Essentials of holiness

Published 11:47 am Friday, December 12, 2008

Hebrews 12:14: Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see God.

Holiness is not an option, it is a command.

“Wherefore gird up your minds, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. 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. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of sojourning here in fear” (1st Peter 1:13-17).

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The Apostolic church has not just of later come across Holiness, the church has known Holiness from the very beginning.

God will reward the church people and pastors that practice Holiness doctrine. To preach the entire gospel of which we live is to preach the holiness doctrine. In the modern day Pentecostal Church, it seems unthinkable to preach a good Holiness message. Today the true Holiness Apostolic preacher most often stands alone, because of Anti Holiness preachers. It seems to be the consensus in Apostolic Pentecostal Churches today that no longer is the Holiness Preachers needed

The Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy condemned all rings of any kind all the broaches, beads, pearls, tie-clasps and cufflinks, all of these things were of the same category with rings.

The sisters were forbidden to cut their hair in any manner such as trim, cut, burn or remove it in any way. Today many women are disregarding this commandment, and claim to be spiritual.

True Holiness today is virtually the same as it was then. All brothers and sisters wore long sleeves. The sister’s dresses always (while sitting of standing) fell below their knees. Their neck line was high, to cover properly.

So many this day and time think they can go to races, ball games, watch TV, and go mixed bathing (swimming) and still stay spiritual. Remember for with God, Sin Is Sin. Ask yourself would Jesus do these things? Yes friend 40 to 50 years ago Holiness was conspicuous as it has always been in the King James Bible and to God’s true people. They have come out from among the world to be a separate people (2nd Corinthians 6:17).

We dare not to succumb to the apostasy that has invaded the church of the living God, the immodestly dressed, body piercing, tattoos. As Amos declared there is a famine for the “Word of God” not because it is not available to hungry readers but because it is not being preached in many churches today. Now today they are being fed out of phony “translations” of the Bible. Yes, we are seeing “a famine of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).

We must sincerely ask ourselves do we truly believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and are we really living according to his word. Could we look the Apostle Paul in the eye and say “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.” Do we really believe that this Gospel is “The power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes” and that the world is lost without Jesus Christ.

“For what if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid, yea let God be true, but every man a liar, as it is written, that those mightiest be justified in thy saying, and mightiest overcome when thou are judged” (Romans 3:3-4). Yes we’ll be judged.

“His servant John” Who wrote the book of Revelation as it was revealed unto him by Jesus Christ, said “And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God, and books were opened and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12).

Jesus said, “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (St. Matthew 16:26-27).

We will all give an account for our actions while here on this earth, our life is based only on our decisions that we make. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, asked Jesus how he could go to heaven, Jesus told him he must be born again (St. John 3:1-8). The Apostles obeyed that command (Acts 2:1-4, 37-41).

Jesus said, “One jot or title shall in no way pass from the law till all be fulfilled” (St. Matthew 5:17-20).

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (2nd Timothy 4:3-4).

“In him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).