Holiness: The Essential and Transformative Power of God

Always An “A”

Novelist Lloyd Douglas tells about a man who went to visit his old violin teacher and asked, “What’s new?” “I’ll tell you what’s new!” said the teacher. He grabbed his tuning fork and banged it. The tuning fork, at 440 cycles per second, vibrated an “A note” which came out loud and clear. “Do you hear that? That’s an ‘A’” he proclaimed. “Now, upstairs a soprano rehearses endlessly and she’s always off key. Next door I have a cello player who plays his instrument very poorly. There is an out-of-tune piano on the other side of me. I’m surrounded by terrible noise night and day.” Plunking the “A” again, he continued. “Do you hear that? That’s an ‘A’ today. It will be an ‘A’ tomorrow. It will never change.”

One of the current trends making the rounds in church growth theory is that we need to constantly change the church so it can relate to our changing society; hence the recent great amount of “fully inclusive” churches and “user-friendly congregations.” Never mind that our society is obsessed with self, polluted by immorality, repulsed by commitment and smug in its new tolerance (one that tolerates everything except Biblical absolutes!).

It seems that much of the “growth” we have seen recently in religious circles has been more of an infectious “swelling,” as ministries and movements are built on human innovation rather than Biblical instruction.

I am all for any change in method that allows us to preach the Gospel more effectively. But the Bible expressly forbids us to change its message. Some things, like the “A” in the music scale, cannot be changed even slightly without destroying everything around them.

Over the past month, Pastor has talked about some of the great rocks of Pentecostal truth. We have heard some great teaching and preaching about Oneness, in particular. Today, I’m going to talk for a while about another Pentecostal distinctive: Holiness.

I want to answer with Scripture some key questions that are as relevant today as they have ever been:

“Does the Holy Ghost affect the outward appearance of the vessel God chooses to dwell in, or not?”

“Do the standards of conduct and appearance given in Scripture apply to us today, or should they be discarded in favor of a lifestyle that is less separate from - and less offensive to - our modern society?”

“Is outward holiness really a foundational issue of the Apostolic faith?”

I think we can agree that these questions and their answers matter greatly.

So let’s dig in…

Nicolas Introduced A Change to God’s Church

Nicolas was from Antioch. He was one of the first seven church deacons chosen to look after the business matters of the early church (Acts 6:3-5). But his dedication to the Apostolic message was short-lived…

We know from early writings on heresy that Nicolas eventually backslid and introduced the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes to the church. And it pulled people far from what God had established in the New Testament, giving people a “false freedom.”

In the book of Revelation, John compared the Nicolaitanes to Balaam in the Old Testament who “cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel” (Revelation 2:14-15). Balaam was unsuccessful in cursing Israel from the outside, but he taught them to mix godliness and worldliness, and they ended up cursing themselves from within (Numbers 22-25).

That same spirit was behind Nicolas’ doctrine, which was based on declaring that Christians - since they were sinners saved by grace - could live like the world on the outside… and still remain saved on the inside.

His teaching would later be the basis of the doctrine of eternal security (once saved, always saved) and even the practice of confessional (confessing to a priest while still living in sin).

I’m telling you… traditionalism is a problem. Especially when it’s not biblical.

So, since Nicolas’s teaching required no outward (or inward!) change to be saved, he and his followers attracted large numbers of converts. And this was his message to the Apostolic Pentecostal believers: “Why live in the ‘legalism and bondage’ of holiness and sanctification (which was, in fact, the teaching of the Apostles) when you can be ‘free in Jesus’?

And so Nicolas violated Apostolic teaching on sanctification, which was part of their teaching on salvation.

In Apostolic belief, a holiness lifestyle included standards of dress, types of activities they participated in, and other codes of conduct (Romans 6:1-2, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, 1 Timothy 2:8-10, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15-16, etc.). Nicolas taught that these “externals” of holiness were not important.

God, however, had a different opinion. TWICE in the book of Revelation (Revelation 2:6, 2:15), He said that He “hated” the teaching of the Nicolaitanes. That’s New Testament. And He still hates it!

In the Great Falling Away of the latter first century, an outward “standard of holiness” was the first thing to go. But the tide of change didn’t stop there. And this is so very important… After holiness was generally cast aside, it was soon followed by:

True repentance,

Water baptism by immersion in Jesus’ name,

Speaking in tongues and the gifts of the Spirit,

and the doctrine of the Oneness of God.

As the elder Apostles began dying, leaders who had smaller vision and weaker conviction stepped in and began subtly altering the message. In the words of the prophet, truth had “fallen in the street” (Isaiah 59:14).

It was only much later, as massive doctrinal errors took root in the church, pushing it into the Dark Ages, did it become obvious just how much was lost when the holiness lifestyle was abandoned.

...

Today, we are privileged to live during the time of the Latter Rain, when truth has been restored and God’s Spirit is being poured out upon all flesh.

But… let me sound a not of caution and say that the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes is once again rising amongst the Apostolic Pentecostal church.

“Bro. LaRue, you’re being awfully negative.” No, sir. No, ma’am. I’m speaking what the reality and the danger is today. There are some who are compromising non-negotiable principles of Scripture for personal convenience and the acceptance of society. There are some who are surrendering holiness because it’s seen as exclusive and unattractive. And in doing so, it simply twists Scripture and normalizes living a loose way of living.

I refuse to join that bandwagon. Scripture is too precious and eternity is too long. The Nicolaitan way doesn’t deceive me. I know the damage they did the last time around.

We know, from the scripture I’m about to read, that holiness is not to be run away from or have hesitancy about - holiness is to be pursued! Because only when we wholeheartedly run after Jesus can we wholeheartedly run away from the world.

Holiness Principles

Hebrews 12:14 KJV 1900

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

God’s holiness is one of the essential and absolute attributes of His nature. And Scripture makes it very important for us:

It is an object of our awe and adoration

it sets the standard for all other holiness

It will always remain higher than the highest holiness of men and angels

It necessitates God’s opposition to and condemnation of all sin

It awakens and deepens man’s consciousness of his own sin

It sets before everyone their highest possible aspiration: to be holy as God is holy

The whole tone of Scripture is in accordance with the heavy command of this scripture text!

Man, on the other hand, appears in the Scriptures as a fallen being, by nature unholy and sinful. Created in God’s image, man has lost one of the most essential features of that image: HOLINESS.

The Hebrew and Greek words for holiness have the literal meaning “withdrawal.” So, scholars define holiness to mean “separate” and “apart.” We can simply say that holiness refers to what has been separated or set apart unto God.

BUT - HEAR THIS: Being holy does not only mean withdrawing FROM something, it means withdrawing UNTO something! We are not separate or holy merely to make other look unholy. Rather, we WITHDRAW into man’s original state of communion with God as we live holy lives.

It is not just the negative concept of “separation” - it’s also the positive concept of “dedication!” (Separation from sin and the world, dedication to God and His will!)

And that is why in almost every place Paul refers to holiness, he does not refer only to culture, but takes us all the way back to creation (the original state). And so Paul calls for compliance in matters of holiness on the basis of creation, because WE WERE CREATED TO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IN HOLINESS!

There’s a saying in the Church: “Salvation is the most elastic word in the Bible.”

I was saved from the PENALTY of sin when I was justified, I am being saved from the POWER of sin as I am sanctified, and I will be saved from the very PRESENCE of sin when I am glorified!

Salvation is a process! Don’t get the idea that it’s a one-time event in which nothing else is required or necessary!

Remember when I recently preached about Saul on the road to Damascus… HIS EYES WERE OPENED TO THE KINGDOM. And once that happens, now we have to decide whether we are going to live the kingdom lifestyle!

From God’s perspective, the salvation process and the sanctification process (sanctification = “separation” or “holiness”) are one and the same!

There are three parts to Sanctification:

POSITIONAL sanctification is just as complete for the youngest believer as it is for the oldest. It depends only upon one’s position in Christ. A new Christian is as saved as any saint the moment they are born again, but they are only beginning to walk with God; they are immature.

EXPERIENTIAL sanctification is one’s actual holiness of life, or what one is through Christ. It is imperative that believers allow God to lead them into sanctification (“separation”), for it is possible to eventually forfeit salvation altogether if they do not develop in holiness.

Hebrews 6:1–9 KJV 1900

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

ETERNAL sanctification will occur in believers at the rapture, when they are instantly and eternally transformed into a state of complete conformity to Christ.

“Holiness, so far as it appears in man, is an outcome of God’s gracious work in salvation and yet not without the proper exertion of one’s own free will and the putting forth of strenuous effort.” (Unger’s Bible Dictionary, page 582)

MOST ISSUES OF HOLINESS ARE NOT SALVATION ISSUES; THEY ARE CHRISTIAN MATURITY (OR, SANCTIFICATION) ISSUES. ONLY AS WE DO NOT OBEY GOD IN THESE AREAS DOES OUR WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE BECOME A SALVATION ISSUE.

The apostles obviously placed great importance on many areas of Christian maturity, such as: Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 6:22-25), the Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1, 14:1), Holiness in Spirit, Conduct and Appearance (Ephesians 5:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:1,4, 5:22, 1 Timothy 2:9-10, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 7:1), Submission (Ephesians 5:21, Philippians 2:3), Proper Use of Christian Liberty (1 Corinthians 8:9,13, 10:32), Good Works (Ephesians 2:10, Titus 1:16, James 2:17-18), Doctrinal and Spiritual Maturity (Ephesians 4:14-15, Hebrews 6:1), etc, etc, etc.

While one can certainly OBTAIN salvation without understanding or immediately experiencing all of these areas, the apostles cast certain doubt on one being able to MAINTAIN their salvation without a desire for a progressing experience (Hebrews 10:23-24,28, James 2:14,26, 4:8)

IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO KNOW AND NOT DO!

Only an immature or backslidden believer would ever ask “Do I have to?” when it’s in the Word!

A Biblical Perspective on Holiness

Holiness Is An Absolute Requirement for Christians

1 Peter 1:15–16 KJV 1900

15 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 Corinthians 3:16–17 KJV 1900

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Holiness Must Involve Separation From the World

2 Corinthians 6:17–7:1 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 1 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.

God Hates Those Who Reject Holiness

1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 KJV 1900

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

2 Peter 2:1–22 KJV 1900

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

God Demands an External Witness of Our Internal Holiness

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Timothy 5:24–25 NKJV

24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. 25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

We Are Not Saved BY Works, But We Are Saved UNTO Works!

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Titus 3:5–8 NKJV

5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

James 2:14–26 NKJV

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Check this out… have you ever noticed that to every single church in Revelation 2-3, God tells them, “I KNOW THY WORKS”??? They all have faith, but God pronounces judgment and blessing on each church based on WORKS!

So, Holiness is not a MEANS of earning salvation, but a RESULT of earning it!

Questions Concerning Holiness

Where Does Holiness Teaching Originate?

The supreme source of holiness teaching is the Bible itself. Therefore, a holiness standard must either be a specific Biblical statement or a valid application of a Biblical principle.

God has also given us spiritual leadership in the church to help us apply Biblical principles to the situations we encounter in contemporary life. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Finally, the Holy Spirit teaches us directly through internal promptings and convictions - if we will listen! (John 14:26, 16:13, Jeremiah 31:33, 1 John 2:27)

Our “three holiness teachers” work together and complement one another, but the Bible is our final authority. God does not give human beings the right to change His message, nor will the indwelling Spirit of God speak contrary to the written Word He Himself inspired.

What Are Holiness “Standards”?

In the Old Testament, a standard was a banner that was lifted up or displayed before the people on a pole as a rallying point or signal. In Numbers 21:8-9, this same word is used to indicate the pole upon which the bronze serpent was placed. It was customary to give a standard as a token of protection, and that was regarded as the surest pledge of fidelity. God’s lifting up or setting up a standard (Isaiah 11:12, 59:19) implies a particular presence, protection and leading of His people in the execution of His righteous will. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary)

The modern dictionary definition of “STANDARD” is: (1) something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example; (2) a means of determining what a thing should be; (3) a test of quality whether formulated as a rule or not; (4) a simple test for determining the authenticity or value of something intangible.

Quite simply, holiness standards are NOT the “tangible part” of holiness - that is an internal work of God’s Spirit. However, they ARE an external sign that an authentic work of salvation and subsequent Christian maturity have taken place. Thus, they are a “test of quality.

There are three types of holiness standards: (1) Bible Standards, which are explicitly commanded in Scripture and demand immediate obedience; (2) Church Standards, which are established by spiritual leadership to deal with the practical application of Scriptural principles in modern situations, and are usually understood and implemented gradually as a believer matures; (3) Personal Standards, which are prompted by the Holy Spirit in individual lives due to the unique background of each believer, and may have no relevance to any other believer.

Are External Standards a Type of Phariseeism, Hypocrisy, or Legalism?

Jesus’ main problem with the Pharisees was not that they appeared holy, but that their outer holiness was only a façade to camouflage their inner sin. Paul consistently taught external holiness, but he condemned some for merely “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” and admonished us “from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:5)

Jesus used the word “hypocrite” (“godless actor”) to describe the Pharisees seven times in Matthew 23. And yet, He made a distinction between the righteous principles they taught and the unrighteous actions they committed. “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” (Matthew 23:3)

Legalism is the act of basing one’s salvation on their own good works, or imposing non-Biblical rules to earn salvation. This is strongly condemned by the Bible (Romans 3-4, Galatians 3). However, the proper alternative to legalism is not the absence of God’s laws, but the proper relationship to God’s laws. We realize that we have a RELATIONSHIP to God on the basis of GRACE, but also certain RESPONSIBILITIES to God on the basis of GRATITUDE.

Thus, the only case in which external standards could be Pharisaical, hypocritical or legalistic is when there is no corresponding relationship with God on the inside. This is a much rarer case than many today would have you believe. Quite simply, anyone can live like the world! Those who are separated from the world in externals are usually very much in love with Jesus.

Why Are Practical Holiness Issues Mentioned So Rarely in Scripture?

Proverbs 25:2 says “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” The Bible is a goldmine, with much treasure hidden beneath its surface. The more you search in the original languages and background, the more beauty you behold. Some resent the necessity of “digging for truth” (spending quality time in serious, prayerful study) and feel that we should only obey what “lays on the surface” of God’s Word. But they have missed the treasure - and the point! God designed His Word so that the plan of salvation is obvious to the sinner, but the paths of sanctification are apparent only to the serious student.

Some have taught that you must have two or three Scriptures to teach any holiness standard, using 2 Corinthians 13:1, Deuteronomy 17:6, Deuteronomy 19:15, 1 Timothy 5:19 and Matthew 18:16 (“in the mouth of two or three witnesses”) for support. What they have completely overlooked is that each of these verses deal with the discipline of an individual who has sinned under the law (either OT or NT). This is a LEGALISTIC concept. A much BETTER concept is to keep the spirit and counsel of the entire Bible in each case. If the Bible consistently looks upon certain types of conduct as evil, we are foolish to condone them simply because several “proof texts” are not available. The listing of the Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit (as well as many other things) appear only ONCE in God’s Word. Should we discard them for lack of “two or three witnesses”? No, because they agree with the entire COUNSEL of the Bible.

Why Do Many External Standards Seem to Affect Ladies More Than Men?

The reason there seem to be “more rules” for women is that God created men and women differently (even if that is not a “politically correct” thing to say!).

Men are stimulated by sight. This is why Jesus said, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) A man is always attracted to a woman physically before he is connected to her emotionally. That is why pornography is sold almost exclusively to men. Statisticians tell us that even the majority of pornographic magazines published for women are actually purchased by men (homosexuals).

Women on the other hand are stimulated by touch, either a physical touch or an emotional touch. That is why Paul gives a different command concerning women: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1) So, while a woman is commanded to APPEAR a certain way so that the man is not stimulated, the man is commanded to ACT a certain way so that the woman is not stimulated

That is why there are more “external standards” for women. The additional “rules” for appearance are for the lady’s own protection, to protect her from the lusts of man.

In actuality, standards of ACTION are often harder to keep than mere standards of APPEARANCE. In 1 Timothy 2:8, just before he mentions “external standards” for godly women, Paul mentions three strict requirements for godly men: (1) Lift up holy hands (a body free from sin), (2) Worship without wrath (a spirit free from anger), (3) Worship without doubting (a mind free from doubt). Men, these are some of YOUR “holiness standards”!

What Should I Do If I Don’t Feel Convicted About A Certain Standard?

First, you should carefully and prayerfully study the Word of God on your own, allowing it to convict you. Many times the Holy Ghost will illuminate your understanding through the anointed preaching and teaching of God’s Word as well. Your responsibility is to willingly submit to God’s Word as it is revealed to your spirit. James tells us to “receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)

In cases where principles of holiness must be practically applied, there might be cases where you view things differently than other Christians. In these areas, your responsibility is to submit to the man of God who has been placed over you. You cannot be saved without submitting to your pastor!

Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

How Can I Develop Real Internal Holiness?

The good news is that if you are a Spirit-filled child of God, you already have internal holiness, for God’s Spirit is holy! However, you must let Him reign in your life - both inside and outside.

Since holiness is God’s very nature, when we receive the Holy Spirit we receive a holy nature. Through the Spirit’s power, we can overcome sin and live righteously (Romans 8:2-4, Galatians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8). We have freedom from sin’s dominion, the power to choose not to sin (John 8:34-36, Romans 6:11- 25). We will not continue to live in sin, and in fact our new nature cannot sin (1 John 3:9). However, our old nature is not eradicated but merely subdued within us, so our flesh still has the ability to commit sinful acts (1 John 1:8, 2:1, Galatians 5:6-17). However, the born again nature within us restrains us from habitually committing sin. As long as we let the Spirit lead us, we will not sin!

The law of the Spirit does not destroy the law of sin but overcomes it. As long as a bird flaps its wings, the law of aerodynamics enables it to overcome the law of gravity. However, gravity has not been destroyed. If the bird folds its wings, gravity reasserts itself and the bird plunges to the ground. Christians can live above sin - if they continually “flap their spiritual wings!”

Conclusion