What is Holiness?

[Scott Hutchinson]

Strive for peace with all men,and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. HEB.12:14 RSV

Since the scriptures stress the importance of Holiness,and it has a place in being in submission to the Lordship of Christ,how would you as a believe define Holiness ?

Go ahead put in your two cents worth,and give us your opinions on the matter since as Christians this is a matter of great concern.

[RandyWayne]

The two commandments of the NT. Love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.

[POWERUP]

Holiness, I believe is when you let God live through you.

[Dedicated Mind]

To be Holy is to be separate and distinct from the world. How to achieve that is totally beyond me.

[rgcraig]

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=916

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=17137

[*AQuietPlace*]

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=916

That first post is very good, and to me sums up what it means to be holy, to be a Christian.



(I think it's rather funny how separation from the world is harped on, and usually means dress codes... and yet we drive cars made by worldly men, use electricity, buy our clothes from worldly clothes-makers, use computers, eat in restaurants, go to malls, go to vacation spots, go on cruises.... yadda yadda yadda. If we truly want to be separate from the world -according to the common definition- we need to eschew all things of the world, don't we?)

[rgcraig]

That first post is very good, and to me sums up what it means to be holy, to be a Christian.

It is good - - I copied it here for those to read:

Let's take a deep look into holiiness.

What do we know from the Word about Holiness?

We know God is Holy.
We know that without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

Those two statements being true then we ought to look at this subject with all seriousness.

Heb 12:14 (KJV)
14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Rom 6:22 (KJV)
22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.


Gal 5:22 - 26 (KJV)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.


Eph 5:2 - 11 (KJV)
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Holiness is more then just a set of rules to live by, it's a producing of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Can we produce the fruit if we are not Holy or does producing the fruit give evidence of His Holiness in our lives?

Jesus once came upon a fig tree looking for a fig to eat, he know it was a fig tree by looking at it, yet he cursed it when he didn't find any fruit.

Wouldn't it be horrible to look the part but produce no fruit and be cursed?

[Dedicated Mind]

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=916

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com/showthread.php?t=17137


Nuff said, scott, go reread these threads and stop clogging the forum with silly threads.

[Pressing-On]

The basic meaning: hagnos

1) exciting reverence, venerable, sacred

2) pure

a) pure from carnality, chaste, modest

b) pure from every fault, immaculate

c) clean

Simply put - it's our mind, heart, behaviour (actions) and appearance. It's the inward, as well as, the outward.

The lesson we learn from Jesus - you can play the part and appear beautiful outward, but within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness.

Everything starts in our hearts.

[Sam]

These are some articles from the John Wimber Power Points on the subject of holiness.
I think these articles are informative.

Note the following verses from Ephesians chapter 4. They end with a reference to "true
holiness" (verse 24). Some of us may have come from "performance based" churches and we have heard of a “false holiness” which emphasized human effort and outward display.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24 KJV


---------------------

A Call To Holiness

It’s important to review and know the definition of holiness: Its old
Testament Hebrew root means “separate”- denoting separation from the
world and to a divine use. The New Testament’s principle Greek word for
holiness communicates purity of character; character that is perfectly
conformed to God’s law.

Many Christians are confused about holiness because often times
Scripture says we are holy, and sometimes it tells us to work hard at
being holy. 1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am
what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” And 1 Peter
1:15-16 says, “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all
you do, for it is written, Be Holy, because I am holy.”

Notice the apparent contradiction here:

1. First, Paul is saying that holiness is God’s gift
2. Second, Peter says we are to work at holiness

How are we to sort out these seemingly contradictions in God’s Word?
How can we work hard at holiness without confusing our efforts with the
true source of holiness? Over the next few days we will take a closer
look at these questions as well as others.

God as the Source...

To understand holiness and to learn to be holy, we need to understand
that only God can be the source of our holiness. Anything we do is only
in cooperation with Him, allowing more of His life (Jesus) into our
lives.

God is uniquely holy as 1 Samuel 2:2 says, “There is no one holy like
the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock, like our God.”
Holiness is the very fabric of God’s nature.

Moses came into the presence of God’s radiating glory at the burning
bush, and God said, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for
the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exod. 3:5). Let’s
look at a few points concerning this: 1. The ground was made holy by
God’s holiness; God used the ground of His holiness to separate Moses
from the world in order to fulfill His purposes. 2. God revealed His
holiness to Moses because He wanted to raise up a holy people, a people
who in their way of life would reflect the very nature of God. 3. the
benefits of holiness would be great: eternal life, forgiveness, joy,
peace, blessing, but there were also requirements as mentioned in
Exodus 19:5-6 “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out
of all nations you will be my treasured possessions. Although the whole
earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy
nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Only God's Holiness

The basis for Israel’s holiness was God’s holiness. Eight times in the
book of Leviticus and 60 times in other books of the Old Testament the
Lord said, “Be holy, because I am holy.” The source of Israel’s
holiness was the life of God in them. The only way of obtaining God’s
life was through an intimate, obedient relationship with Him.

If we miss this fundamental point -- that God is the source of holiness--
then we will attempt to make holiness the way to God. But holiness can
never be the way to God, because it’s God’s life in us! When we miss out
on intimacy with God, we miss out on holiness and often times it can
lead us to become legalists!

The Jews tried to make obedience to the law the way to God and failed
to live up to the demands of the old covenant (Hebrews 8:9). The law,
as good at it was, was incapable of producing holiness (Romans 7:10).

How many of you are frustrated because as hard as you try, you can
never seem to get holy? Doing things is good for you, and they are the
marks of a holy person, but doing them will NEVER make you holy!

Empowering Us to Obey

God’s grace gives us new hearts and anoints us with the Holy Spirit so
we want to obey God and are empowered to fulfill His commands. The old
covenant was a failure because a more fundamental change needed to take
place in the people’s hearts before they could fulfill the law. They
needed a change of attitude, will and desire -- their nature needed to be
conformed to God’s nature.

Jeremiah prophesied that a time would come in which God would put his
laws in our minds and write them on our hearts (Jer. 31:31-33). This
relationship would be marked by intimacy…”No longer will a man teach
his neighbor, or a man his brother saying, know the Lord, because they
will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest declares the
Lord.” (Vs. 34). Holiness is God’s transforming power working in us,
not a program to improve out lives! Theologians sometimes call this
truth “positional holiness” by which they mean we are declared holy and
transformed through faith in Christ’s atoning death on the cross.
Positional holiness cannot be earned.

John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His
name, He gave the right to become children of God. Children born not of
natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of
God.”

No Need to Perform

It is in Christ that we are empowered by God’s Spirit for holy living.
2 Corinthians 1:22 says, “He set his seal of ownership on us, and put His
Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

The truth here is that in Christ you are fully accepted by the Father.
In Christ God forgives us, declares us righteous, and adopts us as His
sons and daughters (Heb. 9:15). Christ changes us into His likeness-
declaring us a holy people, a people set-aside for His use (1 Cor.
1:2). Because the Father then accepts us in the ‘One that He loves’,
there is then nothing that we can do to be holier because Jesus has
already done it for us!

To know that we are accepted by the Father means we don’t have to
perform for God’s approval. Instead, we obey God because we know we’re
accepted in Christ. This may seem like an insignificant point, but our
motivations in life really do affect how we live.

Make Every Effort

There is always a struggle to live under grace and in the truth of our
new identity in Christ, not under the law and enslaved to our old
nature. Our struggle is a process called, “progressive sanctification,”
in which God separates us for his use and conforms us to His nature.
Positional holiness doesn’t let us off the hook by taking personal
responsibility to cooperate with God in obeying His commands.
Positional holiness qualifies us to live lives that are pleasing to
God. Holiness comes by grace working in us, and holiness is not easy.
In fact, holiness is hard work

Steps Towards Holiness

I have often found that when I have steps that I can see and follow, it
is helpful in following through with what I am praying and working
towards. Here are 5 steps that you can begin taking to cooperate with
God’s grace and its work of holiness in your life.

1. We need to accept God’s truth concerning “positional holiness”.
Before doing anything you have to believe everything that Jesus has
done for you. In Christ, your nature has been changed, and when God
looks at you he sees the righteousness of His Son.
2. Keep short accounts with God (1 John 1:9)
3. Recognize the difference between temptation and sin (James 1:14-15;
Luke 22:40; 2 Timothy 2:22)
4. Live in brokenness and dependence on God (Romans 6, 7, and 8)
5. Finally, remember that holiness is God’s life in you. Delight in
Him, and His holiness will change your life!

[Scott Hutchinson]

Nuff said, scott, go reread these threads and stop clogging the forum with silly threads.

Yes I'm just a silly guy with too much time on my hands.:blah:ursofunny:gotcha

[Sam]

This is lesson 63 from the Pentecostal Bible Study Course. This was originally distributed as the Oneness Pentecostal Correspondence Course and was a two volume series of lessons for ministers based on teaching at the Northwest Bible Training School. This lesson is from Volume 2 and is adapted from the writings of John H. Dearing.

Lesson 63
HOLINESS

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). The doctrine of holiness has been opposed from the time of the Wesleys until this present time by large bodies of professed Christians. Yet it is clearly inconsistent to teach that a person who is saved by the grace of God will continue to live in sin. (See Titus 2:11-12.)

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS [Jehovah Savior]: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The angel, in announcing the birth of the Son of God, said that His very name reveals the purpose of His coming—to save us FROM our sins, not IN our sins.

Peter said, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15-16). Peter was writing to saints, people who were born of God. If they were born of God, then they were children of God. This passage of Scripture gives the reason why the children of God should be holy: because God is holy. If God, our Father, is holy, should not the children born of Him be holy?

When we were born of the flesh, we were children of wrath; that is, we were sinners by nature. Then when we are born of God, we should be holy, for our new birth is by the incorruptible seed (I Peter 1:23). We are “an holy nation” (I Peter 2:9). As children of God, we are a nation of holy people in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we are to shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15). We are now children of God, and, furthermore, we will be like Jesus when He appears. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (I John 3:3).

“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” (I John 1:7). “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8). God was manifested in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16) that He might produce a holy people.

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

A verse of Scripture has perplexed many: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (I John 3:9). If this verse meant that it is impossible for a born-again person ever to commit sin, then it would not be in harmony with many Scripture passages that teach the opposite. Instead, it means that Christians will not continue to live in sin. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not [that is, he does not live in sin or habitually practice sin]; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (I John 5:18). I John 3:9 and I John 5:18 are both in the same letter on the same subject, so we should understand them in the same way. This interpretation is in perfect harmony with such passages as Romans 6:11-12: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

In summary, Christ in us gives us the victory, for our righteousness is not in our own works, but He is our righteousness. In the same manner we can say He is the seed that is our holiness, and we are not to continue in sin, for that would prove that we have not been born of God but are of the devil. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 2:1). Seeing that God has provided a way back for His children who fail Him, we conclude that our victorious life depends on our walking in the light.

Opponents of this holiness teaching commonly refer to Old Testament verses to refute this position. “For there is no man that sinneth not” (I Kings 8:46). “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). In context, those verses are, of course, true, but we are not preaching salvation from sin back in the days of the kings; we are preaching holiness through Jesus Christ.

Then they use New Testament passages such as Romans 3:10: “There is none righteous, no, not one.” This passage is a quotation from the Old Testament, and it describes the human race in the unregenerate state. Verse 19 says, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Verse 23 adds, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” But did Paul leave people in that state? No, he preached Jesus, who came to save them from their sins The reason many people oppose holiness teaching is that they have little if any communion or fellowship with our holy God. As soon as a person comes into fellowship with God through the baptism of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:4, he will become a holy person. The very grace of God received in the baptism of the Holy Ghost teaches us that we should live holy lives in this present world. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12).

By the blood of the Son of God, we have entrance into the presence of a holy God. If we abide in Him, we will walk as He walked (I John 2:6). God has provided the power for such a holy walk in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 1:8.)

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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” (I John 1:6-7).

[freeatlast]

what's holiness? Long Hair, Long Dresses, Long sleeves, and....long faces.

[Sam]

This is from "The Winds of God." This book was written by Ethel Goss and is about the early Pentecostal movement (1901-1914) in the life of her husband Howard A. Goss.The copyright date is 1958.

Howard Goss was, and is, considered a pioneer and a hero by quite a few people in the Pentecostal movement although many today would have no idea who he was.

In the early years of the Pentecostal movement a group of workers would go into an area and preach. They would go with no church invitation and no financial backing. They felt like they had a message to preach and that God would supply their needs. Their message was salvation, sanctification, healing, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was called the Apostolic Faith even though it had nothing to do with later teaching on Oneness and baptism in Jesus' Name. Later it would be referred to by some as Full Gospel. Some times they could afford a building to hold meetings in and some times even a separate place to stay. Finances and food came in by the grace of God.

On page 69 of the book he talks about the way they dressed which is in marked contrast to the way some of the preachers preach about standards, clothing, jewelry, etc today. Years ago we used to refer to this as "clothes line preaching." Now I guess it's just considered preaching on standards.

"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.

"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.

"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."

[Sam]

This is from pages 21 and 22 of the May 1960 issue of the Pentecostal Herald

True Holiness
by Roy H. Maki

But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Because it is written Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15,6

A noted writer and authority on the subject of holiness once remarked that the Devil has used holiness as a scarecrow to frighten sincere Christians away from the finest of the wheat The reason many honest people are frightened by the thought of holiness is that they do not comprehend the real significance of a consecrated and dedicated life unto God as an integral part of their Christian experience. The first notion that pops into the minds of most people when you mention holiness is that it embrace an austere “holier-than-thou” attitude of the Pharisees of old and the early American Puritans. Nothing is further from the truth; true holiness should not be burdensome to a Christian who loves God, nor should it repel him.

We serve a holy God; holiness is the primary attribute of God and thus Habakkuk cries out “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity.....” (1:13). If the justice of God had prevailed, mankind would have been destroyed because of his repeated iniquities and rebellion against a holy God. But love prevailed and the eternal God clothed Himself in a tabernacle of flesh, offering Himself as a sacrifice in our stead, bridging the chasm between God and man.

In the Old Testament mercy was a popular term; while in the New Testament, it is grace. 1 Peter 2:9 declares: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called out of darkness into his marvelous light.” This verse in Peter’ Epistle is practically a rephrase of Exodus 19:5, 6 which said, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed and will keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people...and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” I should like to direct your attention to the spirit in which each of these promises is made. Notice, in particular, the difference in the emphasis. When Jehovah spoke to the Israelites of old, He qualified His promise with a big “IF.”-- “IF ye will obey and keep my commandments.” God’s blessings in the Old Testament were conditional. Notice the negative emphasis on works. However, in contrast, during the dispensation of grace, the promise is “Ye ARE a chosen generation” and the emphasis is a positive one. The emphasis is on grace.

The word translated “peculiar’ in both instances cited above is from the original Hebrew and Greek words meaning “a purchased people” or “a private property.” It definitely does not mean we should act strangely and carry on in odd ways; though it is true that our manner of worship sometime seems strange to some. God wants His people to conduct themselves in a decent and orderly fashion. All intelligent Pentecostal saints are opposed to fanaticism in any shape or form. Yes, we are purchased, “far as many as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold..But with the precious blood of Christ...” (1 Peter 1:18, 19). We are bought with a price and are no longer our own, yet many can sing the hymn, “We Shall Crown Him Lord of ALL,” without yielding one iota of their lives to Him We become the temple of the Holy Spirit, and are admonished not to defile this dwelling place of God.

Jehovah commanded Israel, “Sanctify yourselves therefore and be ye holy, for I am Jehovah your God...I am Jehovah which sanctify you” (Lev 20:8). The word translated Jehovah in this verse is from the original Hebrew word “Jehovah M’Kddesh,” which means “Jehovah who sanctifies.” The Hebrew term for sanctify is “qodesh” which means “to set apart for God,” that is, “to separate one for the service of God.” Sanctify also means “to consecrate”; “to be holy.” When God commanded His earthly people, Israel, to separate themselves from evil and wickedness, He not only hedged them about with a host of restrictive “do-nots, ”but He also gave them the opportunity to do good. The Israelites were not only warned to shun the evils of the land of Egypt but they were also to keep and walk in the ordinances of Jehovah. God commands His people to be holy, but He cannot force them to do so. Holiness is a process, and one is holy only as long as he exercises his free moral choice to be holy. It is this daily “dying to self” the “mortification of the deeds of the flesh” --this constant spiritual exercise which causes the saint of God to grow in grace and holiness. Holiness is not mushroom growth, it is not the thing of the hour, nor is it like Jonah’s gourd which grew in a single night-- on the contrary, it grows like a coral reef, little by little, degree by degree. (Read 2 Peter 3:18’ 2 Cor 3:18; 7:1; 1 Thess 3:12; Phi 1L6; 3:10-15.) A lazy man cannot be a holy man. The serious saint of God must deliberately separate himself from all that is unclean and unholy, and continually and constantly present the members of his body as holy instruments unto God for the accomplishment of His holy purposes.

Christ enjoined His followers to be perfect, even as our heavenly Father is perfect; Jude tells us that we will be presented “faultless” before the presence of God; and Paul says our soul, body, and spirit will be preserved “blameless” unto the coming of Jesus Christ. The greatest confusion over the subject of holiness stems from the fact that the words “perfect,” “faultless” and “blameless” are synonymous terms. We do not indulge in mere verbal hairsplitting when we say there is a distinction. Many of us are deluded into thinking we are “perfect” or “faultless,” when in reality, we are only “blameless.”

Perfection in the original Greek usage carries with it the idea of coming of age, completeness, wholeness, maturity, ripeness, or coming to fruition. It is consistent with the spirit of the orginal text to conclude that a “perfect” saint of God is one who has reached spiritual maturity; one who no longer is a babe in Christ tossed about by every wind of doctrine; but one who is rooted and grounded in the Word of God. 1 Thess. 5:24 tells us that we shall be preserved “blameless” unto the coming of the Lord; while Jude 24 tells us that we shall be presented “faultless” before the presence of God’s glory. There can be no denying the fact that “faultlessness” is a condition which exists in heaven after our translation to the throne and presence of God.

[Sam]

I think Paul explains it in Philippians chapter 3.


Here is the text with headings from the NKJV online version

All for Christ
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.


Pressing Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.


Our Citizenship in Heaven
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

I know that is lengthy but notice what Paul said.

First, he talked about his righteousness under the law. He cites his pedigree and says he was blameless as far as the law goes.

Then he says that he considers all his own righteousness as rubbish. KJV says, "dung." We could probably think of another word here that means the same thing.

He says he gave up his own righteousness and accepted the righteousness of God through faith.

Then he talks about growing and striving and developing in Christ. First he says he is not perfect/complete/mature yet but he is going in that direction. Then in verse 15 he says that he is perfect/complete/mature and that all those who are also perfect/mature/complete should continue on growing, etc.

This may be a reference to our perfect standing or position in Christ and to our present state or condition in Christ.

God does not see us in our sin but in His Son. He looks at us through the blood of Jesus and does not see sin (position) but in reality He sees all our sins and imperfections (condition) but He loves us lavishly and extravagantly because we are His kids.

There used to be a verse that troubled me. In 1 Corinthians 6:14-18 Paul exhorts us to be separate. Then in the first verse of chapter 7 he exhorts us "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (NKJV) I used to wonder, how can we perfect or complete God's holiness? Here's how it reads in the Amplified Version:
"Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God." It dawned on me that we cannot add to or complete what God has done for us. We ARE holy. He said so. But, we can grow. We can work on ourselves. There are things we can give up. There are things that we can do. Not to become more holy positionally, but to become more holy conditionally. We need to live clean, moral lives on a daily basis --not to gain God's favor or to outdo someone else, but just because God's kids should reflect the family image.

Now, no one can decide for me just what this means for me. They might suggest some stuff, but they can't judge me. I am responsible to my Father. He alone is my judge, and He will support and keep me according to Romans 14:4 which says "Who are you to pass judgment on and censure another's household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand." Amplified Bible

Sam a.k.a. Jim Ellis


P.S. In case you are interested, here is how Philippians 3 reads in the Message :

1 And that's about it, friends. Be glad in God!
I don't mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don't mind hearing it again. Better safe than sorry--so here goes.
2 Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they're interested in is appearances--knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. 3 The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it-- 4 even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: 5 a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God's law; 6 a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting Christians; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God's law Book.
7 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash--along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. 8 Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant--dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ 9 and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ--God's righteousness.
10 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. 11 If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.
12 I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. 13 Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward--to Jesus. 14 I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
15 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision--you'll see it yet! 16 Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
17 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. 18 There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. 19 But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20 But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

[Sam]

The following article is from the November 18, 1958 issue of The Apostolic Sentinel, which was then the official publication of the Texas District of the UPC.

HOLINESS
by B.E. Echols

God’s Lowest Standard of Christian Living
Texts: Heb 12:14, 1 John 3:10

Some folks, who call themselves Christians, will not accept “God’s Lowest Standard of Christian Living” as their highest standard. They claim to be Christians, but they indulge in sinful things every day. How can anyone, who habitually lives a life of sin, claim to be a child of a holy God --who associates Himself, and identifies Himself with nothing but HOLY ANGELS (Matt 25:31), HOLY PEOPLE (Deut 7:6 and 2 Cor 6:17, 18), HOLY APOSTLES (Eh 3:5), HOLY PROPHETS (Rev. 22:6), A HOLY CHURCH (Eph 5:25-27), A HOLY BIBLE (Rom 1:2) and A HOLY HEAVEN (2 Pet 3:13)? Precious hearts, there is no fellowship to be had with God by any spirit or person that is unclean or not holy.

THE LOWEST STANDARD

According to the Scriptures, there are not any standards below holy living which are acceptable with God. “He that committeth sin is of the devil” --so says one of the holy apostles. Have you not read where the Bible says, “Follow peace with all men, AND HOLINESS, without which NO MAN shall see the Lord”? Then, we further read in Rev 20:6, “Blessed and HOLY is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power...” Also, “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” For “whosoever doeth NOT righteousness is NOT OF GOD...” (1 John 3:6, 10)

A STANDARD WE MUST ATTAIN TO AND RETAIN

“The Pentecostal Movement,” of the 20th Century, came into being under the ministry of preachers who were living and preaching holiness as “God’s Lowest Standard of Christian Living,” and if we are to continue --as a group of God’s chosen people-- we must have pastors, evangelists, and teachers who preach and teach holiness and demand such of those who would associate themselves with us or desire our fellowship. We are definitely instructed by the Apostle Paul, to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (sin), but rather reprove them.”

Paul further states in Rom 6:1, 2, 6 “What shall we say then? Shall we CONTINUE in sin (after God has saved us), that grace may abound (for forgiveness of sin every day we live, after being saved)? GOD FORBID. How shall we who are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ...Knowing this that our OLD MAN (the carnal man, that is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” --Rom 8:7) is crucified with Him (Christ), that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth (from this time on) we SHOULD NOT serve sin.”

Then, we further read in Rom 6:11-14, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed (in fact or action) unto sin...Let not sin therefore (or for the reasons already stated) reign in your mortal (fleshly) body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof...For sin shall not have dominion over you.” Paul was a staunch believer in, and a great advocate of holiness, as “The Lowest Standard of Christian Living.”

HOLINESS, GOD’S STANDARD FOR ALL AGES

1. The Dispensation of Innocency. Go back to the garden of Eden and you will find that Adam and Eve were expelled from that earthly paradise because they sinned by transgression (Rom 5:12-14 and 1 Tim 2:14). If God put them out of the garden for committing sin, do you think He is going to permit people to sin (in any age) and stay in His holy church or go to heaven? See Rev 21:2, 7, 8 and Eph 5:25-27.

2. The Dispensation of Conscience or the “antediluvian age” --which extended from Adam’s expulsion from the garden of Eden on to the time of the flood. You know how God punished the first murderer of this age, Cain, and then sent that awful flood “upon the world of the ungodly” (2 Pet 3:5) Righteous Noah and his immediate family were the only ones who escaped the judgments of God at this time. It was holy living or punishment for sin, in this dispensation, the same as for Adam and Eve in the first one.

3-4. The Dispensation of Human Government and the Patriarchs, which extended from the time of the flood unto the giving of the law by Moses. How could anyone figure that God demanded less of the people of this dispensation, when He commanded of Abraham, “Walk before Me and be thou perfect,” and “rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven” (Ge 19:24)? See also 2 Pet 2:6-8.


5. The Dispensation of the Law, extending from the giving of the law by Moses, unto the death of Jesus on the cross. “And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, ‘Speak unto ALL the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye SHALL BE holy...’ ” (Lev 19:1,2). There can be no argument here as to what God demanded of them. positively, they were to live free from sin and be a “holy nation” unto Him (Ex 19:6).

6, The Dispensation of Grace, extending from the death of Christ unto the beginning of His millennial reign on this earth. Every scriptural reference that we used under the “introductory headings” of this article applied to this dispensation of time. But for further proof, hear Jesus in His sermon on the Mount: “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall IN NO CASE enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20), and they were commanded to live holy during the law dispensation (Lev 19:1,2)

You might also read Luke 1:74-75; Titus 2:11, 12; 1 Thes 3:13, 4:7; 1 Cor 6:9, 10, 11; 15:34, 55-57 and 2 Cor 7:1. If these references do not demand that we live holy in the “Dispensation of Grace,” please inform me as to what dispensation of time they would apply.

7. The Kingdom Age or Dispensation, which begins and ends with our Lord’s one thousand year reign on this earth, which is to be a reign of peace and righteousness. His demands of that age will be nothing less than holiness and righteous living. See Isa 52:10-12.

Zechariah prophesied of that future day by saying, “In that day (see verses 16-20) shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD...Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be HOLINESS unto the Lord of Hosts.” So, you see the Lord is going to have the pots people cook in, or use otherwise, and the bells on horses preaching and ringing out the message of holiness continually. How could a holy God demand less of any people of any age or dispensation? It never has been the case and it never will be anything less than holiness unto Him. Does He not say, “I am the Lord, I CHANGE NOT...”? (Mal 3:6). Then, the writer of Hebrews follows with these words, “Jesus Christ the same YESTERDAY (in His demands for holy living), and TODAY (His demands are the same), and FOREVER (it will still be holiness, as you will see in the following paragraphs).

THE ETERNAL CRY OF HEAVEN

Lest someone should forget God’s eternal demand of holiness, after they reach heaven, God has created FOUR BEASTS, as described in rev 4:6-9 TO CRY (translated “singing” by the R.S. version) the message of holiness “forever and ever” (vs. 9).

Oh glory, brother! I am glad I am one of those Pentecostal preachers who endeavors to live and preach holiness; for it is such ministers and saints, who ae going to shine “as the stars forever and ever” (Dan 12:3).

As a followup, this is from “What Oneness Pentecostals Believe and Teach,” third edition by B.E. Echols, Marshall, TX, 1956 pages 10-12

A few things the Oneness Pentecostal People believe and teach that a Christian should NOT do or partake of are: drink beer, wine, whiskey ... use snuff or tobacco ...attend or take part in basketball, football and baseball games, picture shows, boxing and wrestling matches, visit pool halls, play golf or cards, dance, go swimming where both sexes are present ... telling jokes ... reading funny papers, novels ... listening in on comic radio programs and ungodly TV broadcasts. All such things rob a Christian of his spirituality and will eventually drown his soul in perdition.

Christian women should not bob their hair (1 Cor 11:5-11) get permanents (1 Tim 2:9, 10), wear jewelry as ornaments (this applies to men also); wear socks, use rouge and lip-stick or paint their eyebrows, eyelashes or fingernails; neither should they wear low neck, short skirt and short-sleeve dresses --especially in public ... abstain from all lustful and pagan customs of the ungodly, such as necking, kissing, spooning and keeping late hours at night.

[Sam]

Jesus is my Standard. I am holy because Jesus lives in me as the Holy Spirit. His presence in me sets me apart (sanctifies me unto God). Jesus is my righteousness and my holiness and my sins are all remitted/forgiven as I confess them and therefore I stand righteous and holy in the sight of God. I don't try to establish any pseudo self righteousness or holiness based on man-made rules.



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