(UPDATED: Oct 28, 2009, originally published Jul 4, 2008)

There is a tremendous disparity in our understanding of the doctrine of holiness and/or sanctification.

The definition of those terms is a matter of debate among many teachers and preachers. It is also one of the primary differences between some major denominations.

Many people today believe that no one can be holy except God Himself. I have heard people “quote” the Bible as saying that. However, the Scripture they think they are quoting is not found in any Bible that I have ever read. The nearest that I have found to such a statement is Luke 18:19 where Jesus asked, “‘Why do you call me good?’ …. ‘No-one is good— except God alone.‘” But this speaks of “good” — not “holy.” And even the statement of “good” is not to be taken literally – Jesus taught that true disciples would be “GOOD and faithful servant[s]” (Mat 25:21).

Still others understand holiness as the elimination of all sin in our lives. When I first joined the Church of God (in 1968) that was the prevailing belief about holiness. We were taught that “Christians do not commit sin.” The problem with that concept was that each of us (without voicing it) realized that we were failing in that area. The reality is that we DO fail God – even to the point of sin. But even frail, failing humans like us can still be holy. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently, a person with whom I correspond asked this question. Here is a part of the question:

Am I saved because I say “I love you Jesus, come into my heart”? Or am I saved when the Spirit enters my soul and sends a message to me that we are now one. …

My point is this. I believe that Jesus makes the decision, not us. He has the power to give Salvation. Man does not have the power to take it when he wants it.

Here is my reply…

I understand where you are coming from. The problem (IMHO) is in the definition of the word “saved.” It all depends upon your theological perspective. The varied definitions of what & when have caused a multitude of other conflicting theological issues as well (“once saved, always saved” is a good example.)

Recently, I saw a non-trinitarian church sign which said, “Acts 2:38 – The plan of salvation.” I assume that they believe (as many “oneness” churches do) that you are not SAVED until you repent, are baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (as a simplistic reading of Acts 2:38 may suggest).

Not meaning to “throw gasoline on the fire” but the NIV uses the term “being saved” in Acts 2:47; 1Co 1:18 & 2Co 2:15. This suggests that it has not yet happened! Another phrase that speaks of our relationship to God is “redemption.” But that also is used for events that have not yet come to pass: cf. Ep. 4:30; 1:14 & Lu 21:28.

Read the rest of this entry »

Over the past few months, I have been studying “glory” as it relates to Christians today. It is common to see people (everywhere) struggling to get glory for themselves. But, in the Bible, we are told to take a different approach (cf. Philippians 2:4-8):

Then I read 1 Peter 4:14, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” This is a promise that – even though we should never attempt to steal the glory from God – our loving Father will bless us with a portion of the glory that resides in and around Him. That shekinah glory is the same as “rubbed off” on Moses so that he had to place a veil over his face before the children of Israel could look at him.

The Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” In the King James Version it reads, “[we] are changed into the same image from glory to glory.”

I view this in the context of Romans, Chapter 8, where we find the “order of salvation.” The process (in verses 28-30) is that we move from the FOREKNOWLEDGE of God to his PREDESTINATION that (those He foreknew would accept His grace) should conform to the image of His Son. And, those who have been predestined, He CALLS, then JUSTIFIES and finally GLORIFIES! It is that final phase of salvation (glorification) where we receive a glorified body and no longer face the prospect of pain and death.

Now, since we are children of God and co-heirs with Christ, “we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17). In the terms of someone (name forgotten) in my past, “God is giving us a little glory (the Holy Spirit) to go to glory in!” And, as we mature, we move from “glory to glory” (2Co 3:18, KJV) until the ever-increasing glory reaches the point of our being CHANGED and begin eternity with Christ!

Download my sermon outline at http://cogbishop.com/files/text/08/080921_everincreasingglory.doc. Here is a link to the audio file of that service…[podcast]http://chiefshepherd.com/serm/08/080921_increasingglory.mp3[/podcast]

(Last update: August 21, 2008)

There have been many times that I have been so frustrated by the events in my life that I just threw up my hands and asked, “What am I supposed to do?” When our circumstances get “out of control” (or at least, out of OUR control), then we tend to get frustrated and accept that we don’t have a clue!

That probably describes the feelings of the people who came to the river where John was baptizing. They recognized that the situation was not consistent with their previous experiences and knowledge. So they asked John, “What should we do, then?” (Luke 3:10). And, just as it is in the present, each person felt that THEIR situation was different from all the rest and, they were convinced that no one else could have it worse. Each of the three groups mentioned asked the same question. And I believe that they put the emphasis on the word, “WE.” (Compare verses 10,12 & 14.)

The story in Luke tells us that John preached three things: Repentance, recompense & readiness. Look at each element: Read the rest of this entry »