Holiness (Part 2) For Part 1 Click Here
Rev. Dean C. Berg

Several years ago the Spirit of the Lord spoke to my heart in prayer and said, “Grace without holiness is liberalism”. Then I heard, “Holiness without grace is legalism”. At that moment in time, I saw the incredible family of God from all walks of life. Some were living their lives in what they perceived as God’s grace and others were living their lives in what they perceived as God’s holiness.

It is still true today. There are believers that are living their lives by grace alone that have become accustomed to a manner of life that is far less than godly. They have allowed conduct that causes the things of the Spirit of God to become indistinct and far off to them. I am reminded of a quote that says, “There is a room in the Spirit where the flesh is not welcome.”

There are also believers that are living by a standard of holiness but have become legalistic, rude and condemning of others. Frank Bartleman, a writer greatly used during the Azuza Street Revival, said this, "When HOLINESS loses its sweetness, it is a fierce thing to come in contact with." How true that is! In studying this subject over the years, I have discovered that none of the New Testament writers ever approached holiness in a way that condemns people. It was not written as something God uses to manipulate or correct human behavior. It was written as something God uses to lead His people to where He is. “For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

Grace and Holiness Always Work Together
Hebrews 12:15 (The Amplified Translation) says that we are to “exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing).” I never thought it was possible to fail to secure God’s grace yet Paul tells us again in 2 Corinthians 6:1 that as Christians we should “not receive the grace of God, in vain.”

Paul says that God’s grace, provided for you and me, can become empty, fruitless and without usefulness in our lives. In other words, our relationship with God can become powerless. Many good Christian people have felt that way, even in this hour. But I want to remind you of what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.

2 Co 6:16 “God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them….I will be their God….they shall be my people. 17 ….I will receive you. 18 ….I will be a Father unto you….ye shall be my sons and daughters….”

These are wonderful promises to be reminded of. They are very real and very true. However, when Paul wrote the sixth chapter of 2 Corinthians he continued his thoughts on into chapter 7.

2Co 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, (or because of the fact that God will receive you) dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Like we said last month, holiness is much more than a rubber stamped form of human behavior. Holiness is part of responding to God’s instruction on how He needs you to live out your life before Him. It means for you to separate yourself unto God to do what He needs you to do, the way He needs you to it, when He needs you to do it. Romans 12:1 tells us that this is acceptable to God. He receives you and responds to you.

You cannot become more righteous than you are right now, but you can become more holy. And God says the more holy you become, the more you will see Him manifested in your life. Isn’t that our hearts cry in these last days?

I want to close with a quote by Grace Ryerson Roos.

In Surrender: Let Him have all. Give up your life to be as full of Him, of His presence, of His will, of His service as He can make it. Give up yourself to Him - not to be saved from disobedience, so that now you may be happy and live your own life without sinning and trouble - No, but that He may have you wholly for Himself as a vessel and as a channel which He can fill with Himself, with His life and love for men in His blessed service. Let your will be utterly given up to God's will.