Holiness and grace; are they mutually exclusive? Part 1

The Father has put it strongly upon my heart to write this series of blog posts. There are many saints that long for holiness. In fact, I believe that if the truth be told, all true saints long for holiness. They long for a real transformation to happen in their lives. So many things in human history operate on a pendulum effect. There is seldom balance. Things are either one way or the other. I remember back to my high school days.  Yes, I can remember back that far ;). I remember that the teacher seemed to get nicer and nicer, and then one day… out of the blue it seemed the shoe fell all at once. This is just another example of the pendulum swing effect. The truth is that we had become noisier and less focused over time. The day before the shoe dropped the teacher had had enough. That is why the shoe dropped and the pendulum swung all the way back to another side. You can see this effect if you look at the history of the church. It has swung back and forth between grace and obedience. Seldom has there been a balance. The purpose of this series is to look for a balance.

I believe that in the minds and practice of those in the first century church the two were inextricably linked… in other words, they went hand in hand. There is a proper way in which the two combine and again, this will be the focus of this series of blog posts. Here is the bottom line. The Spirit is saying “underline this Joe.” You can have grace without holiness but, you cannot have true holiness without grace.” Let me repeat this just in case you did not catch it. You can have grace without holiness but you cannot have true holiness without grace! Grace, unmerited favor, AT ALL TIMES, IN EVERY SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCE is the catalyst for true holiness. That is precisely why much of the evangelical orthodox church is so far off the mark today. They are demanding holiness without grace…. This bears repeating, they are demanding holiness without grace. This will never work. It will only produce mean saints that are burned out from struggling on the treadmill of works.

So then, what is the solution you ask? How can you bring the proper balance into play? Great question… This series of blog posts will hopefully give the answer. Pray for me that the Spirit will help me make it abundantly plain. I desire your prayers for me as I embark on a new phase of this ministry. Notice that I have not used any scripture yet, but you can rest assured that I will, and the thoughts that I have expressed this far are from my take, my reading of the scripture.

Hopefully in this series I will be able to demonstrate to you that unconditional grace, unlimited grace from the Father via Jesus Christ when properly understood and presented will result in increased holiness and obedience. It will only work in fellowships that stress as first importance unlimited grace.

Imputed righteousness and self-righteousness from the law; Why Sanders and the New Perspective on Paul is simply wrong

The so called, “new perspective on Paul” movement has tried to diminish, as anachronistic, the view of Augustine, Calvin and Luther on imputed righteousness or accounted righteousness. While I appreciate and have gained much from the recent scholarship surrounding the faith and practice of the first century Jews, I think that the above mentioned idea that was set forth by E.P. Sanders et.al., is not borne out by scripture. Righteousness under the Mosaic Covenant was most certainly law righteousness that could only be expressed in self-righteousness.

First off, the Mosaic Covenant was ratified by the people of Israel. Exodus 24 explains the ratification of the covenant. Here is an excerpt:

(Exo 24:4-7 NASB)  Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.  (5)  He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.  (6)  Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.  (7)  Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!"

The above passage shows the ratification of the Covenant and it was established in blood. In other words, it was a blood covenant or oath. Interestingly, they did not keep this covenant for forty days. When Moses went back up the mountain they sought out Aaron and entreated him to build a golden calf. This was quite likely no more than a week or two after Moses headed up the mountain. Aaron had to collect all the gold, fashion the calf and build an alter and that would have taken at least a week or two, probably more. We know that it was all done before the fortieth day because God told Moses what they were doing on the fortieth day (Exodus 32:7-8.)

Back to law righteousness… When Moses re-read all of the Law in Deuteronomy chapter six, the following was stated in verse twenty five. (Deu 6:25 NASB)  "It will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us.” There it is made very plain indeed that obeying the Law will result in righteousness under the Mosaic Covenant. This is exactly what promoted self-righteousness.

Now then, what does Paul have to say about this?

(Romans 10:1-4)  Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  (2)  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  (3)  For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  (4)  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 

Paul states very clearly that Christ Jesus is the end of the Law for righteousness for everyone who believes. The righteousness of God, imputed righteousness is given based upon faith and trust in the gospel of Christ (2Cor 5:21.) For what purpose one might ask? That is a good question. The answer is to promote peace with God (Rom 5:1) that will translate into supernatural love for God. Resting in this supernatural love for God, will promote the loving heart that will be able to look at the commandments and see the heart of God and strive to obey. Not to be counted righteous but to please the Father they so dearly love.

Bridging the gap over muddy water

Have you ever tried to swim in muddy water? Can you imagine trying to find your way under muddy water or locate something or someone? It is difficult to say the least! Well friend, that is precisely what getting a clear picture of the gospel is like in this 21st century world. Saints find it to be a daunting task. Therefore, they too often leave the hard work to their leaders or their pastor. Yet, the writer of John’s first letter said this. 1Jn 2:27 NLT  “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as He has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”

So then, if this is true and it is, why are there so many differing doctrines? Some people are charismatic, and some believe that the gifts have ceased. Some people stress grace and some people stress law and obedience. Some accept women ministers and some do not. Some people stress holiness and the Lordship of Jesus and others stress grace acknowledging that we are all sinners saved by grace. How can this be? Certainly one must freely admit that the waters are muddy indeed. Each of the above mentioned positions, and many more that I have not mentioned here have adherents that believe that they are absolutely right and each of them use the scripture to prove that they are right. There is definitely some muddy water to swim in.

To continue this metaphor, it is like standing on the shore of a muddy stream and needing to navigate through the muddy water to the other side. One could say, “oh if there was but a bridge across the muddy water.” There is such a bridge. It is the anointing spoken of in John’s first epistle. It is the Holy Ghost. HOWEVER…. ONE MUST BE SURE THAT IT IS REALLY THE HOLY GHOST. What do you mean you ask? I mean that one must make sure that it is really the Holy Ghost and not a recording of religious doctrine playing in your head. You may find that the Holy Ghost will tell you something that the religious voice playing continually in your head will rebuke. In fact, when I first had my paradigm shift I would find myself rebuking the Father as he spoke to me by his Spirit. Further realize that the Father’s Spirit and the Spirit of Christ are one in the same Spirit.

So then, how can you recognize the Holy Spirit? I will give you some concrete ways to use. We are told by Paul that Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light and so do his ministers. In fact, sometimes, Christ’s ministers can be instruments of Satan in their messages. Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10)… in fact it says that he accuses them day and night before the Lord. That should tell us something right there. The Holy Spirit NEVER accuses the brethren. The Holy Spirit actually does the opposite. It convinces the brethren of righteousness (John 16:10.) The reason is that Jesus has gone to the Father and the Holy Spirit convinces us that we are the righteousness of God.

The Holy Spirit only produces the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23 NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  (23)  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” If you do not see love, joy and peace in a situation; it is not from God.

This understanding will go a long way toward bridging the muddy water.

The transformation

Rom 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  (2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I must reiterate. I must emphasize that the transformation process is not our undertaking and has nothing to do with what we do. The transformation process happens supernaturally based upon what we believe. The word that Paul uses for transformation is the Greek word METAMORPHOO. It is where we get our word metamorphosis from. Of course metamorphosis is a term that describes what happens to a caterpillar/pupa/butterfly. It is a change of form. It is a part of the nature of the caterpillar and butterfly. The caterpillar does not do anything to become a butterfly. Likewise, the saint does nothing to become a new creation except believe that they are one.

So then, how does this metamorphosis take place? That is a valid question to ask. Paul explains that the catalyst for the metamorphosis is a renewed mind. Renewed to what? Well, what is Paul pleading, beseeching on behalf of? The answer is simple. It is the mercies of God. The mind must be renewed to the mercies of God which is the gospel. This is why it is important to understand the definition that Jesus, Paul and the other apostles gave to the phrase *the word of God.* As I have proven, over and over on other posts on this blog, they defined it as the gospel and Jesus the living gospel.

How then does it work you ask? It works by bringing peace with God, Romans 5:1. Peace with God, as the result of the gospel of grace, is the foundational energy for the transformation, metamorphosis. I say foundational because peace with God produces love for God. This is why it is so important to understand that the gospel is unconditional and righteousness is by faith.  What that essentially means is that God declares one righteous based upon the fact that they are trusting Jesus… that is, one is right and righteous because God declares it with his word… His word the gospel, and the living Gospel Jesus of Nazareth.

This is what produces the Sabbath Rest for God’s people (Heb 4:9-10.) The Sabbath Rest is trusting in, relying on, and clinging too the fact that God has made us right in his sight. We are right because we trust in Jesus righteousness.’ This produces the peace with God that develops love for God that results in obedience to God. True obedience and transformation only comes from this supernatural source. The saint of God is being transformed from faith, to faith (Romans 1:17.) What is meant by from faith to faith? That is simple to explain. Jesus had perfect faith in the Father, thereby he pleased the Father (Heb 11:6.) We then appropriate Jesus’ faith with our faith we please the Father and enter into his peace. The fact that we are declared righteous by God produces righteousness in us.

New Wineskins, New Wine

Luke 5:37-39 NLT  "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.  (38)  New wine must be stored in new wineskins.  (39)  But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. 'The old is just fine,' they say." 

The fifth chapter of Luke portrays the beginning phase of Jesus earthly ministry. You see him calling known sinners into his close company. Peter explains that he is too sinful to be with such a man as Jesus after the fishing miracle. Jesus tells him that he plans to make Peter a fisher of people, and he and his friends immediately follow him to take up their new vocation. They are in fact New Wineskins. The Pharisees who determined that Jesus could not be the Messiah based upon their reading of the law (John 7:47-49) were the old wineskins, and their doctrine teaching was the old wine.

I find it interesting that Jesus first miracle, at the wedding at Cana, was to turn water into wine. Look at this part of the passage: (John 2:9-10 ESV)  “When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.  (10)  "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!" I used to wonder why Jesus turned water into wine… I could not make the connection, but realizing that the new wine was a metaphor for the new covenant and the gospel this miracle took on deepened meaning. God had saved the best for last.

Actually, wineskins are a metaphor for both individuals and assemblies. Each person who has the gospel of Christ within them is a container of the new wine, and likewise, whole assemblies are likewise a container for the new wine. So then, in the first century this parable was prophetic of the new covenant.

If we fast forward to now this passage has another application. Jesus warned in Matthew 16:6&12 that the church (the new wineskin) would be leavened with the leaven of the Pharisees. In other words, the church would adopt a mixture of old covenant and new covenant that really became a different gospel altogether. So then, today, the new wine is the pristine gospel and the new wineskins are those who are able to receive the pristine gospel of grace. I find it prophetic that Jesus said that not many who have drank the old wine desires the new… in fact they say that the old is better.

This is one of the things that makes it so difficult for people to receive the pristine gospel of grace. It amazes me how many people try to put down and explain away imputed righteousness and forensic justification. They claim that God does not declare anyone righteous based upon their faith in Christ alone. When you think about it, Paul would have declared that a heresy.

So then, how can old wineskins be made new? I have been told that one could soak the old wineskin in the proper mixture of water and oil and renew elasticity to the wineskin. It could once again expand with the new wine fermenting without bursting. To use the metaphor for now… the answer to this situation is to get a fresh anointing of the water of life. This will make the old wineskin able to receive the new wine with joy.