The "no-holiness-now" advocates, be they Puritanical or antinomian, are united in the belief that holiness on earth is not for today. (Antinomian—the view that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing the moral law)
Is Holiness Possible…
Or Is Holiness a Hoax? Holiness defines God’s character, first and foremost. It is His complete “otherness” that distinguishes Him from us. He is “separate” from all creation. Yet both Testaments command God’s people to be holy (Lev. 20:26, 1 Pet. 1:16). This three-time holy God makes holiness an imperative—”Be ye holy.” Anyone who has...
Sodom In The Sanctuary Revisited…
The Coming Purge The public acceptance, celebration, and acceleration of homosexuality is staggering. It seems the President can hardly wait to praise athletes, or others, who come out of the closet. The general public repeatedly elects pro-gay politicians. Money trumps morality. Skin trumps sin. Regardless of ethnicity, people favor “race” over “grace.” Even many “conservative”...
Do Faithful And Fruitless Go Together?
A “New Norm” Or A “New Low”? Should churches be growing numerically, as well as spiritually? Is the absence of life the “new normal” for American congregations? Jesus cursed the fig tree that had only leaves, but no fruit. He talked about “fruit”, “more fruit”, and went on to say the Father is glorified when we...
The Pharisee Within…
A Solemn Warning Against Heartless Religion The Pharisees rejected Jesus because He did not fit in with their system. Jesus was all about the kingdom of God, which He referenced over fifty times. While the Pharisees claimed adherence to the Scriptures, they had essentially devolved into a kingdom of their own making. When Christ invited people...
New Wine Needed…
And Wine Skins To Match Vintage skins are incompatible with fresh wine (Mat. 9:17). Crusty wine skins may contain their native juice, but not this year’s crop. Old skins would burst and the new wine would be wasted. Neither Pharisee-ism or Sadducee-ism could accommodate the dispensation of the Spirit. Those prevailing systems were antagonistic to...