An In Depth Study Of Holiness
By James Kilgore
Isaiah 35:8-10
I. Holiness: The most prominent theme of the Bible. Holiness standards and deeper convictions will enable us to stand. “Holiness is the greatest word in the Bible, as deep as the oceans; as high as the heavens; as wide as the universe, and as great as God.”1 Peter 1:16 “Be ye Holy”
1) This is the call of God-There is no real choice in the matter! Christ-likeness is the goal we are reaching for. Isa 35:8-9 “Highway of Holiness” Heb 12:14 “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.”
2) Holiness has to be perfected by each of us. 2 cor 7:1 (Amplified Version) “Perfect Holiness”-Bring our consecration to a place of completeness. We work on ourselves constantly.
SANCTIFICATION- The process God uses. To perfect us and produce righteousness in our lives. The period of training that prepares us for that meeting with Christ. (The bride and the bridegroom)
Example: Long ago an Eastern Magistrate took off his robe and crown and disguised himself and went out on the slave market and discovered a young lady wrapped in slave clothes. She was used to hard work. He purchased her and took her home but subjected her to a rigid training period. She could not step into the palace immediately because she was so unaccustomed to that life. She was instructed in all of court etiquette, so that the day would come when she could sit by his side as his bride-so is it with the Church. We are of the earth-“Earthly”-we need the training of heavenly matters. When we are born again, we still have the Adamic nature, but through the work of sanctification we are totally affected-The way we look, walk, and talk.
Sanctification is brought about by dedication and consecration. This sets us apart and separates us from all others. God has set us apart through a process of sanctification.
1.) The word HOLINESS is mentioned at least 600 times in the Bible.
2.) Holiness means “set apart for God.”
Isaiah 62:10-The ministry is to lift up a standard for the people. Every God-called minister has a responsibility to lift up a standard and preach the truths of the Bible. Preachers have a responsibility to preach the hard truth. John 6-Jesus fed the multitude but many left when the truth was stated.
Example: Mendel’s law tells us a child inherits characteristics of two generations-parents and grandparents. Christ’s parents were God(Father-devine) and Mary(Mother-human). She was a very special person, a virgin chosen among the others. The Holy Ghost overshadows this holy woman. Jesus was a perfect human. He was perfect God and perfect man. Rom 1:3- A mixture of humanity and divinity.
A.) Visions that God gave Job, Moses, and Isaiah were visions of the Holiness of God. He could have shown many other things but he chose holiness and they fell down before this attribute.
-Moses removed his shoes and could not speak
-Isaiah felt his own unworthiness
-Angels cry out Holy, Holy, Holy day and night
-Job saw God in his holiness and man in his sinfulness. (A vast gap)
B.) God had to find a way to bridge this gap. The new birth accomplishes this. Ephesians 2:19-22
C.) In all our finiteness, we are able to kneel and communicate with God. It’s no wonder the 4 & 20 elders in Revelation 4 take their crowns and cast them at his feet and begin to chant Holy, Holy, Holy.
D.) Holiness is the first call of God to every Christian.
1 Thes 4:7- “Not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness!”
1 Peter 1:15- “Holiness affects our conversation.”
-gossip is not holiness
-off color stories are not holy
-finding fault is unholy
2 Cor 7:1- “cleanse ourselves”
-our spirits must be right
-esteem others better than ourselves
An onion can overpower an entire meal. A bad attitude is liking eating onions. Everybody knows you have it.
1 Thes 5:7- “called to holiness”
-body is involved
-mind is involved
Do not entertain the wrong kind of thoughts; resist the devil.
1 TIM 2:9-10
Preserve blameless unto the coming of the Lord. Holiness is the stamp upon the ministry and the message.
1.) Our worship should be holy, not fleshly-Do not try to attract attention to yourself.
2.) Do everything to the glory of God. Keep it beautiful.
3.) Holiness affects spiritual gifts. Gifts are never given to glorify individuals.
4.) Holiness is fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, etc.
5.) Holiness will be the rule someday, not the exception. Zecharia 14:20-21- “In that day”
Everywhere you look it will be holiness unto the Lord. Even the pots on the stove will sing out holiness. The streets of our cities, the billboards; freeways that promote promiscuity will then proclaim holiness unto the Lord.-In Bethany, Oklahoma, it was developed to keep sin out. but tonight you can find anything you want.
-Salt Lake City was established to be a Godly city, but sinfulness still reigns.
BUT “IN THAT DAY”
6.) world evangelism is the mission of the Church. It will take holiness to accomplish this holiness. It is not a yoke around your neck, but a beautiful opportunity and privileged that we love.
Titus 2:11-13- “Reject and renounce all worldliness” The imprint of holiness is the only way that we can fight against the flesh, world, and devil.
Pray for convictions if you lack holiness. The later reign fell apart because they did not love the conviction of truth, and did not renounce compromise.
Truth and holiness are Siamese twins; you can’t separate them. Zech. 3 – “Satan, the Lord rebuke thee!”
Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Satan accused Joshua because his garment was filthy and spotted, but the advocate pleaded for Joshua and took away those garments and gave him clean garments. God sees us with clean garments even though they are like filthy rags. We should cry Holy unto the Lord. God, give us a robe of righteousness.
Part 2– HOLINESS AND PENTECOSTAL STANDARDS
1. The root word for holiness is separation or set apart for God. Matthew 7:13-23-“Do the will of the Father” Living for God is more than a shout or speaking with other tongues. It’s more than the initial infilling of the Holy Ghost. We must be built upon the rock to stand. The sand is a shallow experience to build upon. The storms will destroy! We all need something to balance us-emotional experiences will wear off. 1 John 1-5 – Good instruction on spirit and truth. This is an important balance necessary for us to stand. The word only is letter only and we can become a Pentecostal church of God. Spirit only leads to fanticism.
STANDARD-(def.) That which is established by a fixed rule or measure; anestablished rule.
2. The Garden of Eden had a tree with forbidden fruit. This was a boundary that man could not partake of.
3. When Israel came into the promised land, there were certain limitations placed on them. Boundaries on all four sides. North-mountains; West-sea; East-desert; South-Egypt.
4. Every wall that is built demands a plumb line to ensure that the wall is straight.
5. Every child of God born of water and of Spirit must realize that there is a spiritual plot of ground to build a life upon.
a) The desert that bordered Israel is typical of dryness -bareness. No fruit or vegetation. No growth! If the church would move its standards to the East it would take in the desert- deadness. (formal, no revival,
no spring of water)
b) Egypt to the south is a type of the world.
c) The sea represents in scripture-people. We must not move our ancient land marks to embrace people of any kind.
Prov. 23:10-“Remove not the ancient landmarks set by your fathers.” This is compromise. We do not have to compromise.”
d) The mountains in scripture speak of experience. A prophet is involved to move to the north would be to cut out the mountains as a boundary. The cruggy mountains represent afflication, trial, and struggle. We have to have that.
Jesus said, “We must strive to enter in at the straight gate.” (We work at it)
Titus 2:11- Live soberly, righteous, and Godly in this present world.
HOLINESS AND SEPARATION GO HAND IN HAND
Jer 13:11-“For a people -for a name, a praise, a glory.” Deut 22:9-11-“not sew with diverse seeds”(etc) Not two different animals in the field.
Lev 11:7-10-“swine is unclean”(etc) “abomination”
Circumcision- Mark of separation in O.T. These were all marks of separation.
These commands were not optional. There was no choice in the matter.
1. Of all the O.T. commands, only one was carried over into the N.T.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18- Come out from among them. Be ye separate.
-We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This includes business.
-God’s people are a called out assembly
1 Tim 2:9- “modest apparel”
1 Pet 3:3- “not outward adorning…”
a. “platting of your hair”(Plating)-At the time of Paul, women were covering their hair with gold. Gold is a symbol of divinity in scripture.
b. The origination of rings worn on the fingers, wrists and ankles in the religious world is found in the Roman Church and Babylon. Wearing jewelry is not the ornament of a Christ-like spirit. Jewelry can become a spirit of rebellion even a wedding ring.
Judges 8:24- “They had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites”
a) An Ishmaelite was known by the jewelry he wore. Ishmael’s mother was of Egypt.(worldly)
Galatians 4:22-26- “born after the flesh” There are people who have lived only on the experience of the Holy Ghost and may be trinitarian. These people are going to have to come out and take their stand. Those who wear and adorn jewelry are children of the bond woman. They have too much of the love of the world in their heart. “the spirit of the Ishmaelite”
Revelation 17:1-5- The “woman” that begets the fall is bedecked with jewelry and stones. There is an abomination connected with it. (Even expensive clothes is wrong.) Out of the false religion of Babylon came:
1. Devil worship
- False sacrifice
- Astrology4. paganism
The adorning, splashy, bold, becking of raiment is a Babylonian spirit. It came out of Babylon. These ancient landmarks must not be removed by the spirit of Babylon. The spirit of Babylon is a spirit of rebellion. This is the original sin. Ishmael had a spirit of rebellion when he made fun of Isaac. The wearing of jewelry is the spirit of Ishmael or rebellion or Babylon. The judgement of God will be upon it. Genesis 35:1-5- “Put away the strange Gods that are among you and be clean.”
-gave to Jacob the earrings and bracelets and the terror of God was upon the cities.
a)Jacob was willing to go God’s way
b)There was a great revival round aboutThere is a beauty in giving up these things.
Hebrews 12:1-2- “Lay aside…”
Titus 2:1- “Sound doctrine-holiness-teachers of good things.” Other parts of true holiness.
-be a keeper of your home
-obedient to your own husband
-love your children
-young men stay sober
SEPARATION= HOLINESS AND MODESTY
1 Timothy 2:8-9- “Men pray everywhere” (keep it in your heart) “modest apparel”
When you get tired of fighting, you join it. Keep fighting it! Phil 4:5- “moderation”
Go right down the middle, living righteous, soberly, and in this present world.
1 Peter 3:1-4- “pure and modest way”
The real beauty of holiness is that inward adorning. You don’t find fault when you have the inward adorning.
1 John 3:1-3- We shall be like him; we shall see him as he is. We purify ourselves because of this hope. This hope gets us ready. We are willing to do without the adorning.
Holiness and make-up- The world appreciates the Apostolic that doesn’t wear make-up. They admire our women.
2 Kings 9- Jezebel painted her face. (Beauty of holiness brings a smile of victory)
a) Jezebel was such a flirt. She wanted to attract this prophet of God.
b) He said `Who’s on the Lord’s side?’
c) The spirit of Jezebel is rebellion
God’s people have been called for a name, a praise and a glory. Psalms states, “He will beautify the meek with salvation.”
Psalms 45:13- “The young men of Babylon would make a practice of wearing rouge on their cheeks, dying and curling their hair, perfuming themselves”
(Reference- Story of Civilization p.248)
Jezebel introduced it and the young men picked it up and practiced it in Babylon. Beauty parlors increased many hundred after 1900. Cosmetics were introduced in France and Hollywood picked it up. Worldly
institutions promote it.
HOLINESS AND THE HAIR QUESTION
1 Corinthians 11:14-15- The fifth century artist visualized Christ as having long hair. This was untrue in the 1st century.
Deut 22:5- Men should not dress like a woman or a woman like a man. A woman’s hair is for her glory. Short hair dishonors God, herself, and her husband. Short hair the head over you, which is God. “We have no custom”-meaning with people who are contentious.
1 Corinthians 11:15-16- Hair is an ornament, not jewelry. How long is long? Concerning a woman’s hair, just as long as it will grow. The key is uncut.
Established Rules By The Word Of God Are Standards
Jer 13:11- people of the name
Titus 2:11- peculiar people
Prince Charles was taught every day , as a young boy, that he was not a commoner. He was reminded that he could not wear the same kind of clothing other boys wore; nor use the same manners or conversation they used. He was in training his whole life. Such is the Church.
Noah, in his generation was peculiar, but they pleased God. Joseph, Paul , and Abraham were all different in their generation, but they pleased God.
Part 3– PHARISEE HOLINESS VS CHRIST-LIKE HOLINESS
Matthew 23:13-23- “Woe unto Scribes, Pharisees and Hypocrites.”If God is Holy and there is nothing greater, than holiness must be important. It is the central theme of the Bible. Study the Bible prayerfully and you will discover this to be true.
The Greeks attempted to Hellenize the Jews, but the Jews held fast to the Mosaic law. This was in part the beginning of the sect of the Pharisees. They were strict Legalists. Example: Pharisees figured 1,008 ways that man could break the Sabbath. These men were lawyers and rigid legalists.
1.) They were courteous people, self-righteous, known for their hypocrisy.
2.) Their righteousness was not a Godly righteousness. Romans 10:3- “establish their own righteousness”
3.) They could not yield themselves to something new and different. They refused Christ and had a closed mind.
An individual must submit himself to the righteousness of God. Jesus gave bitter renunciation to the Pharisees. He never talked that way to the sinners or lowly or to the common people. Christ was against the Pharisees attitude. Jesus was the most genuinely religious man on the face of the Earth. He hates hypocrisy and pretend. Pharisee holiness is outward purity and spiritual pride.
3 Kinds of Holiness in Scripture
1. Human holiness-goodness to others
2. Pharisee-hypocrisy
3. Godly holiness
Pharisee holiness is reformation without regeneration. Simply decorating the outside and ignoring the inside. It’s noticing everybody else and overlooking oneself in relation to God. This becomes self-righteousness.
Luke 18:9-14- 1. publican and pharisee
2. rich young ruler
Pharisee holiness has a sense of self-righteous pride. There are 3 kinds of pride: pride of race, face, and grace.
Human holiness can be found in the rich young ruler. He said, “I’ve kept all the commandments.” He was interested in the commandments, but not his fellow man.
Matthew 23:23- “Woe unto you.” Anis and mint and cummin were the smallest of spices. They counted out the smallest grain and counted out 9 and gave 1 as the tithe. They omitted weightier matters of the law. Micah 6:8- Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
Matthew 5:20- “exceed” We must go beyond what the Pharisees did.TRUE HOLINESS- purity and cleanness Eph 4:24-“True holiness” The false holiness is that which we have disgussed regarding the Pharisees.(1 Peter 4:1-5)
What does the world and the Christian have in common? Those who have true holiness are afraid to do certain things, or go too far in ones conversation or dress. True holiness goes all the way to heaven. There is an invisible bond between our hearts and heaven. Exodus 15:11- Moses sang of holiness
1 Peter 1:16- Be ye Holy Rev 21:27- Not enter in If there is one sin in our lives, we cannot enter in. Heaven is so Holy and sin will bar us out.But if any man sins, don’t go back into the world or throw everything overboard and say `I can’t make it.’ We have an advocate-a mediator. Pray through and get rid of failings and faults and start anew. Failure need not be fatal!
True holiness has its roots in heaven; false holiness has its roots in this world.
1 John 2:15-17- world system
James 4:4- world system; friendship of world, is an enemy of God.
If I make my living, have my family and live in this world, how can I not be of it?
Jn 3:16 “God so loved the world…”
DIFFERENCE-World system (James 4, 1 Jn 2) People (Jn 3)
What is pulling on you? Something from Heaven or Earth?
Lk 4:6 Satan tempted the Lord with the World System and its roots. He tempts us as much. He tries to get our mind focused on these things.
Make-up and jewelry have its roots in this world. This is in modestly. The angels hide their face in modesty when they come before His presence. We better be sure that we have our roots in that greatest dimension. The Heaven of Heavens; the throne of God.
1 Thess 5:22- “abstain from all appearances of Evil.”
1 Tim 2:22- “Flee youthful lusts.”
Run from Evil. Joseph ran from an Evil Woman. He lost his coat, but he gained a robe of righteousness.
Rom 6:12-16- “Yield yourselves unto God.”vs. 17- “from the heart”
When we become confused over what is right and wrong. The Spirit of deception has an open avenue to enter in. Love truth and the doctrine. There is only one way. James 1:8.
Phil 2:3- “Let this mind…”
Heb 12:10-12- “Daily proposition” Partakers of his holiness. Christ-like holiness is a daily commitment.
vs. 13-14- “peace and holiness”
Eph 4:1-3- Let your behavior become a credit to your calling. We make allowances for a person because we love them.
Lk 1:74-75- “All the days of our lives.”
2 Tim 3- “Perilous times will come”
There is a great need for a high standard of holiness to be lifted up. People will notice.
Romans 12:1-2- “living sacrifice”
Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold. Be not conformed to this world.
The preacher becomes the conscience of the Church!
1. You want somebody to tell you the truth.
- Someone to preach it with love3. The world wants to see a standard
4. The Philadelphia church will follow the man of God.
The late Pres. Eisenhower, on his death bed, made this statement, “Go over the plans with me again.” I want to make sure I’m right. If the ministry is not the conscience, where do we draw the conscience, where do we draw the line? Anything goes- slacks, hair, modesty get mixed up. The sexes even get switched around. True holiness will get one ready for the rapture.
Ephesians 5:25-27- “Husbands loves your wives, etc.” “A glorious church-Holy without blemish.”
Jude 24,25-“faultless”
Mt 25- 10 virgins- 5 had allowed oil to leak out of their vessels.
2 Cor 11:2-3- “chaste virgin”
5 were chaste virgins-not involves in unlawful sexual activities. You can’t trust the flesh no matter who you are.
Adultery-married people
Fornication-unmarried
Uncleanness-other unnatural limits
Homosexuality-Against nature altogether
A chaste virgin is modest, restrained and simple in style-not ornate or extreme. The Lord is coming back for a chaste virgin.
Standards Just Become A Part Of Our Lives. We Just Do It!
