Does Anyone Want Holiness?!?!

I ask this question knowing that there are people out there who do want holiness… that know that holiness is what God requires.  However, I am amazed and discouraged by the number of professing “Christians” who believe they are “Christians” in spite of the fact they are still sinners!  They may have a glimpse of the light of God’s Word, but are still living in the darkness of sin.

I would like to share some excerpts from a book I am reading entitled Opened Windows, The Church and Revival, by James A. Stewart.

Somewhere down the years “we” [the nominal christian church world]  have lost the knowledge of God’s plan and purpose in and through the redemptive work of His beloved Son. Today the Holy Saviour is offered on God’s terms of free grace, to all and sundry, irrespective of their attitude to God’s holiness and to the regal claims of the majestic Christ. He is offered, may I say kindly, as One who will deliver from the penalty of sin, and yet allow the sinner to remain in love with his sins. He is presented as the Saviour of sinners, while His royal claims are ignored. The full implications of the Christian Gospel and the Christian life are entirely forgotten. The inevitable consequence of such teaching and preaching is that we have many “converts” struggling to live the Christian life who have never been born again. They have accepted the literal truth of the Gospel, but not in its living power. Their intellect has apprehended certain facts, while the heart has remained untouched. The free grace of the Gospel has been preached to them, but the standard of discipleship has been omitted. … How often, as we have spoken to people about their souls, they have told us that it was well with them; and yet, we discovered to our dismay and astonishment, that they were living in sin with no desire to live a life of holiness. They were devoid of heart-devotion to the Saviour. Surely Satan had deceived them. …Remember that the Gospel is a holy-making Gospel, and that the Lord Jesus is a holy Saviour! We do not live a holy life in order to be justified, but we are justified in order that we might live a holy life. …Our Kinsman-Redeemer bore the wrath of God for us, not only that we might be acquitted, but that we also might become holy, and live a life to the praise and glory of God’s grace, under the lordship of Christ.

Romans 14:9:  “For to this end Christ both died and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord…”

2 Cor. 5:15: “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Ephesians 1:4: “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.”

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

Christ died not only to save us from future punishment but also that He might make us holy now.

Romans 6:17-22: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness… For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

The unregenerate man needs not only pardon from the guilt of his sin, but cleansing from the defilement of it. …Our redemption is two-fold: the deliverance from the wrath of God, and deliverance out of the bondage of this present evil world. This should be the immediate experience of every newborn soul.”

And I say, that IS the experience of every newborn soul!  A few more quotes of others:

“Boast not of Christ’s work for you unless you can show unto us the Spirit’s work in you.” ~~Bishop Ryle

“Holy practice is the proper evidence of saving faith.” ~~Jonathan Edwards

“Dear friends, you may have awakenings, enlightenings, experiences, a full heart in prayers, and many signs, but if ye lack holiness you will never see the Lord. A real desire after complete holiness is the truest mark of having been born again.” ~~Murray McCheyne

“By their fruits ye shall know them.” ~~ Jesus

This should be the attitude of every soul honestly seeking God and His holiness:

In full and glad surrender

I give myself to Thee;

Thine utterly and only,

And evermore to be.

O, Son of God, who lov’st me,

I will be Thine alone,

And all I have, and all I am

Shall henceforth be Thine own.

O, come and reign, Lord Jesus;

Rule over everything;

And keep me always loyal,

And true to Thee, my King.

 

                    ~~Frances R. Havergal

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving means giving thanks.  When you give thanks, it is to a specific person for something you are thankful for.  In the end, all thanksgiving goes back to God, because as James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  Giving thanks is very wholesome because it is one of the things that takes the focus off of self, and it helps you have a healthy mind.

Our theme scripture for today is 1 Peter 2:9:

But 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 you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

This scripture gives four reasons for giving praise to God.

First, you are a chosen generation.  This title was formerly given to the whole Jewish church.  The Israelites were a chosen or “elected race”, to be a special people to God; but when they rejected Jesus, their own Messiah, that very person who is the head of the corner of God’s church, they gave up their title of being the children of God and all that went with it.  The way was opened for “whosoever will”.  It is wonderful that individuals, Jews and Gentiles alike, now have the opportunity to answer that call.  I’m glad I have answered, “I will!”  Now I am a child of God, along with all others who have confessed their sins to God and repented (turned from) their sins.  It is wonderful that no matter what life brings, you can have that relationship with God.  He is a wonderful Father.

Second, you are a royal priesthood.  Revelation 5:10 says, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”  A king because, when you are saved, sin no longer has dominion over you.  Instead, you now reign over sin.  This is royalty of the highest degree — truly a child of God.  A priest because you no longer have to go through men to get to God.  When you are His child, you can yourself go directly to God in prayer.  Sin no longer separates you from God, so nothing can hinder your prayers from being answered.  What a reason to give thanks!

Third, you are a holy nation.  God’s people are without sin.  He has made a way for sin to be forgiven and forsaken, and He accepts nothing less.  This is a wonderful reason to give thanks, because Holy living produces a wonderful life!

Fourth, and finally, you are a peculiar people, a “purchased people”, a “private property”, belonging to God Almighty.  This term also signifies shut up wealth, or jewel, a peculiar treasure.  We are called to this position of being God’s treasure out of darkness, idolatry, superstition, and ungodliness, and all sin, into His marvelous light.  “That we should shew forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

We were created for His glory, and what gives glory to God more than a changed life?  Let us be determined this Thanksgiving Season and the rest of our lives to do as it says in 1 Corinthians 10:31:

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

I Pledge My Allegiance (via DAUGHTERS OF LIGHT)

We who call ourselves “Christians”, or “Church of God”, must realize who we are representing, and be sure we are representing Him as He would have us to. This is an excellent post from the Daughters of Light website, that I thought would be good to reblog on Born to Be Free.

THIS WEEKEND MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE pledged their allegiance to our flag will be celebrating our country's independence and freedom. Have you ever stopped to consider what a pledge of allegiance means? TO PLEDGED MEANS TO PROMISE SOLEMNLY or formally. It means you are entering into a binding agreement. You are giving a very serious promise to keep something. ALLEGIANCE IS THE ACT OF BINDING YOURSELF to a course of action; loyalty to some cause, nat … Read More

via DAUGHTERS OF LIGHT

Deliverance to the Captives

Luke 4:16-21   

¹⁶And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.  ¹⁷And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,  ¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  ¹⁹To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  ²⁰And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.  ²¹And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Acts 5:31 

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 26:18 

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Colossians 1:13-14  

¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:   ¹⁴In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

John 8:34-36  

³⁴Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.   ³⁵And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  ³⁶If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Romans 6:22 

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

John 12:26 

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Isaiah 61   

¹The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  ²To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;  ³To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.  ⁴And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.  ⁵And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.  ⁶But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.  ⁷For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.  ⁸For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.  ⁹And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.  ¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.  ¹¹For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Conditional Salvation (Part 6)

Restitution, Forgiveness, Prayer, and Faith are the remaining conditions for Salvation that we will cover in this series.

Restitution

Beyond confessing the wrong done, in many cases restitution is also necessary. 

Ezekiel 33:15  If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

God requires those who want salvation to set right their former wrongs, and then to walk right from that point forward. In Luke 19:8, we see that Zacchaeus was ready and willing to restore “fourfold” anything he had taken deceitfully! 

Sometimes the restitution is more than a person can possibly make.  If that is the case, after the person has restored as much they can, the following scripture may in principle cover any remaining shortfall:

2 Corinthians 8:12  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

And then there are cases where it is impossible to restore even a portion of what was taken, as in the virtue, honor, or character of another person.  In that case, the sinner must come to God on mercy alone.

Forgiveness

The sinner must be willing to forgive those who have wronged him, and let go of all bitterness, hardness, hatred, and enmity towards the offender.

Matthew 6:14-15  ¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Jesus exemplified forgiveness himself when he said of those who were crucifying him, while on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Prayer

Next, the sinner is instructed to ask.

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Romans 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Joel 2:32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered…

Faith

Finally, prayer must be accompanied by faith.

Acts 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:30-31  ³⁰…Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  ³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:8-11  ⁸But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  ¹¹For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

One final scripture:

Jeremiah 29:11-14  ¹¹For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  ¹²Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  ¹³And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  ¹⁴And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Links to Other Posts on This Topic:

Conditional Salvation, Part 1 (Choice)

Conditional Salvation, Part 2  (Spiritual Awakening)

Conditional Salvation, Part 3 (Desire, and Godly Sorrow)

Conditional Salvation, Part 4 (Repentance)

Repentance

Conditional Salvation, Part 5 (Confession)

The Penitent Thief

Both Matthew and Mark, in their accounts of the crucifixion, record that both thieves mocked and reviled Jesus (Matthew 27:37-44, Mark 15:26-32).  It is probable that these thieves did not know much, if anything, about Jesus before they came to be crucified with him.   But as time went on, they became aware of some things:  He was referred to, mockingly, as “Christ the King of Israel” and “the Son of God”; it was said, He “had saved others”; and they were able to see how Jesus conducted himself, in spite of the mocking, and how an unnatural darkness had come over the land during the time of the crucifixion.  This may have had an impact on the one thief, to cause him to consider who this man Jesus really was.  In Luke’s account, we see a change in this man’s attitude and behavior, before the day was over:

Luke 23:32-43  ³²And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  ³³And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  ³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.  ³⁵And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.  ³⁶And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,  ³⁷And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.  ³⁸And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  ³⁹And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  ⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  ⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  ⁴²And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  ⁴³And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

What I notice is that this penitent thief developed a fear of God, then confessed his sinful condition, recognized and acknowledged Jesus as Lord and King, and prayed for mercy, which he received. 

In Romans 10:9-13 is a promise that this thief benefited from:

⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The thief said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”  He believed that Jesus would live again to come into His kingdom.

¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

The thief quit his reviling, confessed before Jesus and men his sin and that Jesus was Lord and King, and came humbly to Jesus.

¹¹For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  ¹²For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

The same salvation is available to all, by the same means.

¹³For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The thief spoke to Jesus personally and directly as “Lord”, humbly asking to be remembered when He came into His kingdom.  This reminded me of Joseph in prison in Egypt  Genesis 40:1-23.  The chief butler had a dream that Joseph interpreted:

¹²And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:  ¹³Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

Joseph asked the butler to remember him before Pharaoh when he was restored to his position:

¹⁴But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

Yet the butler forgot him, for two full years!

²³Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Genesis 41:1-9  ¹And it came to pass at the end of two full years,….⁹Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember…¹⁴Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

In the case of the thief on the cross, when he asked Jesus to remember him, Jesus said:

⁴³…Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

What mercy!  What Love!

Conditional Salvation (Part 5)

Another condition for Salvation is that sinners acknowledge (confess) to God that they are sinners.  God’s standard of holiness is what we must compare ourselves to; not society’s standard, not our culture’s standard, not our own standard. 

Isaiah 5: 21, 20  ²¹Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!  …²⁰Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

We must forsake our own thoughts, and measure ourselves according to God’s thoughts.

Isaiah 55:7-9  ⁷Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  ⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  ⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The sinner must confess his sins as sins, according to God’s definition.

1 John 3:4  ⁴Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

James 4:17  ¹⁷Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

It does sinners no good to claim they have not sinned, because the Bible declares that all have sinned and have come short of God’s standard of holiness (Romans 3:23).  If sinners says they have no sin (or have not sinned), they deceive themselves… they make him a liar. (1 John 1: 8, 10)  But,

1 John 1:9  ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession must also (if possible) be made to men, –when our sins involve them.  God’s purpose in this is that we be reconciled to him and to those we have wronged, that we might have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men (Acts 24:16).

Matthew 5:23-24  ²³Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;  ²⁴Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

The promise of mercy is to those who confess and forsake their sin.

Proverbs 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.L

Links to Other Posts on This Topic:

Conditional Salvation, Part 1 (Choice)

Conditional Salvation, Part 2  (Spiritual Awakening)

Conditional Salvation, Part 3 (Desire, and Godly Sorrow)

Conditional Salvation, Part 4 (Repentance)

Repentance

Conditional Salvation, Part 6 (Final Things)