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Holiness and How to Get It!
by
Andrew Bale
“If you want holiness, cling to the cross,
Counting the riches of earth as dross;
Down at his feet you’ll be cleansed and made free;
Enjoying a full salvation.”
George Phippen Ewens
There will inevitably come a time in the life of any serious
believer when the demand of holiness or ‘entire
sanctification’ will cling to the mind of a believer, refusing
to leave until the soul either surrenders or retreats. It is
possible to be a Christian without being entirely sanctified
but it is impossible to remain one for any length of time
without successfully negotiating this ‘stumbling block’
For Jesus this struggle was ultimately settled in Gethsemane
and centred on the complete surrender of his free will in
exchange for total obedience to God.
1 John 2:6 says:
‘Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did’
This verse makes it quite clear that the challenge that beset
Christ will eventually come our way for we cannot crucify self
without first passing through Gethsemane. The minimum
requirement of proper biblical Christianity is holiness or
‘entire sanctification’. Sanctification means to ‘set apart’
to reserve for a special purpose (in the case of holiness it
means set apart for God’s exclusive use). The word entire when
attached to sanctification means that everything is set apart
in absolute surrender with nothing whatsoever held back. Such
a transaction can be summed up in the simple yet profound
prayer:
‘Thy will not mine be done.’
Jesus referred to this transaction by way of the greatest
commandment:
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with your entire mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38)
It is only when the Christian obeys this ‘greatest
commandment’ that they become truly effective and fruitful.
Nominal or half hearted Christianity can appear to be
relatively successful simply because God in his passion for
the lost is sometimes prepared to work in spite of our
shortcomings. However it is only when Christians collectively
participate in the act of entire sanctification that we
experience revival:
• holiness was at the heart of Pentecost,
• holiness was at the heart of ‘The Great Awakening’,
• holiness was at the heart of the Methodist revival in 18th
century England,
• holiness was at the heart of the American revival in the mid
19th century,
• holiness was at the heart of the birth of The Salvation Army
(and the global revival its foundation spawned)
• holiness will be at the heart of any future revival!
Personal holiness or entire sanctification like most biblical
promises or blessings is conditional. Entire sanctification as
its name suggests requires a contribution from both man and
God.
What are the conditions which if met will enable God to
establish holiness in our lives?
Conviction:
The only people who can possibly hope to complete this
transaction are those who are convinced that holiness is both
a requirement and a possibility. It may take time for a
believer to become convinced that holiness is plausible – it
took John Wesley 10 years! However, once a Christian finds
they are being badgered by thoughts about holiness they should
seek to close the deal as quickly as possible.
Conviction may come in several ways, scripture, the example of
others, the history of revival, the lives of the saints etc.
Although conviction may have many different routes it only
ever has one source. The call to holiness always comes from
God.
“Therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled;
set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus
Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to
the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 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.’” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Holiness is not possible without conviction because conviction
comes from God. Like a parent watching their child in a
football game God stands at the touchline urging us on – “go
on you can do it, you can be holy!’ However, unlike a parent
watching his child God has a realistic perception of our
ability. Conviction happens only when God can see that we are
ready to move forward. Conviction is in itself a blessing for
it is God verbalising his confidence in us. If we are being
convicted to give up sin and to surrender our all then that is
because God thinks we are ready to do both! When conviction
appears a believer must take advantage as soon as possible, to
delay would simply compound the sin we are being encouraged to
do away with.
Renunciation.
In Matthew 7: 21-23 we read
“"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father
who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord,
Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive
out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them
plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”
In 1 John 1:15-17 we read
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For
everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust
of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes
not from the Father but from the world. The world and its
desires will pass away, but the man who does the will of God
lives forever’
In 1 John 2:3-6 we read
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his
commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what
he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if
anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in
him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live
in him must walk as Jesus did.”
It is abundantly clear from the bible that giving up sin and
freedom from a constant desire to sin is a basic requirement
of Christianity. Holiness must start with a willingness to
comprehensively identify and renounce sin. Holiness cannot and
will not progress beyond conviction without us making a
thorough inventory of those things in our lives that are both
sinful and doubtful followed by the giving up of everything
identified. Conviction is God’s way of pushing us towards
renunciation, he wants us to be pure and he is ready to make
purity possible.
To fulfill this condition thoroughly will require prayerful
attention to detail and a willingness to eradicate even the
smallest compromise. Many things once considered sinful by the
church have now been relegated to doubtful – for example
worldliness. It is only in the last few decades that
worldliness has become acceptable in Christian circles. Love
of the world and confirmation to its standards is
anti-Christian - materialistic consumers will never possess
holiness!
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise
the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew
6:24)
Our inability (or refusal) to recognise and eradicate even the
small compromises (that have all too often become part and
parcel of our lives) is the area in the pursuit of holiness
where we are most likely to fail. It is always unwise to give
examples (for failure to list all things doubtful can generate
a false sense of security) nevertheless we should consider
surrendering anything that is either non essential to, or a
distraction from, our mission (with the exception of those
things which are obviously moral such as devoting proper time
and resources to our civil, legal and domestic
responsibilities)
Be assured that if even the slightest compromise remains
un-renounced holiness will not happen. Whilst we may be
prepared to rationalise and justify compromise, the spirit of
God will hold back until the issue - however small - is
resolved.
We must pray the prayer of the psalmist in Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my
anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and
lead me in the way everlasting”
We must continue to pray this prayer until we can confidently
repeat the prayer of David in Psalm 17:3
“Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you
test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth
will not sin.”
Charles Finney used to teach that a Christian who surrendered
95% of their lives to God but knowingly held back 5% was in
deliberate sin and consequently their salvation was in doubt.
We might be tempted to think that Finney is being a bit harsh
yet he is only reiterating what Jesus told the rich young
ruler in Luke 18:18-23
"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. (95%)
"You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow me." (100%)
Consecration
The third condition of holiness after conviction and
renunciation is consecration.
In Romans 12 we read
“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to
offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is—his pleasing and perfect will.”
In Romans 6:22 we read
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become
slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the
result is eternal life.”
In Romans 8:12 we read
“Therefore, brothers we have an obligation—but it is not to
the sinful nature, to live according to it.”
In Matthew 13:44-46 we read
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.
When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went
and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom
of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he
found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he
had and bought it.
It is crystal clear that the bible requires the entire
surrender of our whole being to God. Our ‘whole being’
comprises our time, money, influence, leisure, ambitions,
personality— literally everything that we have and are.
Again whilst it is dangerous to give illustrations (lest
something is left out) we should carefully and prayerfully
consider how we spend our time and money:
• What kinds of things make us passionate?
• What kinds of thing make us excited?
• What is our number one interest in life?
• What commands most of our attention prayer or television,
sport or bible study?
• How much time do we spend on our personal appearance before
going to the Army, compared to how much time we spend on
preparing ourselves spiritually?
As Paul tells the Corinthians:
"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial.
"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is
constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of
others… So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it
all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble,
whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to
please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own
good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”
(Corinthians 10: 23-33)
In our eagerness to surrender all we must remember that ‘rest’
is a commandment. I am absolutely certain that God made rest a
commandment because he knew that our response to Christ would
drive us on to extreme commitment. Sabbath rest is essential
and placed by God before murder, adultery and theft in his
list of commandments. ‘Rest’ is a command that was not
cancelled out by Christ's death, it is a command for our
benefit, and a command that we disobey at our absolute peril!
The Command to rest is explicit in both the Old and New
Testaments. To disobey this command would be ‘to disobey a
known law of God’ and that as Wesley would be quick to point
out is sin!
A quote from Railton to at least keep the idea of rest in a
Salvationist context!
“But our soldiers must take holiday sometimes perforce; and
then they look to the Army to provide them with such holy
entertainment as their souls delight in. Services all day
long, or, at any rate, during the afternoon, open-air
demonstrations, camp-meetings, expeditions to other stations,
or to mission some new neighbourhood, watch nights, all nights
of prayer, are some of the entertainments to which Army people
treat themselves upon extraordinary occasions.” (Heathen
England Chapter 8)
In summary absolute surrender is not extreme or unreasonable
but it is the minimum requirement made by God upon those who
dare to call themselves Christian.
Obedient Faith
The final condition of holiness is obedient faith.
“But Purifying Faith sees Jesus Christ to be the altogether
lovely, His service to be infinitely desirable, and the
privilege of joining with Him in the work of saving and
blessing men so honourable and desirable that the soul
controlled by it leaps forward to lay itself at the Master's
feet, willing to be used in any way He thinks best, and so
gladly offers a consecration which knows no hesitation, has no
reservation, the limits of which being only bounded by its
ability.” (William Booth, Purity of Heart.)
If I “'Love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my
soul and with my entire mind' then my devotion will be proven
by the way I obey the second greatest commandment which is to
'Love my neighbour as myself.'
Whilst renunciation might be complicated obedience is
relatively simple, for all the commandments are summed up in
these two.
How do I please God?
In John 15:16-17 Jesus says:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to
go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will
give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love
each other.”
When Jesus reinstated Peter he only had one issue to settle:
“Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." (John 21:16)
Paul tells the Romans:
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one
another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
He also reminds the Corinthians that even spectacular and
apparently anointed Christian service without love is nothing.
Love is the hallmark of Christianity:
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you
love one another.” (John 13:35)
James says:
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith
but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother
or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you
says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,"
but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In
the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by
action, is dead.” (James 2:14-17)
It should be remembered, as the old doctrine book says, that
“Consecration, although a condition of sanctification, must
not be mistaken for sanctification itself. Consecration is an
act done by man before God sanctifies him; sanctification is a
work done by God within man after man has done his part.” This
is true of all these conditions:
• they originate with God,
• are made possible by God,
• are encouraged by God,
• are empowered by God,
• are realised by God,
• are maintained by God.
The outcome of holiness
“In short, to be pure in soul; signifies deliverance from all
and everything which the Lord shows you to be opposed to His
Holy Will. It means that you not only possess the ability to
live the kind of life that He desires, but that you actually
do live it.” (William Booth, Purity of Heart.)
Entirely sanctified people will sense an immediate and
practical benefit within their lives which will include:
• Perfect inward peace— as their will is perfectly surrendered
to God’s there will be no cause for inner conflict.
• perfect happiness and joy – man’s ideal goal is to do God’s
will and will therefore deliver maximum happiness – our ‘joy
will be complete’
• An unshakeable belief that ‘all things’ are working
‘together for good’, a constant trust in God.
• A willingness (even an eagerness) to suffer anything and
everything that comes our way as a result of obedience to
God’s will.
• Perfect love for God and humanity
• Fruit – holiness makes us effective in ministry
• Devotion to God’s service that leaves no room for selfish
ambition or worldly pleasure.
• The complete eradication of the desire to sin.
It should be noted that the last of these bullet points in the
one that most people stumble over perhaps because they feel it
delivers a level of expectation that they can’t meet. Remember
holiness is about what God does through us and not about what
we do for him. If we follow the conditions set out above there
will be no room for sin in our lives.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. (James 4:7-8)
Sin requires resources – if all of my resources are ‘set
apart’ exclusively for God’s use then I do not have any
resources with which to sin. In addition if my renunciation
and consecration is motivated by love then I will have no
desire to sin. My only desire will be to please God. Add to
this the immeasurable grace of God and the unlimited power of
God and the transforming nature of the new covenant and it is
the thought of disobedience that seems farfetched.
In Summary
• Holiness is both possible and essential (‘without holiness
none shall see the Lord!)
• Holiness makes Christians fruitful and effective
• Holiness leads to revival
• Holiness is conditional upon
- Conviction
- Renunciation of all that is sinful and doubtful
- Consecration (absolute surrender)
- Obedient faith
• Holiness is the work of God not man
• Holiness brings about complete and instant deliverance from
sin (Holy people do not sin)
• A holy life is exemplified by a love for God expresses in
practical love for others
When Kate Booth was asked the secret of her power she answered
"First, it is love; second, love; third, love. And if you ask
me how to get it, I answer first, by sacrifice; second, by
sacrifice; third, by sacrifice." One would be hard pressed to
find a more concise definition of holiness.
Finally, if the above conditions are met then holiness can and
should be instant. If you are reading this because you have
been beset with thoughts about holiness then now is the time
to make the sacrifice and claim the blessing. Why be
continually pestered by the hampering annoyance of habitual
sin when you can be free? Why waste another moment on pretend
Christianity? Why not go for the real thing now?
“My Comrades, I want to ask you the question, When shall this
Purity come into your hearts? Do you say tomorrow? I answer,
"Perhaps it may be tomorrow. I do not know whether it may." Do
you say, "When I am dying"? I answer, "Perhaps it may be when
you are dying, but I do not know whether it will be possible
then." Do you say NOW? I answer "YES, IT CAN BE NOW," for "Now
is the accepted time, and Now is the day of Salvation."
(William Booth, Purity of Heart.)
“O thou God of every nation,
We now for thy blessing call;
Fit us for full consecration,
Let the fire from Heaven fall.
Bless our Army! Bless our Army!
With thy power baptize us all.
Fill us with thy Holy Spirit;
Make our soldiers white as snow;
Save the world through Jesus' merit,
Satan's kingdom overthrow.
Bless our Army! Bless our Army!
Send us where we ought to go.
Give us all more holy living,
Fill us with abundant power;
Give the Army more thanksgiving,
Greater victories every hour.
Bless our Army! Bless our Army!
Be our rock, our shield, our tower.
Bless our General, bless our leaders,
Bless our officers as well.
Bless our converts, bless our soldiers;
Speed the war 'gainst sin and Hell.
Bless our Army! Bless our Army!
We will all thy goodness tell.
If you would like to discuss holiness in more depth or even
better would like to be led into the blessing then please
email me at
abale@ntlworld.com and by God’s grace you will discover
the most liberating and empowering experience that God has to
offer his children.
Yours thoroughly set apart by Christ, for the lost, in the
Army
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