HOLINESS

BY: CURRY R. BLAKE, JOHN G. LAKE MINISTRIES

One area in which the church as a whole is sadly lacking, is the area of holiness. Many times when someone
teaches on holiness it slips over into legalism. In this teaching, I hope to show the difference and believe that if
you will meditate on the New Testament Scriptures concerning holiness, you will receive revelation and
strength to live accordingly. In any study of a Bible subject, you will always have at least two aspects: The
positional or legal aspect and the vital or experiential aspect.

Simply stated this means that every Bible subject has a part that is God's part or that which God has done and
the part that we must do. The positional or legal side is the part that God has done and therefore it is where
and what you are now, as far as God is concerned. The vital or experiential side is where we are at in our walk
with God. It is the part of what God has provided that we are actually walking in.

For example, God has provided healing and health through the stripes of Jesus, so "legally" as far as God is
concerned, everyone is healed or was healed 2000 years ago, yet many are sick. So we see that the legal,
positional truth is that we were/are healed, yet, experientially many are walking far below their provided
privilege. I like to say it like this: We "own" healing, yet many do not "possess" healing.

In the area of holiness, sadly, we see much the same thing. Positionally, a disciple of Jesus is made holy by
God the moment they are born of God, yet (experientially) there may be many areas in their lives that are less
than Christ-like. This is the part of their salvation that they must "work out". If we were going to delve into the
discussion of sanctification, we would say it this way: They are sanctified (set-apart from sin and set-apart to
God) when they are born again, yet they sanctify themselves daily by forsaking sin and living a holy life. Many
teach that even though a person is saved or born again instantly, they continue to sin (they just do it less and
less) the rest of their life, until finally they are sanctified and holy unto God. If this is their experience, it is
because they have been taught that this is the way it is supposed to be.

In future teachings I will show in depth what the Bible says about this very topic. Just remember, holiness leads
to life and freedom, sin leads to death and bondage. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

There are two aspects to holiness. 1) God's part - He made you holy when you made Jesus your Lord and
were born of God. The part that He recreated in you was your spirit. That is the part that was made instantly
holy.

Your spirit, the real you, is as holy as it could ever be. You do not have to concern yourself with that part. God
did that. Again, this is the positional part. 2) Your part - This is how you live and walk out your salvation on a
daily basis. This part has to do with every aspect of your life, from your thoughts, to your words, to your
clothing. This is the experiential part.

Many times Christians try to take a person that is recently converted and blast them for not dressing or acting
perfectly "holy". I agree that people should dress modestly. I also know that if the Bible is being taught, and if
they are truly born again, the change that took place on the inside (when God made them holy), will be seen on
the outside in how they dress and act and talk, etc.

One situation that happens regularly is that when a person starts going to church, they learn what it takes to fit
in with the group they are with, so they make outward changes in their clothing and speech while never
actually getting born again and made holy on the inside. When this happens they are on the road to religion
and deception. They think that they are right because of what they do rather than because of what Jesus did.
They think they are right because of what they do rather than doing right because of who they are.

If this is not caught and corrected right away, they may be lost forever to a religious deception of salvation by
works. If a person is born of God, they will have a desire to quit sinning. Sin will become something detestable
to them. When they do sin, they will immediately have remorse and want to get right with God. Thank God, He
foresaw this and made provision for us to be forgiven, if and when this happens. Sin and holiness are
HOLINESS [Curry R. Blake] 1
opposites. You cannot live in and practice sin on a regular basis and remain holy. A Christian does not live in
sin. A Christian does not practice sin habitually. When a person gets born again, part of the born again
experience/process is turning your back on sin. Repenting (which means to change your mind) is the basis of
the new birth. If you have not repented (changed your mind about sin) you are not born again. When you
receive Christ as your Lord, you turned your back on sin. If you did not turn your back on sin, you did not make
Jesus your Lord.

The New Testament teaches Jesus as Lord, not just Saviour. Jesus is not your Saviour, if He is not your Lord.
When you were born again, the Spirit of God made your spirit (the real you) alive again to God. The Spirit of
God indwells your spirit. if you do not have the Spirit of Christ, you are not His. (Rom. 8:9) The Spirit of Christ
that you have received IS the Spirit of Holiness. If you have received the Spirit of Christ, you will desire and
experience less sin and more peace and holiness day by day.

In this study I have included 10 Scripture references that will give you a good idea of the Bible doctrine of
Holiness. I would urge you to look up each reference and read it in context to get a good understanding of what
is being said:

1. Luke 1:75 - In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. KJV Strong's #3742 - hosiotes
(hos-ee-ot'-ace); from NT:3741; piety holiness. In this verse we see that we are to serve God all the days of
our lives without fear and that Jesus would give knowledge of salvation to his people BY the remission of their
sins. Notice how sin and holiness are contrasted. You cannot live in sin and be holy. The church has been
greatly deceived into believing that grace means they can sin and God doesn't see it. Grace is time and help
from God to get right.

2. Luke 1:73-77. 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he would grant unto us, that we
being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness
before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt
go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the
remission of their sins, KJV

3. Acts 3:12 - And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this?
or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
KJV Strong's #2150 - eusebeia (yoo-seb'-i-ah); from NT:2152; piety; specially, the gospel scheme: godliness,
holiness. If you have been through the DHT training, you have heard me expound on this verse. It was not by
power that originated with Peter that allowed him to heal the lame man, nor was it how good (holy) Peter had
lived that allowed him to heal the man. This is another lie the church has bought into and propagated. Living
holy does not give you credit with God.

You cannot buy God's power with good living. You cannot fast enough or pray enough or give enough to
deserve being used by God. If you could then it would be by works and not by grace. Then you could boast
about how you fasted or prayed enough to get the power of God. It was not anything that Peter did to produce
the power that healed the man. It was the fact that Peter had faith in the name of the One that did do what
produced the power of God. Peter had faith in the Name of Jesus. That name represents everything Jesus did
in reconciling man back to God. That name and what it stands for and represents, is enough to get any job
done and any need met.

4. Romans 1:4 - And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead: KJV Strong's#42-hagiosune (hag-ee-o-soo'-nay); from NT:40; sacredness (i.e.
properly, the quality): holiness. Notice that there is an actual spirit of holiness. Jesus exemplified the spirit of
holiness. It is the spirit of holiness that causes you to think and speak and do that which is right. As you walk
with God, you will begin to desire holiness. You will begin to crave purity and doing the right thing.

5. Romans 6:19 - I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded
your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants
to righteousness unto holiness. KJV Strong's #38 - hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos'); from NT:37; properly,
purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: holiness, sanctification. Here, Paul is
HOLINESS [Curry R. Blake] 2
telling the Roman Christians that holiness is also a choice. This would be referring to the experiential side of
holiness. This is not about what God has done, it is about you making a decision to do that which is right. Paul
is referring to right living because of what God has done. As you "practice" holiness you close the gap between
who you are (what God did in you) and how you are (how you live your daily life). You will also notice Paul
states a contrast between sin and holiness and iniquity and righteousness.

6. 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. KJV Strong's #38 - hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos'); from NT:37; properly,
purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism)a purifier: holiness, sanctification. Notice here how
Paul connects freedom from sin with being servants of God. He points out that as you do this, the fruit of it is
holiness and the end of it is everlasting life, showing us that if you do not have fruit unto holiness, you will not
have everlasting life. This is how important holiness is. Remember holiness is showing God on the outside how
much you appreciate His making you holy by His Spirit on the inside.

7. 2 Corinthians 7:1 - 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. KJV Strong's #42 - hagiosune (hag-ee-o-
soo'-nay); from NT:40; sacredness (i.e. properly, the quality): holiness.

This verse tells us that holiness is something that can be perfected. This would be dealing with the experiential
aspect of holiness. In Luke 1:75, we were told that we would live without fear all the days of our live. The fear
referred to here is a constant remembering that God is a holy God and that we are to be holy as He is holy.
Again, we are reminded that holiness is contrasted with filthiness of flesh and spirit and that it is a choice we
can and are to make.

8. Ephesians 4:24 - And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness. KJV Strong's #3742 - hosiotes (hos-ee-ot'-ace); from NT:3741; piety: holiness. Paul is telling the
Ephesian Christians to walk in the new life God has provided.

He is telling them to exhibit the new person God has created in them. He reveals to us here that this new
person created by God was created righteous and holy. As Christians, born of God, we are born holy, born
righteous. It is not something we achieve, or attain.

9. It is something our spirit is made and some thing our spirit is made out of. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 - For God
hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. KJV Strong's #38 - hagiasmos (hag-eeas-mos'); from
NT:37; properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: holiness, sanctification.
In this verse the Apostle Paul reveals that we should be holy and not live in sin. Titus 2:3 - The aged women
likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers
of good things; KJV Strong's #2412 - hieroprepes (hee-er-op-rep-ace'); from NT:2413 and the same as
NT:4241; reverent: as becometh holiness. Here we are told that there is behaviour that can demonstrate
holiness. Paul also instructs the "aged women" to teach. We will not expound on this here, but suffice to say,
that here we have proof that Paul was not against women ministering.

10. Hebrews 12:14 - Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: KJV
Strong's #38 - hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos'); from NT:37; properly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely
(by Hebraism) a purifier: holiness, sanctification. This is perhaps the most important verse we will look at today.
It is apparent that holiness is one element of God's nature which must be present in man for him to see God. If
holiness is so important, why is it so ignored by the modern church? And why, when it is taught or mentioned, it
is usually in a negative sense or taught in a legalistic manner? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we must bring
true holiness back into the church.

We must realize what Jesus did for us when He removed our sin. We must focus on true Bible holiness. We
must realize the holiness God has provided for us in the New Birth and we must show our gratitude by walking
in holiness in our daily lives.

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Positional holiness is God living in us. Experiential holiness is God living through us. The scripture tells us that
there is a beauty of holiness. When we worship God with a holy life, God calls that beauty. One characteristic
of holiness is an attitude of being "careful" not to offend God.

One who lives an experientially holy life would be one that "walks upright" before God. Usually this person
would be one that is very mindful of the majesty of God, of His Kingship and the reverence due Him.
Experiential holiness is exemplified by an awareness of our relationship with God and knowing Him as our
friend, and as such not wanting to offend or "hurt His feelings" (i.e.: grieve the Spirit) in any way. As Dr.
Sumrall used to say, "better safe than sorry". If there is a chance that it's not right, DON'T DO IT. The fact that
you would seriously consider doing something that might be sin (even if you are not sure if it is sin or not)
proves the state of your heart.

A true Christian walking in positional and experiential holiness does not want to take the chance that it might
be wrong. I am not suggesting that you should not witness or pray for someone without a word from God. I am
saying that since you do have many words from God telling you to do just that, pray, minister, witness, etc.,
that you should not be willing to offend God by not doing those things after He has clearly commanded us to do
just that to every creature.

As Keith Green used to say, "God commands us to go so we should automatically be going. We should have
to have a word from God NOT TO GO. Holiness sets you free from condemnation, guilt, fear of rejection, etc.
Holiness guarantees your acceptance by God and by every "Christian" that truly has the Spirit of God.

Everything you do is spiritual because you are a spirit being in a physical body. Everything you do is spiritual
because you live and move and have your being in Him. You have the Spirit of God. You are in Him and He is
in you and you are in the Father and The Father is in you. (Sounds like Jesus doesn't it.) Take some time each
day just to stop and recognize the presence of God in you and in your life. Take some time to meditate (think
about and speak to yourself) on the fact that if God is with you, it means He has accepted you. And if He has
accepted you, you are in Him, and if you are in Him, then everything you do concerns Him.

He will protect you, feed you, clothe you, teach you, guide you in the way you should go, and He has put His
nature in you. His nature is holiness. There is no need to sin, no reason to sin. You are free. Whom the Son
sets free is free indeed. Why would you want to go back into bondage to sin and death? Why would you want
to go back into bondage to the beggarly elements of this world's way of doing things and of being? Why would
you want to go back into bondage to sickness and disease? You are free. He paid the price so you could live in
the benefits. If you are in (experiential) bondage to a sin or habit or a sickness or disease, right now, just
decide. Set your will in alignment with God's will, that sin, sickness, and satan can no longer remain in your life.

Set your will to live in the positional holiness that God has already placed in you and upon you and around you.
selah (think about it). Be the blessing you were meant to be.

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