Hillary’s $5,000 A Head Answer to Liberalism’s Dilemma

Since the 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court Decision, it is estimated that almost 45,000,000 (forty-five million) babies have been murdered through a consenting partnership of slaughter between the Federal government of the United States of America, pregnant women and, the liberal medical practitioners with the audacity to still refer to themselves as “doctors.” One out of every four deaths in America is the outcome of this partnership of slaughter (http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/Abortion%20is%20Murder/number_of_abortions.htm).

This partnership of slaughter came to the American public wrapped in a package labeled Women’s Rights and Women’s Liberation. This certainly should have given some credibility to such a horrendous practice as a mother actually deciding to kill the innocent baby growing in her womb. This all sounds very noble, but the reality that drove the necessity of legalized abortion was the ever-increasing outcomes of liberal philosophies upon the American culture and the cost to the country in welfare dollars. It was rapidly becoming apparent that the country could not afford the bulging growth of Socialized welfare programs due to the pandemic growth in the number of teen pregnancies, especially among the poor within the nation. This led to high school dropout rates increasing. It also bred a continuum that was expanding at an unimaginable rate by the early 1970’s.

The prevention of a single birth of one of these unborn babies would save the government hundreds of thousands of dollars over that child’s lifetime. It would also end the continuum of production of these welfare babies for generations in the future. In short, liberalism could not afford the culture they had created and abortion was their solution.

However, a larger problem was looming on the horizon. There was a problem the liberal socialists did not plan for. The constituency that elected them to the offices they held did so because of the Entitlements the welfare system created. Every baby that was aborted also decreased the production of a new voter for future elections. Secondly, it was from this group of people that the majority of working class (Minimum Wage) people came. Not only were the liberal socialists decreasing their voting base, they were also helping eliminate the uneducated lower class upon which they depended. Liberal socialism needs a lower class so they can appear to ride in on their white horses and rescue them with Entitlements.

Now the scenario advances into the 21^st century. The lower class was rapidly vanishing out of the American culture while religious and political liberalism was growing. However, conservativism was growing more rapidly as the uneducated lower class began to get educated and move up in social status. This brings us to the issue of why our government must allow the millions of illegal aliens to cross over the borders of Mexico into the United States almost unhindered and why, once they are here, there is almost no effort to remove them. The simple fact of the matter is that we need them! They fill a vacuum created by the murder of millions of babies over the last 35 years. We need these uneducated people to take the millions of minimum wage jobs that we do not have anyone to fill.

Nonetheless, this is a short-term solution to a growing long-term problem; hence, the Hillary Abortion Hiatus. Since liberalism could never abandon one of its foundational legal premises like Roe versus Wade, they must find an alternative to increase the production of babies from the lower class. The Hillary Think Tank of socialist propaganda has finally found a solution. LET’S HAVE THE CONSERVATIVE TAX PAYERS (the only people really paying taxes) PAY THESE PEOPLE TO HAVE BABIES!! All problems solved. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22).

Holiness: What Is A Sanctified & Consecrated Priesthood?

“⁵ 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. ⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, ⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. ⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Peter 2:5-9).

Unlike the O. T. Temple, each local church of Christ is a “spiritual house” made up of living “stones.” The word “spiritual” is translated from the Greek word pneumatikos (pnyoo-mat-ik-os') and refers to someone filled with and governed, or controlled, by the Spirit of God. Only a pneumatikos Christian is a spiritual Christian. A person is “spiritual” because his life is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God. Spirituality is the overflow of the Spirit of God in our lives. The filling of the Spirit always results in the overflow of the God-life with the “fruit of the Spirit” being manifested. Therefore, a “spiritual” person or a “spiritual” local church will always be visible through the evident realities of the “fruit of the Spirit.”

“²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25).

When we try to pour a five-gallon bucket of water into a one-gallon bucket we get overflow. However, what happens when we try to put an infinite supply of water into a one-gallon bucket? We do not just get overflow. We get a flood! That is what happens when the infinite God overflows in the life of a believer. A flood of spirituality happens. We call that revival. Why is it we do not regularly see these spiritual floods in our local churches? Notice that the word “and” in Galatians 5:24 confirms that true spirituality or holiness not only produces the “fruit of the Spirit,” it also dies to both the “affections and lusts” of “the flesh.”

Although the Aaronic Priesthood and the Priesthood of the Believer are considerably different in their “work of the ministry,” they are equal in their responsibilities to personal holiness. When we think of the Priesthood of the Believer two words should come to mind. These two words are sanctified and consecrated. The word sanctified describes what we are to be before God. The Believer Priest is to be separate from worldly pleasures and ambitions and separated unto God. Consecrated defines the reality of a life given to the Lord for doing the “work of the ministry. Both are essential before God can use a believer for His purposes. Although the function of the Old Testament Aaronic Priesthood was considerably different from the present Priesthood of the Believer, the requirements of being sanctified and consecrated continues.

“⁴⁰ And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. ⁴¹ And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. ⁴² And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: ⁴³ And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him” (Exodus 28:40-43).

The word translated “consecrate” in Exodus 28:41 is the Hebrew word male' (maw-lay'). It means to fill or to overflow. The Priest who was consecrated was to be filled spiritually. His was to be fully given to God; body, soul and spirit. All of him was to be under God’s control. In the New Testament, we call this being “filled” with the Spirit.

The word translated “sanctify” in Exodus 28:41 is the Hebrew word qadash (kaw-dash'). It refers to someone that is sacred. This means someone completed dedicated for God’s use. Being sanctified in the Old Testament involved certain purification rituals. Without going into elaborate detail regarding these purification rituals, purification involved three basic things:

1. Clothing to cover their nakedness (“linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs shall they reach” (Exodus 28:42)

2. Ritual purification with water (Exodus 29:4)

3. The offering of sacrifices to “cover” their own personal sins before God (Exodus 29:10-33)

Note: the Hebrew word translated “atonement” in Exodus 29:33 is kaphar (kaw-far'). The word “atonement” is not an accurate translation of this Hebrew word. The kaphar did not reconcile the individual to God. It could only cover over sin until at which time Messiah would propitiate God. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:25). The eating of the kaphar implied that the participating priest acknowledged both his sin before God and the just penalty of condemnation for that sin. In doing so, he accepted God’s grace in covering his sin and providing forgiveness.

Under the New Covenant the Believer Priest is already clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. However, he is commanded to “put off” worldliness and to “put on godliness.”

“²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

“⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. ¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:8-13).

The other two items (ritual purification with water and eating the kaphar) are fulfilled in Christ. Under the New Covenant, these two parts of sanctification involve the confession of sin whereupon God acts and cleanses the repentant Believer Priest of all unrighteousness.

“⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:7-9).

“Fellowship” is the partnership with God in the “work of the ministry” that comes when the Believer Priest is consecrated and sanctified to God. “Fellowship” is from the Greek word koinonia (koy-nohn-ee'-ah), which refers to a joint participation. The best English word I can think of that accurately translates the meaning of this Greek word is the word synergy. It refers to the combined energy of two or more people in a cooperative work. Synergy with God and other Believer Priests is not accomplished until sanctification and consecration are spiritual realities in a believer’s life.

What Peter is talking about in I Peter 2:5 is this synergy or “fellowship” that comes when the living “stones” come together as the “spiritual house.” They are by regeneration a “spiritual house” in that God has saved them and made them part of His New creation in Christ Jesus. They are a “spiritual house” by the fact of the impartation of the “Divine Nature” in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

However, this positional reality is useless in this world if it does not become a practical reality in our lives. Believers must be sanctified and consecrated to the Lord. It is the individual responsibility of every Believer Priest to separate himself from worldly ambitions and pleasures and to dedicate his life to doing the “work of the ministry.” Any believer Priest failing to maintain a sanctified and consecrated life destroys the synergy of the “spiritual house” of living “stones.”

Secondly, sanctification is practically useless apart from consecration. Of what value to God is a holy vessel that never does the “work of the ministry”? The purpose for personal sanctification is to prepare one’s self to be a vehicle of God’s grace. Sanctification without doing the “work of the ministry” is like getting up in the morning, putting on our work cloths and then sitting around the house all day doing nothing. Sadly, that describes exactly the concept most Christians have of sanctification.

Thirdly, consecration is practically useless apart from sanctification. Of what value to God is a dirty vessel that He cannot fill with His divine power for the “work of the ministry”? Many Christians rush into the Lord’s work without giving careful consideration to the spiritual preparation that is essential to doing that work. They think they are doing God a favor. The reality is that they are just spinning their wheels. Nothing will come of their efforts

Maintaining our “fellowship” with God involves sanctification and consecration. When these two truths become the practical realities of our lives, we can honestly say we “abide in Christ” and can expect all the promises that come from that reality. Abiding “in Christ” means to live in constant fellowship (synergy) with Him through continual sanctification and consecration.

“⁴ 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” (John 15:4-8).

Holiness: A Sanctified Priesthood

“⁵ 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. ⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, ⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. ⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Peter 2:5-9).

When I look at modern day Christianity, I see it like a massive army of Saints who all seem to be fighting to see who can get as far back from the front as possible. At the front are a handful of faithful Christians ready for the battle charge, trying to persuade the other quasi and pseudo-warriors to join them in the ranks. A large percentage of the army is unprepared for battle and is apathetic to the cause. That means they are not only unprepared, they really do not care to get prepared.

Understanding this scenario helps each of us understand the historic struggle of Christianity. Often the spiritual struggle is the struggle with the sin natures of individual believers and the majority of the work of the ministry is trying to get the Priesthood of the Believers to do the work they are saved to do. Christians want the position Christ gives them but they do not want the responsibilities of that position. They do not understand the very basic truth of their position in Christ. They are not their own. They have been bought with a price.

“¹⁹ 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? ²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

Often Christians are willing to serve the Lord and do the work of the ministry only if the cost to them is minimal and there is little or no risk to their reputation or position in the world. The sad truth is that this kind of Christian does not even realize that the reason he thinks this way is because he is in love with the world. That is why he is unwilling to get involved in a active soul winning program. That is why he is unwilling to become a vocal witness for Christ at his workplace and among his neighbors and peers. He is like the little boy walking on a street curb. He lives on the edge of the gutter and frequently falls in. He may not live in open sin, but the “pride of life” keeps him from being the Believer Priest God called him to be. He loves the world.

“¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I John 2:15-16).

A Believer Priest will never be prepared to live for Christ until he has committed himself to be willing to die for Christ. That is the truth Paul communicated about himself in Galatians 2:20. His great successes in ministry under enormous resistance and persecution were due to the fact of the power of God upon a life that had already committed himself to do whatever was necessary at whatever the cost. He sanctified himself to God’s service.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

The basic truth of redemption is that every believer belongs to God. That is essentially what the word sanctified means. Every believer becomes a holy vessel of God separated from the world and dedicated to His use. The “work of the ministry” is sacred work demanding a sacred person to do it.

The purpose for personal holiness is to prepare a vehicle of a human being for God to work His sacred work through. The Biblical pattern for personal holiness involves whatever steps are necessary to maintain a lifestyle distinctively separated from worldliness and dedication to doing the “work of the ministry.” Holiness is defined by both what we are and what we do. It cannot exist apart from the steps necessary to separate ourselves from worldliness and to doing the “work of the ministry.” The holiness of what we are is for the purpose of what we do.

The Priesthood of which all believers are Priests is not the Aaronic Priesthood of the Old Covenant. Jesus established a new Priesthood called the Melchisedecian Priesthood of which He is High Priest and the believer is a Servant Priest. The “work of the ministry” (soul winning and discipleship) is the work of all Servant Priests.

“¹ For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: ² Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. ³ And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. ⁴ And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. ⁵ So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. ⁶ As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 5:1-6).

Melchisedec was a Gentile King\Priest (Gen. 14:18). Therefore, the Priesthood of all believers is a Royal Priesthood that will rule and reign with Jesus Christ during the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 1:6; 2:26-28; 5:10; 20:6). The Believer Priest ministers from a completed sacrifice and a completed salvation and, therefore, there is no more sacrifice for sin offered any longer.

“¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: ¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. ¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ¹⁵ Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ¹⁶ This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; ¹⁷ And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. ¹⁸ Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:10-18).

The Bible teaches that all Believer Priests are to offer three sacrifices. None of these sacrifices are sacrifices for sin. Each of the three sacrifices mentioned in the New Testament are sacrifices of praise and involve various aspects of giving of ourselves to the Lord.

1. The sacrifice of their persons; the Believer Priest is to give His body to the Lord for His use. This giving of his life to the Lord involves both time and abilities.

“¹¹ Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. ¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:11-13).

“¹ 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. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). (The service gifts are to be used as the outgrowth of the sacrifice of our “bodies.” If those service gifts are not used in God‘s service, this sacrifice has never been made.)

2. The sacrifice of their lips; the Believer Priest is to give testimony to what God has done in his salvation and what God is doing in his life.

“¹² Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹³ Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴ For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. ¹⁵ By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. ¹⁶ But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:12-16).

3. The sacrifice of their substance; the “work of the ministry” is financially supported by the tithes and offerings of Believer Priests.

“¹⁵ Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. ¹⁷ Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. ¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God” (Philippians 4:15-18).

The words “communicate” and “communicated” in the above two portions of Scripture are both derivatives of the Greek word koinonia (koy-nohn-ee'-ah) and refer to sharing in the burden of the “work of ministry” through the partnership of giving.

The “lukewarm” Christians of the last days before the rapture are those Christians who have taken the Name of Christ in vain. They have little or no zeal for the things of God and they are unwilling to give any more than a token of themselves to the “work of the Ministry.” The “lukewarm” Christian describes the Believer Priest who lives for himself. He is too busy with his own ambitions and pleasures in life to have any time for God’s business.

Holiness And The Priesthood of the Believer

“5 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. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (I Peter 2:5-9).

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6).

Holiness is the practical responsibility of our position in Christ. Every truly “born again” believer is a “saint” before God. The word “saint” is from the Greek word hagios (hag'-ee-os). It is a word that describes a most holy, sacred thing. It refers to something or someone that has been set apart for God’s use and God’s use alone. As it refers to believers, it refers to their particular calling as servants of God. It refers to their position “in Christ.” It refers to the Priesthood of all believers.

The Priesthood of the believer refers to the ministry that is common to all believers. The word ministry defines God’s work. The word “priesthood” describes both the believer’s position in this world and his responsibility. The word “priesthood” is associated with a job description and the responsibilities of that job description. Any time a believer fails to fulfill his job description as a priest before God, in any way, that individual believer is living in sin.

Every true believer is a Sanctified One. All believers are God’s representatives before lost mankind. They are representatives of the character of God to restore His image and bring Him glory by being living embodiments of the Word of God. They are to represent God by working to replicate His character in their lives. When the Word of God says “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), it is saying that we come short of replicating the character of God in our lives and therefore do not deserve His blessings or praise. The character of God is what distinguishes Him from every other being. The central and foremost responsibility of every Believer Priest is to replicate the character of God in our lives through the enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Therefore, a major part of the “work of the ministry” relates to this issue of personal holiness. Again, we must remind ourselves that the word holy does not refer to moral perfection or personal piety. (Those realities may be achieved to some degree by personal holiness.) The twofold reality of personal holiness is defined on two spiritual battlefronts:

1. Separation from worldliness
2. Separation unto God

These two realities are essential to the “work of the ministry” of the Believer Priest. The “work of the ministry” refers to the “spiritual sacrifices” that the Believer Priest offers up to the Lord. In order for those “spiritual sacrifices” to be “acceptable” to the Lord, holiness is an absolute essential.

“10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. 13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. 14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean” (Haggai 2:10-14).

The “work of the ministry” is spiritual work. It is unlike any other kind of work. Spiritual work is a supernatural endeavor that brings the physical world into contact with the supernatural world. Anytime that happens, sparks start to fly. The separated Believer Priest becomes the spiritual conduit through which God works. Before a Believer Priest can be that spiritual conduit, all that he is and can be must be absolutely and completely given to the Lord and separated from the world.

“1 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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

When a Believer Priest sins in any way, he defiles himself before God and makes himself “unclean.” What are some of things that defile the Priesthood of a believer? Any sin defiles the Priesthood of the believer. However, there are certain practices that are common that many Christians do not consider as defiling. Worldliness comes in many forms and is usually evidenced by the presence of any one of the “works of the flesh.”

“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-21).

None of us would have any problem with identifying the first seven things listed (“adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred”) and understanding that they would defile a Believer Priest from being used of God. However, many Christians do not see that the next seven things listed are equally defiling (variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings).

The word “variance” is from the Greek word eris (er'-is). It refers to a spirit of contention and strife. It refers to the wrangling that goes on behind the scene when someone wants to get their way or force their opinion on others. Bitterness results from self focus and a high self opinion that believes a person does not get what he deserves. This contentious spirit is absolutely defiling and almost always generates factions and bitterness between believers.

“14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:14-15).

The word “emulations” in Galatians 5:20 is equally defiling. It is from the Greek word zelos (dzay'-los). It refers to an angry, contentious rivalry of a person or group of people that seek to punish or banish anyone that is not willing to bow down to their opinion. It refers to a selfish misdirected zeal. “Variance” and “emulation” are almost always the inseparable twin sisters of carnality. They are defiling sins.

The next defiling sin listed is the sin of “wrath.” It is from the Greek word thumos (thoo-mos'). It refers to the fierce kind of anger that blows up and vents itself against the person disagreed with. It comes from the Greek word thuo (thoo'-o), which means to sacrifice or slaughter. Although this wicked spirit may not seek to kill a person, it almost always seeks to sacrifice another person to get its way.

The word “strife” is from the Greek word eritheia (er-ith-i'-ah). It refers to the person who practices electioneering to gain power or position. It is almost always done through gossip and in secret. I call this politicking. It is probably one of the most destructive defiling practices that destroy more local churches and individual lives than any other sin. God condemns it on numerous occasions in Scripture.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).

“13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:13-16).

The word “seditions” is from the Greek word dichostasia (dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah). It is from two Greek words. The word dis (dece) means twice or again and stasis (stas'-is), which refers to insurrection. In other words, “seditions” is referring to an ongoing, standing insurrection against authority. “Seditions” refers to an ongoing, continuous work (not just a single act) of rebellion. Before God can use a Believer Priest, or a local church of Believer Priests, this spirit of insurrection must be rooted out.

The next defiling sin that destroys the usefulness of individual Believer Priests is that of “heresies.” “Heresies” is from the Greek word hairesis (hah'-ee-res-is). It refers to the act of taking a captive. A false teacher leads people astray from the right way (righteousness) by false teaching. A heresy is anything that generates wrong practices. That can come through the perversion of Biblical truth or through a practice of life. This type of person always tries to gather a following. He captures a person when that person follows him in doing what he is doing (usually sedition). Any one of the “works of the flesh” can generate “heresies.”

The last of these defiling sins we want to look at in this text is “envyings.” It is from the Greek word phthonos (fthon'-os). Although it simply means to envy, it probably relates more to its root word, which is phtheiro (fthi'-ro), which means to corrupt or to destroy. In the opinion of the Jews, the temple was corrupted or destroyed when anyone defiled it or damaged anything in it to the slightest degree. In the context of Galatians 5:21, it refers to a selfish, prideful attitude that results in leading a church away from the knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide.

As Believer Priests, every Christian needs to regularly examine and cleanse his heart from these corrupting, defiling sins of “variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies and envyings.” We need to understand that God not only puts them in the same category as “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, murders, drunkenness and revellings, but that God presents them as equals. They render a Believer Priest unclean and useless to God.

Pride keeps a person from acknowledging the wickedness of these particular “works of the flesh.” Pride will keep a believer from even looking at his heart and seeing the corrupting influences of these sins in his own life and in the lives of others. Pride will keep a heart closed to the pointing finger of conviction as the Holy Spirit directs us all to repentance and commitment to change.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Pride not only produces the “works of the flesh,” pride keeps feeding them. Without pride they will die. But pride will also keep a person from seeing his sin, acknowledging it as sin and repenting.

Holiness: Being God’s Holy Hands

“6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:6-16).

Seldom do Christians realized the significance of the human agent in the purposes and plan of God. God has chosen to use individual people to carry out His plan and to fulfill His purposes. God almost always uses human agents to answer prayer. If someone has a need, God will use a human agent to meet that need. The gospel of Jesus Christ will not be preached apart from the human agent.

“13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:13-15)!

God has provided all that is necessary for the salvation of every person in the world. The responsibility to reach those people for Jesus Christ falls completely upon the shoulders of the saved. The fact that God uses of the human agent in doing His work and fulfilling His purposes is the critical reason why all Christians need to live holy lives. We are God’s hands, feet and mouth. When God wants to love someone, He uses a human agent to do so. God is holy. Therefore, the hands, feet, mouths and hearts God uses must be holy before He can use them.

Holiness is the outward manifestation of the inward work of God’s enabling grace through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Holiness is not something we do. Holiness is something we are (“be ye holy). Holiness happens when the believer yields his will gate to the Holy Spirit in obedience to the Word of God. It will never happen any other way. The kind of true, Biblical holiness that God uses must be Holy Spirit produced holiness. Sinners cannot be holy apart from the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, holiness is defined by truth and is produced through faithful obedience to God‘s Word. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict of sin (what is wrong), righteousness (what is right) and judgment (chastisement for wrong doing).

“7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:7-11).

The word “reprove” in John 16:8 is from the Greek word elegcho (el-eng'-kho). It means to convince or convict a person about something. When a person has a conviction, he is fully convinced that something is either absolutely wrong (sin) or absolutely right (righteous). A conviction changes us inwardly. Once we have a conviction, we own that truth as part of who we are. It transforms our life. It changes us from within. We cannot say we have a conviction if that truth does not compel us to stop the sinful practice or compel us to begin doing what God wants us to do. Conviction is always connected to change.

That is what the Bible word for faith means. The word “faith” in the New Testament is usually translated from the Greek word pistis (pis'-tis). Faith is a word that refers to conviction of the truth of anything. In the New Testament, faith is used of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor. It never refers to a mere intellectual belief in something. When the Bible talks about “the faith,” God is referring to the whole body of revealed, inscripturalized truth intended to be translated into the language of living. Spiritual growth is measured by the degree a believer puts flesh on (embodies) “the faith.”

“1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name” (Romans 1:1-5).

The word “believe” in the New Testament is usually translated from the Greek word pisteuo (pist-yoo'-o). It is the verb form of the noun pistis (pis'-tis). A word that better reflects the meaning of the Greek word pisteuo (pist-yoo'-o) is the English word commit. The word believe, as used in the N.T., refers to a life changing transformation of conviction and trust that compels a person to a life that is lived separated from the carnal pleasures and worldly pursuits of this life.

Therefore, the words “faith” and “believe” cannot be separated from the word holy in the Bible. If a person truly believes in the reality of a holy God and absolute truth, that faith will manifest itself in holiness and a changed life. When a person’s faith grows, a person’s holiness grows. Both are the byproduct of the operation of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of the believer as he studies God’s Word or sets under the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

“16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:16-17).

The word “obeyed” in Romans 10:16 is from the Greek word hupakouo (hoop-ak-oo'-o). It is the word that was used to describe the doorman, who, when he hears a knock on the door would come to the door, listen to hear who was at the door and then open to give entrance to that person. The word “obeyed” is used in this context to the gospel. When a person obeys the gospel, he opens the door of his heart (not just his mind) to the life transforming truths of the gospel and to the Saviour it announces. It is not just a matter of believing the message of the gospel and leaving the Saviour stand outside the door. To obey the gospel is to invite the Saviour in to be Lord of the house.

The “trying of our faith” (I Peter 1:6-7) is measured in our growth unto holiness. The word “temptations” in I Peter 1:6 is from the Greek word peirasmos (pi-ras-mos'). It refers to proving trials that test a man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy. These are the elements that reveal the reality of a person’s faith (“trial of your faith”). If growth in these realities is not evident, the reality of faith is not evident.

When God commands the believing sinner to be holy, He is commanding many things. He is commanding the believer to study the Word of God, for by it will come faith as the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. Faith is the practice of known truth produced in the life of the believer as he yields his will to the indwelling Spirit of God. Holiness will be what is produced as the believer is enabled to obey the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The word “yield” (Romans 6:13) is critical to how this holiness is produced in our life through the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit. In Romans 12:1 Paul pleads with all believers to “present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” It is interesting to note that the word “present” in Romans 12:1 and the word “yield” in Romans 6:13 are both the Greek word paristemi (par-is'-tay-mee). In this context, it means to place one’s self at the disposal of another.

“1 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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Every believer is saved to be a vehicle to transport God’s love and grace to the lost and dying of this world. Believers are God’s fleet of delivery trucks. God wants to use every believer in wondrous and miraculous ways. However, before God can use us to the degree He wants to, a life transforming work has to take place.

First, our lives must be completely yielded to God’s control. Nothing less will be satisfactory. Our lives must be given to God as “a living sacrifice.”

Secondly, the Holy Spirit must take the truths of God’s Word and incorporate them into the very essence of who we are (inner transformation). That will result in those truths becoming the everyday practice of our lives (faith). Holiness will be produced and God’s image will be restored. The “light” will shine in the darkness.

Holiness: We Should Be Like Him!

“1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (I John 3:1-10).

At the time of Christ, the Jewish people practiced the custom of espousal. The Jewish marriage was composed of two stages: the Kiddushin (Betrothal) and the Huppah (Canopy: the bringing home of the bride). Betrothal was considered a legally binding promise of marriage that afforded certain rights and privileges. The woman, once betrothed, was considered and treated as a married woman. The betrothed woman was expected to be a virgin unless she was a widow. She was expected to remain a virgin until the Huppah ceremony. This espousal period of time could be days, months, or years in some cases. This is a very accurate portrayal of the reality of the relationship between Christ (the Bridegroom) and His Church (the Bride) during the Church Age.

Christians, who really believe in the reality of the return of Christ for His Bride, understand that the Bridegroom expects to find His Bride living faithfully to Him in earnest expectation of His coming for her. When Christians live in sin, they are living in spiritual adultery. This is the picture Christ puts before us in I John 3:4-10. Christ expects to have a purified Bride when He comes to take her home.

Our Bridegroom understands the problem Christians face in the everyday struggle with the lust of our flesh, the lust of our eyes and the pride of our lives. He has already discussed that issue in I John chapter 2.

“15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I John 2:15-16).

Christ knows we are going to fail occasionally and sin because, even though we are regenerated people, we are still sinners by nature. Even if we could somehow live our lives and not commit outward acts of sin, we will regularly commit sins of the heart (lust and pride). What is important to Christ is our struggle to maintain our relationship with Him. It is in that struggle that the reality of our faith and the reality of our love for the Bridegroom are tested. If we really love Him, we will not be constantly flirting with the world, let alone be involved in a love affair with the world. However, this is descriptive of the lives of many Christians in these last days. They are having a love affair with the world while the Bridegroom is away!

Christ tells us in I John 3:3 that “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” The word “purifieth” is from the Greek word hagnizo (hag-nid'-zo). It means to ceremonially make oneself morally and spiritually clean. In the Old Covenant, ceremonial cleansing involved considerable effort and expense. Old Covenant believers knew sin was going to cost them big time.

The person wanting to be purified before God needed to build an altar, find a pure, unblemished animal for sacrifice (usually the best of the flock), gather wood for a fire, kill the animal and drain the blood, sprinkle the blood upon the altar so the altar would be sanctified to God, start a fire and place the sacrificial animal on the altar as a burnt offering to God.

If an individual believer failed to do what was necessary to purify himself, his life would come under the direct judgment of God (chastisement) and he would forfeit God’s blessing on his life until he did purify himself. Needless to say, believers took sin seriously. They took sin seriously enough to avoid it at all costs. When they recognized they had sinned, they did not hesitate to go to whatever extremes necessary to purify themselves before God.

The word “purifieth” in I John 3:3 refers to both these aspects of purification. First, the person who believes in the reality of the Bridegroom coming for His Bride will go to extreme measures to avoid temptation to sin and flirting with the world. Second, the person who believes in the reality of the Bridegroom coming for His Bride, will immediately repent, confess and seek Christ’s forgiveness and cleansing the moment he recognizes he has committed a sin. This is the truth communicated in I John chapter one.

“7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:7-9).

To be cleansed “from all unrighteousness” is the continual moment-by-moment responsibility of the Bride. The Bridegroom could come at any moment. The Bridegroom expects to find His Bride morally pure at His coming. The degree of that moral purity is revealed by the words “even as He (Jesus) is pure.” The word “pure” is from the Greek word hagnos (hag-nos'). It means to be chaste, modest and free from any carnality or spiritual fault.

Purity will not happen by accident and it will not happen through external applications of truth. This will happen when the believer learns to be open and honest with God about who and what he is. He will talk to God about the specific struggles with sin he is having throughout the day. He will learn to live his life one moment at a time. In each moment of the day, he will need to consciously yield his life to the enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit over and over again. He will need to take the potential for sin that lies within his heart seriously. That is why Romans 6:8-14 are some of the most important verses in the Bible for the Christian who wants to have a pure life and live victorious over sin.

“8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:8-14).

The Bridegroom is “pure.” He is morally chaste and free from any carnality or spiritual fault. Not only is He “pure,” He “was manifested to take away our sins” as well (I John 3:5). Jesus Christ paid the death sentence for sin that was upon every sinner in the world (I John 2:2). Today He lives to cleanse His Bride of “all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9) and keep her purified if the Bride will just take sin seriously.

Professing Christians cannot habitually live in sin and still consider themselves to be saved. Christians cannot habitually live in a love affair relationship with the world and still consider themselves to be part of the Bride of Christ. That is what I John 3:6 is saying. Real belief in the any moment coming of the Bridegroom demands that we live our lives spiritually faithful to His commands. Anything less is self-deception.

“21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness {defilement} and superfluity {residue} of naughtiness {depravity}, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:21-22).

The word “engrafted” in James 1:21 is from the Greek word emphutos (em'-foo-tos). It refers to something that is inborn or implanted by nature in us. When a person really believes the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of God’s Word, that person is regenerated. The Word of God does not just act upon him externally. It acts upon the very essence of whom and what he is and supernaturally changes who and what he is. He becomes a “new creature.” This is a life transforming conversion from one form of being to another form of being.

“2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-3).

The word “converted” in Matthew 18:3 is from the Greek word ginomai (ghin'-om-ahee). It is not talking about the simple faith of a child. It means to come into existence, begin to be or receive being. In other words, before a person has any hope of ever seeing the ”kingdom of heaven,” that person must have a transforming, life changing conversion similar to the birth of a child. He is born out of the darkness of the womb into another altogether different existence. That is the same expectation discussed in I John 3:1-10.

The word “abideth” in I John 3:6 is from the Greek word meno (men'-o). It means to remain or to wait. The meaning of this verse according to the context is that “whosoever waits for Him (the Bridegroom) sinneth not.” If a Christian is really waiting for the Bridegroom, he will not habitually live in sin.

On seven occasions in I John 3:4-10, God uses the Participle Mood. The Greek Participle Mood corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting “-ing or “-ed” being suffixed to the basic verb form. The Participle Mood can be used either like a verb or a noun, as in English, and thus is often termed a “verbal noun.” Let me translate this for you by adding the word habitually before each instance the Participle Mood is used in this text to let you see how this impacts the meaning of the text.

“4 Whosoever habitually committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever habitually abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever habitually sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that habitually committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever habitually doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that habitually loveth not his brother” (I John 3:1-10).

According to I John 3:10, the “children of God” are plainly recognized and known by the apparent reality of habitually living according to the Word of God and habitually loving their new brothers and sisters in Christ. If your faith is real, that reality will be evident in the progressive transformation of your life. Yes, when the Bridegroom comes for His Bride, every believer will immediately and completely be “changed” to be exactly like Jesus is. However, that change began the very moment you were saved. If you are really saved, you will be growing to be more like Jesus every day.

Holiness will start to become evident in your life.

Holiness: We Shall Be Like Him!

“1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (I John 3:1-10).

In our study of Revelation 4:1-8, God opened the door of Heaven to allow us to see a vision of Him in His glory. We understand that the glory of God is the visible essence of His holiness. It is the visible essence of the eternal life of God. The glory of God fills the universe. The eternal life of God is the believer’s present day possession. Within the body of every believer is the Person of the Holy Spirit Who is the “light” of God’s glory and the essence of His holiness.

For all the days our lives on this earth, the indwelling Holy Spirit is our only hope of living holy and wholly for Christ. Holiness is not something sinners are capable of anymore than a dead man is capable. The only hope of practical holiness in this life is when we yield our lives in obedience to the Holy Spirit as He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment. The only hope of practical holiness in this life is when we allow the Holy Spirit to live the life of Christ through our lives.

It has been almost 2,000 years since Christ ascended to the Father’s Throne in Heaven. He did not tell us when He was coming back for His bride. He told us to expect Him at any given moment in time. Jesus did not tell us when He would be coming for us because He knew if we thought He might not come in our lifetimes that we would not be as serious as we ought to be in our efforts to reach the world for Christ. He knew that we would think we would always have another tomorrow to do the things we should be doing today. When we live our lives thinking we will have another tomorrow, we do not really believe in the eminent return of Jesus Christ.

If we live our lives thinking about tomorrow when we say we believe in the eminent return of Jesus Christ, how would we live if we knew Jesus was not coming back in our life times? The reality is that we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and give an answer to our Bridegroom for everyday we wasted; for everyday we did not live in the light of His eminent return. There are four great realities given us in I John 3:1-10.

1. The Bridegroom is coming.
2. When He appears, we shall see Him as He is (glorified).
3. We will be changed to be like Him.
4. If we believe these things, we will purify our lives in this present world.

The first reality is that the Bridegroom is coming for His bride.

“32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:32-40).

If we believe in the reality of something (present or future), we act upon that reality. That reality affects our lives and changes the way we see things and do things. If we do not act upon the reality that we say we believe in, we really do not believe in it. In that case, it is only an idea or a philosophy. It does not really affect our lives and motivate us to change or action. In Luke 12:32-40 Jesus tells us about what a person who really believes in His eminent return will be doing.

He will make extreme sacrifices in this life to invest himself and his wealth in eternal things (v 33-34). He will be prepared for the any moment return of the Lord (v 35-36). He will be living his life in the moment-by-moment anticipation of the Lord’s knock on the door (v 37). That is the view we find in Revelation 3:20 in the last words of the Lord to Christians throughout the Church Age. .

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

Secondly, the reality is that when He appears, we shall see Him as He is (glorified).

“7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty 9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:9-18).

In Revelation 1:9-18, we are given another glimpse into the eternal realities of our glorified Lord Jesus. It will not be a lowly carpenter’s son coming in poverty and obscurity. This will be the glorified God/Man, the eternal Son of God coming in power and glory. This is the Jesus we will see at His coming for His bride. This is the vision Christ gave John to be given to all churches throughout the Church Age (v 11). The “Almighty” speaks of God’s omnipotence. There is nothing beyond His power, outside of His control or beyond His judgment.

Third, the reality is that when Jesus does return for His bride, we will be changed to be like Him.

At the end of the Church Age, all those individuals who have been saved from the day of Pentecost forward, both dead and alive, will be caught away. This is called the rapture.

“51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:51-53).

At the end of the Church Age the “dead in Christ” shall be resurrected. Those still alive will be translated. The great truth of that day is that “we shall all be changed.” “We shall be like Him” (I John 3:2). In Revelation 4:1-8, God gives us a vision of Who He is. In I John 3:1-2 we are told that upon our glorification, we shall be “like Him.” Today, each moment of our lives is lived in the expectation of the any moment return of Jesus Christ to take His “bride” away.

Fourth, the reality is that if we believe these things, we will purify our lives in this present world.

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (I John 3:3).

A Church is not Christ-centered until holiness is its foremost priority (even before evangelism; Eph. 2:21). At any given moment of time, in the “twinkling of an eye,” there is possibility of standing before the Throne of God and the Judgment Seat of Christ and having to tell Him in what we invested our lives and on what we wasted our lives.

“9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Romans 14:9-13).

A simple test of the reality of our beliefs regarding the return of Christ for His bride is measured by what motivates us to soul winning and discipleship ministries. Let me ask you this question: if you knew you would receive $500.00 for every soul you tried to win to Christ, how much more diligent would you be in your evangelistic effort? How many Bible tracks would you hand out if you knew you would get $500.00 each? If we are willing do something for dollars that we are not willing to do simply because it is the right thing to do, we love money more than we love righteousness.

The visible manifestation of our possessing eternal life is the visible presence of holiness in our lives. If there is any hope in us of seeing the Lord and being like Him, that reality will manifest itself in purity of life.

God Is Holy!

“1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 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” (Revelation 4:1-8).

In Revelation 4:2, we are told that John was “in the spirit.” I believe this means that John was taken out of this physical, temporal world (existence) and taken into the spiritual realm of God’s eternal existence, which is presently invisible to us. This is real. It is not science fiction.

In Revelation 4:2-3, we are given one of the most spectacular visions of heaven anywhere in the Bible. For us to appreciate this in its fullest sense we must let our imaginations escape the temporal confinements of our own time and space. We must move our minds outside of the boundaries of earth into the spiritual realm of heavenly things. We must allow God to open a door to our spiritual blindness as He paints a portrait in words of Himself in all of His glory. Here He is in the realm of holiness and righteousness. Here He is in the dwelling place of millions of angels. Here we see God as He is and where He lives. In this portion of Scripture, God is taking us into His living room and giving us a glimpse of His glory.

This Throne is beyond this earth. It is beyond this universe. It is probably another dimension of existence. Somewhere, beyond all that we might imagine, is a place called heaven. At the center of this place, outside of time and space, is the place where God dwells and where His Throne is. The spiritual realm of God is not out their somewhere. We know that the Word of God says He is omnipresent. Therefore, the spiritual realm occupies the same time as we do and the same space, it is just not visible to us.

“15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (II Kings 6:15-17).

This is all beyond the wildest extremes of science fiction and human imagination because it is not fiction. It is reality. Spherically around this Throne, suspended in space is something that appears like an emerald colored rainbow (Revelation 4:3). We are not told how far this emerald sphere extends from the Throne at its center, but it probably extends for billions of miles. It may in fact fill the universe. What is this emerald sphere? According to Ezekiel 1:28 what God is revealing to him is the God’s radiant glory. God’s glory is the visible essence of all of God’s attributes. We express this gory in human terms by the words glow or shine.

“26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake” (Ezekiel 1:26-28).

Ezekiel 1:26 tells us that upon what appeared to be a Throne there was a Being Who appeared to be like a man. Genesis 1:26 tells us that God created man in His image. Yet God is not a man. He is God.

Can we imagine such a Being as this? Can we comprehend a Being Whose very existence outshines the stars of our whole universe. Can we imagine a Being Whose Holiness and Truth is visibly seen through the means of His radiant glory? In this realm of existence, there is no darkness that His glory does not fill with light. There are no shadows or shades of gray. There is no place where His visible essence does not fill. Yet, today, we are blinded to His presence and blinded to the glory of His holy radiance.

“5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house” (Isaiah 42:5-7).

Heaven is heaven because God is there. Without Him it would be just another place. The distinguishing characteristic of Heaven is the presence of God. This is where believers will live one day. Not just in the place called heaven, but in the presence of God called heaven. Oh, that will be glory! Every person in the world will see exactly what John describes in Revelation 4:1-11. This Throne is the seat of the Sovereign of the Universe.

God’s glory is the visible radiant essence of holiness. It is holiness that can be seen. Sin has blinded humanity to this visible reality of God’s essence. It is apparent that this spherical radiance surrounding the Throne like a rainbow is the radiant glory of The Almighty God, like a giant, transparent, emerald ball surrounding the Throne. It is here because God in His glory is upon His Throne. This radiant glory of God is the visible essence of what the Bible calls “eternal life.” It is the life force of God. It is the visible essence of His attributes.

What we see in Revelation 4:1-8 is the visible reality of God called eternal life to which the Cherubim of Heaven unceasingly describe with the proclamation, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

My purpose in bringing us to this vision of the radiant glory of God’s holiness and eternal life, is to reveal what God means when He commands His children to be holy. It is through a believer’s personal holiness that is glorified (revealed in this world).

“15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:15-16).

This is what Christian growth is all about. This is what the doctrine of sanctification is all about. Spiritual growth is about becoming like God. It is about looking like God, talking like God, living like God and seeing the world like God sees the world. Christian growth is growing in holiness. Christian growth is working to become more like God everyday and less like the world. Christian growth is about eradicating the darkness of worldly thinking and practices and irradiating the world by replacing our worldly thinking and practices with godly thinking and practices.

This will not happen by accident. This is spiritual work and spiritual warfare. However, it is not work that can be done in the power of the flesh. It is work that must be done in co-operation (“fellowship,” i.e., partnership with God).

Secondly, this work of spiritual growth cannot (and will not) happen apart from the Word of God. If you will not make the effort to learn the depths of the Word of God, you will never come to the knowledge of the depths of Who God is.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

Spiritual growth was Christ’s high priestly prayer for His disciples in the last hours before they would come to take Him away to be crucified. It was His intercessory priority then and, we can be assured, it is His intercessory priority today. Jesus wants His disciples to grow to be like Him

Sanctification is spiritual growth unto holiness. Change (growth) will result only when the Word of God is read, understood and obeyed “from the heart.”

“16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:16-17).

Becoming holy will not happen by praying for it. Becoming holy will not happen by reading about holiness. Becoming holy will not happen by going to church or even by trying to keep the Ten Commandments. Spiritual growth is not about pursuing holiness. Spiritual growth is about turning from a pursuit of worldly fame, fortune or pleasures. Spiritual growth is about pursuing God. That is what the words “from the heart” mean in Romans 6:17. That is what God means in Deuteronomy chapter 6 when He says:

“4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart” (Deuteronomy 6:4-6).

Until this becomes a reality of our lives as Christians, we will never grow spiritually. We will never seek holiness in our lives, because to pursue after God is the insatiable desire to be like Him. The central motivating factor for everything a professing believer does in this life ought to be his relationship with the Lord. There ought to be a driving desire to know His Word because to know His Word is to know Him Who is to know life eternal.

The believer has the “light” of God’s glory restored within Him in the Person of the Holy Spirit the moment he is saved (regenerated). That “light” is released into the darkness of sin when the believer begins to separate himself from the worldliness of his old life (“put off”) and begins to obey the Word of God “from the heart” as enabled by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

This is the struggle in Christian growth. We want to have all the blessings of being a Christian. We want to see souls saved (as least we say we do). The struggle in most part lies within our own souls. The struggle is that we love “darkness.”

“19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21).

Let’s be honest, if we really loved the Lord the way we like to think we do, things would be a lot different wouldn’t they? We love the pleasures of sin. Until we begin to honestly deal with that, we will never grow. Until we begin to deal with that, we will never have the commitment necessary to know God, to talk like God, to live like God or to see the world like God sees the world. This must become the motivating force behind everything we do. We must be driven by the desire to be what God wants us to be.