Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucsd!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: garyh@crash.cts.com (Gary Hipp) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Holiness Message-ID: Date: 23 Nov 90 07:12:55 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Crash TimeSharing, El Cajon, CA Lines: 42 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article wagner@karazm.math.uh.edu (David Wagner) writes: >In article ASC105@psuvm.psu.edu writes: > >>Holiness cannot be >>earned by reading books or going through the motions in a church. > >You are correct in saying holiness cannot be earned. But the Holy Spirit >does work faith and sanctification (becoming holy) through the means of >the written word, and the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper: Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems that there is another side to this coin. I do not deny that holiness cannot be obtained other than first through the grace of God thru Jesus Christ, but that does not eliminate our responsibility either. Not that it is earned, but commanded. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; for it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1Pet.1:14-16. Becoming holy is a process of cleansing (which is part of sanctification). We are first cleansed through the ACT of salvation. It is then our responsibility, being freed from the power of sin, to use that freedom to separate ourselves from evil, thereby perfecting holiness within ourselves. IMHO, baptism and partaking in the Lord's Supper are acts of obedience, but no more important than a daily striving to live our lives in accordance with Christian principles. "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. >> Now, this heart is holy, because if it wasn't holy and God puts his Holy >>Spirit within it, it would kill the person. The Holy Spirit resides in >>these reborn spirits. I'm with you on this one, David. I don't agree either. As I said, becoming holy is a process gained through living and our response to life's circumstances. When we (saved Christians) act and respond in such a way that we are not obedient, we grieve the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible to be unholy while having the Holy Spirit living within us. However, this is NOT recommended. Gary Hipp