and to do HIS good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).

Finney’s teachings today have produced a whole generation of those who are walking in a fake holiness. Finney nor his modern cult followers do not preach the cross. Therefore the holiness they preach is false or better yet, non-existent.

Anyone teaching on “holiness” without the cross, which is God’s solution, is teaching a false holiness, not the “true holiness” Paul spoke of (Ephesians 4:23-24). “True holiness” comes out of being “crucified with Christ” and thereby raised up by the Holy Ghost into God’s holiness, real holy living, not some trite, manufactured, fake holiness. Beware.

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.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22 

“Great podcast! Loved it! Thank you. After listening the Lord led me to Romans 6:22. Holiness leads to the promise of eternal life. Wow! After we are saved we are free from sin. We should have a radical change from sin to holiness. We are being transformed from one master to another! If we are being sanctified, then we are being freed from sin and its bondage. The fruit is holiness and eternal life. We can’t be holy if we are living in sin and this leads to death. (Romans 6: 23). Hebrews 12:14 says ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.’ God promises eternal life to those living in the fruit of holiness and death (Lake of Fire) to those who continue to live in sin.” Karen Cochran

Want more on this? Pour over Romans 6-8.
God Is Love.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Victory in Jesus | Discipleship | The Glorious Grace of God | The Restoring Love of Our God | God’s Mercy | Spiritual Warfare | Justification | Grace and Good Works [podcast] | Haggai

Sign up here to receive the Moment with My Master emails sent out to edify the body of Christ.

The Laid Down Life [podcast]

Chapter 5 from the book Raised Up (narration) “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 You know the counterfeits far outnumber the authentic followers of Jesus when you put out a […]

The Life of Jesus Manifested in Our Lives [podcast]

  “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. 11 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. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12  The cross is the divine prescription for a holy life which means a life set apart to the LORD (Psalms 4:3). The posture of the true disciple is never to hide behind the […]

The Essential Cross of the Believer [podcast]

  Excerpt from the book I Die Daily The Essential Cross of the Believer “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it.” Matthew 16:25 Now that we know who the Way is—Jesus, let’s look into what this very Son of God Himself said concerning those who would follow Him. After all, if a person is going to go to God’s Heaven, he needs to find out what God Himself said is essential to get there, right? Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If ANY man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and […]

Is the Crucified Life Essential for Going to Heaven? [podcast]

  “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul was clearly declaring here that he would be “castaway” into hell if he didn’t keep under his body which means live the crucified life – without which no man can overcome sin. IF there is nothing to “keep under”, to crucify, WHY did Paul say this? Paul definitely never once taught OSAS and openly declared that if he didn’t remain crucified with Christ it would result in […]

What Did Paul Mean by "I Keep Under My Body"? [podcast]

In spite of all the evil that is me, dear LORD You have been so gracious (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7; Titus 3:5-7). If OSAS/eternal security is true, WHY did Paul say he himself that he could be “castaway” from God in the end if he didn’t endure to the end, perpetually keep under his body (the cross life)? “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 Here Paul speaks of his own need for […]