the spirit of holiness

The manifestation of  THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, even tongue speaking  or Salvation evangelism  are not an an acceptable alternative for the spirit of holiness now as well… as too many even Pentecostals falsely believe..

   

Now according to some persons in the last many centuries there have been many different Christian religious movements, amongst them the separate holiness movement which today is not as prominent or influential as it has been in times past.. the holiness, sanctification movement initially is more associated with old time Methodists and the older Pentecostals rather than the newer ones, but it is still associated with the present Catholic Christian charismatic renewal movement..
  
1: Whereas the Pentecostal Movement was for the most part a separate movement outside the mainline denominations, the Second Wave or Charismatic Movement,   Second Wave 1960- 1982 was very much a mainstreaming of Pentecostal theology. The Charismatic Movement differs from old line Pentecostalism in several significant ways including a rejection of the necessity of speaking in tongues as a sign of the baptism of the Spirit. However tongues speaking does remain a very important element in most Charismatic Pentecostal circles.

 
 “Two popes have acknowledged the Catholic charismatic movement: Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II stated that the movement was integral to the renewal of the entire Catholic Church. Pope John Paul II (as well as then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI) acknowledged good aspects of the movement while urging caution, pointing out members must maintain their link to the Catholic Church

 
“Pope John Paul II situates the whole programme of Christian activity for the Third Millennium (and therefore of the Renewal too) in the context of our call to holiness.  “First of all, I have no hesitation in saying that all pastoral initiatives must be set in relation to holiness… Once the Great Jubilee is over, we resume our normal path, but knowing that stressing holiness remains more than ever an urgent pastoral task… The objective gift of holiness is offered to all the baptised. But the gift in turn becomes a task, which must shape the whole of Christian life: ‘This is the will of God, your sanctification’  (1Thes.4:3)”.  The Pope goes on to declare, “Since Baptism is a true entry into the holiness of God, it would be a contradiction to settle for a life of mediocrity, marked by a minimalist ethic and a shallow religiosity… The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction”. In other words, holiness, in the power of the Spirit, is intimately linked with our bearing abundant or more fruit.  To many Christians in today’s world, Paul’s testimony to being ‘crucified with Christ’ becomes almost nonsensical. Jesus’ call to forsake everything, to ‘hate one’s own life also’ (Lk.14:26), and his charge that he who would save his life must lose it (Mk. 8:35-36) simply do not make sense to people who live by this vision of the good life. But we must remember that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, and he always directs us to the Crucified One and thus to the Way of the Cross. The Spirit forms in us the character traits to follow that way. The Spirit implants in our hearts the strength to follow the way of weakness, the power to receive and care for the powerless, the peace to endure and absorb hostility”. (Remember the example of the Saints, Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, Don Bosco, Maximilian Kolbe, etc., and Mother Teresa as well!) The   Charismatic Renewal: A New Pentecost?  St.Paul also teaches about the need for God’s People in every generation to witness to this “new life” (by showing they have changed from a worldly to a holy lifestyle):”  http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/columns/fiomascarenhas/scripturallyspeaking/22.asp

 
2: The doctrine of Spirit baptism as a second work of grace supposedly to some grew directly from the  soil of the second-blessing  protestant “holiness” sanctification movement of the nineteenth century. Many holiness teachers in the eighteenth century rejected the orthodox doctrine of sanctification as a lifelong process of spiritual growth, in which sin is never completely eradicated in the believer. Methodist holiness teachers taught that Christians could receive a “second blessing” which gave the Christian in one moment “entire sanctification.” The sinful nature was supposedly completely eliminated in the believer. And, thus, the believer was perfect and sinless. The second blessing doctrine of entire sanctification, or sinless perfection, not really true “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves; and the truth is not in us” (1 Jn. 1:8).  (Eccl 7:20 KJV)  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21   Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: 22   For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
  
 3: The Holiness-Pentecostal tradition . “The majority of authors identify  Pentecostalism  father as England’s John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.  Wesley preached about the baptism of the Holy Spirit (or “second blessing”) which he claimed was an intense personal experience confronting the Christian with the presence of God.  The theological roots of Pentecostalism supposedly lie in the Holiness Movement pioneered by John Wesley (1703-1791). Wesley promoted the idea of “Christian Perfectionism” which he defined as freedom from self-will and a desire for nothing but the holy and perfect will of God. Charles Finney (1792-1875) later equated the idea of Wesley’s second work of grace with the concept of the baptism of the Spirit.  In time, Wesley’s Methodist sect became more mainstream, and Pentecostalism branched off into different areas. 
 
The original Pentecostals next supposedly took the second blessing doctrine one step further and taught the “baptism of the Spirit”   accompanied by the gift of “tongues.” as a third blessing. Although most Pentecostals eventually next had rejected the idea of entire holiness or sanctification. (2 Cor 4:7 KJV)  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us. Instead they are  concentrating on overcoming sinful self they emphasized rather the latter rain doctrine, doing great things for God, or salvation evangelism like many evangelicals also do… and  the main stream evangelicals wrongfully tend to neglects personal  sanctification generally altogether these days.
 
The Lutheran Church charismatic renewal movement  was influenced by charismatic Episcopalians and Catholics but was also part of the wider charismatic movement, Catholic charismatic movement too, which emerged out of the Pentecostal movement, all of which flowed out of the holiness movement, pietism, and all renewal movements dating back to the early church.  In the 1960’s many Lutheran clergy and laity encountered a spiritual experience they had not known before, that is, the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”  These people whose lives were thus changed became known as “Charismatics,” those who promote the use of the gifts of God as described in 1 Corinthians 12.

 
The Third Wave Charismatic, Pentecostal, or Signs and Wonders Movement, latter rain movement, originated supposedly in 1982 with John Wimber (1934-1997) when he left his association with the Calvary Chapels to pastor a church in Anaheim, CA, called “The Vineyard.”

 

Some professing fundamental Christians falsely do people try hard to downplay, discredit the spirit of sanctification, this holiness emphasis even today, falsely claiming they are new historical movements rather.
 
From the time of the church’s beginning, as recorded in the Book of Acts in the Bible, through out history as well,  in Methodist Holiness Movement to the Catholic Charismatic renewal in the 1960s and to the Pentecostal revival in Pensacola, Florida in the mid 1990s, the staggering growth of the Holliness, sanctifcation, Pentecostal, Charismatic movement has certainly impacted the world.
 
While all 3 of these Holiness movements, the Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic  religious movements bear some similarities, and they also do differ, there still clearly is a need to revive the Holiness, sanctification theology, the  need to be personally holy today by the power of the holy spirit in all churches and in all Christians too.
 
But sadly it is also true that some of  the Charismatic and the Pentecostals believers too have been led astray by their leaders, by their false down playing of the importance of obeying, following daily the  words of God himself..
 
There is no better description of the purpose of Pentecost,  than this text. (Acts 1:8 KJV)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Since THE HOLY Spirit Baptism is a true entry into the will, and the holiness of God. The coming of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, upon us is to enable us also to live, no longer for ourselves but for Him, our Father God! The whole of the Acts of the Apostles confirms this, describing well what Pentecost meant in practice, namely, obtaining the PERSONAL inner experience of God’s love, and the outward ability to live it, to share it in  steadfast ways, to help others as well.  Our personal Salvation and Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit himself, his empowerment to do great things,  are the first indwelling and permanent Gifts that real Christians do receive. (Luke 10:20 KJV)  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. We become “sons and daughters” of God and  a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) states clearly  we become “sons and daughters of God” and “co-heirs with Jesus Christ” (Rom. 8:15-17), and are now  “transformed, daily, ongoing, degree that by degree, one can be changed into the full image of Jesus” (2 Cor 3:17 ).  It is this ongoing personal spiritual transformation by the Holy Spirit and by the word of God, which makes it possible, empowers also  for us to live non self-centered lives, doing great works in the footsteps of our God, and Elder Brother, Jesus, and so we too can  bear more good fruit, fruit which will last.  St. Paul also teaches about the need for God’s People in every generation also to personally receive,  witness, follow  to this “new born from above life”  (consciously continually changing from a worldly to a holy lifestyle): “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:16,22). St. Paul points out that whereas the desires of the flesh “prevent you from doing what you would”, the word of God and indwelling Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit enables the disciples to overcome the flesh and to live unselfish lives, and so bear the good fruit, for God’s glory. (Psa 119:11 KJV)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. How does the spirit even accomplish all this in one’s life..  He the holy Spirit still  uses God’s words to us to change us. (Rom 10:17 KJV)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
 
(John 15:4 KJV)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

  

 

(Exo 15:11 KJV)  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

(Exo 28:36 KJV)  And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

 

(Exo 39:30 KJV)  And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.

 

(1 Chr 16:29 KJV)  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

 

(2 Chr 20:21 KJV)  And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

 

(2 Chr 31:18 KJV)  And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:

 

(Psa 29:2 KJV)  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

 

(Psa 30:4 KJV)  Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

 

(Psa 47:8 KJV)  God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

 

(Psa 48:1 KJV)  A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

 

(Psa 60:6 KJV)  God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

 

(Psa 89:35 KJV)  Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

 

(Psa 93:5 KJV)  Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

 

(Psa 96:9 KJV)  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

 

(Psa 97:12 KJV)  Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

 

(Psa 108:7 KJV)  God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

 

(Psa 110:3 KJV)  Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

 

(Isa 23:18 KJV)  And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

 

(Isa 35:8 KJV)  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

 

(Isa 62:9 KJV)  But they that have gathered it shall eat it and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

 

(Isa 63:15 KJV)  Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

 

(Isa 63:18 KJV)  The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

 

(Jer 2:3 KJV)  Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

 

(Jer 23:9 KJV)  Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.

 

(Jer 31:23 KJV)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

  

(Amos 4:2 KJV)  The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.

 

(Oba 1:17 KJV)  But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

 

(Zec 14:20 KJV)  In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

 

(Zec 14:21 KJV)  Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

 

(Mal 2:11 KJV)  Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

 

(Luke 1:75 KJV)  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

 

(Acts 3:12 KJV)  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

  

(Rom 1:4 KJV)  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

(Rom 6:19 KJV)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

 

(Rom 6:22 KJV)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

 

(2 Cor 7:1 KJV)  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

(Eph 4:24 KJV)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

(1 Th 3:13 KJV)  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

 

(1 Th 4:7 KJV)  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

 

(1 Tim 2:15 KJV)  Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

 

(Titus 2:3 KJV)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

 

(Heb 12:10 KJV)  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

 

(Heb 12:14 KJV)  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

 

(Mat 3:11 KJV)  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

 

(Mat 7:6 KJV)  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

  

(Acts 2:27 KJV)  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

 

(Rom 12:1 KJV)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

(Rom 14:17 KJV)  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

 

(Rom 15:13 KJV)  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

(Rom 15:16 KJV)  That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

 

(Rom 16:16 KJV)  Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

 

(1 Cor 2:13 KJV)  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 

(1 Cor 3:17 KJV)  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

 

(1 Cor 6:19 KJV)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 

(1 Cor 7:14 KJV)  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

 

(1 Cor 7:34 KJV)  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

 

(1 Cor 16:20 KJV)  All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

 

(2 Cor 6:6 KJV)  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

 

(2 Cor 13:12 KJV)  Greet one another with an holy kiss.

 

(Eph 1:4 KJV)  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

 

(Eph 2:21 KJV)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

 

(Eph 4:30 KJV)  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

 

(Eph 5:27 KJV)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

(Col 1:22 KJV)  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

 

(Col 3:12 KJV)  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

 

(1 Tim 2:8 KJV)  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

 

(2 Tim 1:9 KJV)  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 

(2 Tim 3:15 KJV)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

(Titus 1:8 KJV)  But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

 

(Titus 3:5 KJV)  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

(1 Pet 1:15 KJV)  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

 

(1 Pet 1:16 KJV)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

(1 Pet 2:5 KJV)  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 

(1 Pet 2:9 KJV)  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

(1 Pet 3:5 KJV)  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

 

(2 Pet 2:21 KJV)  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

 

(2 Pet 3:2 KJV)  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

 

(2 Pet 3:11 KJV)  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

 

(1 John 5:7 KJV)  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

(Jude 1:20 KJV)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

 

(Rev 3:7 KJV)  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

 

(Rev 4:8 KJV)  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

(Rev 6:10 KJV)  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

 

(Rev 14:10 KJV)  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

 

(Rev 15:4 KJV)  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

 

(Rev 20:6 KJV)  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

(Rev 22:11 KJV)  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

 

(Heb 11:6 KJV)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

 

(Heb 11:40 KJV)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

(Heb 12:2 KJV)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Rev 22:19 KJV)  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.