Do Outward Standards Protect Inward Holiness?

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by staysharp

It's extremely arrogant to think we could ever do anything in our flesh that would please God.

Everything we do is in our flesh otherwise we would be dead.

But if you mean the impetus of what we do or say when it comes from a carnal mind and not a spirit led mind, then I agree with you, anything we do through a carnal mind will not please God for a carnal mind is enmity with God. But I don't think this is what you're saying.

I would point to Jesus. Jesus always pleased God. The words He spoke and the things He did pleased God. Would you consider the actions and words of Jesus to be "anything in our flesh"? There are good works we can do that please God. I'm not saying that we can earn our salvation. I think for us to dress modestly pleases God. We dress modestly because of what God is doing in our heart. Am I arrogant for wanting to please God? Was Jesus arrogant for wanting to please God?

I hope I'm misunderstanding what you are saying.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Everything we do is in our flesh otherwise we would be dead.

But if you mean the impetus of what we do or say when it comes from a carnal mind and not a spirit led mind, then I agree with you, anything we do through a carnal mind will not please God for a carnal mind is enmity with God. But I don't think this is what you're saying.

I would point to Jesus. Jesus always pleased God. The words He spoke and the things He did pleased God. Would you consider the actions and words of Jesus to be "anything in our flesh"? There are good works we can do that please God. I'm not saying that we can earn our salvation. I think for us to dress modestly pleases God. We dress modestly because of what God is doing in our heart. Am I arrogant for wanting to please God? Was Jesus arrogant for wanting to please God?

I hope I'm misunderstanding what you are saying.

Very good Mizpeh!

[staysharp]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Everything we do is in our flesh otherwise we would be dead.

But if you mean the impetus of what we do or say when it comes from a carnal mind and not a spirit led mind, then I agree with you, anything we do through a carnal mind will not please God for a carnal mind is enmity with God. But I don't think this is what you're saying.

I would point to Jesus. Jesus always pleased God. The words He spoke and the things He did pleased God. Would you consider the actions and words of Jesus to be "anything in our flesh"? There are good works we can do that please God. I'm not saying that we can earn our salvation. I think for us to dress modestly pleases God. We dress modestly because of what God is doing in our heart. Am I arrogant for wanting to please God? Was Jesus arrogant for wanting to please God?

I hope I'm misunderstanding what you are saying.

I am referring to "dead flesh". The flesh cannot please God as you have stated already. Flesh cannot glory in His presence.

[Sister Alvear]

We need to be careful what we say is holiness and what is not holiness. I think there is a famine for true holiness...not copycat so called holiness


Holiness is to be like God....to portray his character…His personality…to be like Him...The first belieers were called christians for they reminded the world of Him...

[Fiyahstarter]

The UPC has lost many good men (and has missed many opportunities).

[Sister Alvear]

Jesus said only what the father told him to say...He was one with God...and we are to be one with our brothers and sisters...If they exclude us from their circles that is their problem but we must love and be kind to everyone...that does not make us "greasy charismatic’s” (a term I leaned here on the forum) love makes us like Jesus not our sleeve length. I am writing this in the hot interior of northeast Brazil and yes my sleeves are long… and there is not an air conditioner or even a fan… so I do not speak as one who is outside the UC’s camp however I speak as an old mother in Israel with 40 years on the mission field.
There will be people that will never have a long sleeve shirt or whatever but they have God’s spirit within them and they are my brother and sister.
I think we should have some common sense...to say someone is not my brother because we can see an elbow is foolish...

[Sister Alvear]

God's people hae always been different from the world. We have higher standards than the world...

[Scott Hutchinson]

We should be modest in outward appearance,but Holiness goes from the inner to the outer man.
Muslims dress modest and have standards but they are not saved,because they don't believe in Jesus Christ.
See one can look like a lamb outwardly but inside have a wolf nature.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by staysharp

I recently heard a message by a high profile UPC speaker. If I called his name, all would know him.

He said this; I believe in our standards because they protect our inward holiness.

Now my question is this: How can outward fleshly standards of dress protect Christ within us? Can the flesh actually protect holiness?

I understand standards may protect our reputation or witness for Christ, but can they actually protect Christ?

Did not Jesus say it's not what comes from without that defiles, but what comes from within?

Should the flesh even be alive with Christ in us? Does not God's word teach us to mortify the flesh and its deeds? Romans 6?

I would appreciate your comments. God bless.

The only standard I know of that can protect anything is consistent prayer, reading the word and some fasting every now and then

[staysharp]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

The only standard I know of that can protect anything is consistent prayer, reading the word and some fasting every now and then

Yes, prayer, dedication, consecration, submitted to the Holy Spirit! This will cause the carnal man to die and the spiritual man to live in Christ!