God's Word mentions the words sanctification, sanctified and
sanctify many times. In the Old Testament more than 100 times and in the New
Testament more than 30 times. Jesus himself mentions it 4 times. Three times in his
prayer for us in John chapter 17. Therefore there is no doubt that the Lord want
us to know and understand this doctrine of sanctifIcation. I am sure that
Satan recognizes the importance of this doctrine. Because He seems to exhort a
lot of effort in order to distort it and make it in~effective to the believer .
I am refering here to the wrong doctrine of ENTIRE sanctification,
which some denominations and evangelical Christians seem to hold. They add the
word ENTIRE on the basis of mainly one verse, which is actually a salutation on
the end of the first epistel to the Thessalonicans. 1 Thes.5-23 " Now may the
God of peace Himself SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLy and may your whole Spirit, Soul and
Body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ "
Although this verse shows that there is such a thing as being
sanctified wholly, or as you will entirely, it also shows that this entire
sanctification will not take place until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When I read
this scripture, as I remember may be 62 years ago, I understood it as Pauls
Salutation and blessings, actually meaning to express his desire that they were
going to make until the end . This understanding has been confirmed the rest
of my life by studying Gods Word and the conformation by the Holy Spirit.
By adding this word ENTIRE to the doctrine of sanctification, the
evil One is creating a lot of confusion, double talk and pride in many
Christians. He does that by suggesting that we can lead a complete sinless life. That
fills us with guilt when we find that we can not obtain it, or with pride, when
we imagine that we are perfect sinless already. So let us take a good look at
biblical sanctification.
The word sanctification [from the greek word Hagiasmos] according to
Webster means, "the state of growing in divine grace as result of christian
commitment, after baptisme or conversion." The verb sanctify[hagiazo] means;
"set appart for a sacred purpose". The word Saint comes from the greek word
Hagios. These are very good definitions, underwriten by God's word.
The complete picture, which the New Testament gives, is that
sanctification is both an instantanious happening at conversion and an ongoing drawn
out process, which comes to completion " in the twinkling of an eye " , when
Jesus takes us at our death or at the time of our rapture. At our true
conversion to Jesus Christ we all become Saints . And the bible calls us so. [ I
Cor.1-2 and Rom. 1-7 ] This is accomplished by Jesus shedding his blood and dying
on the cross for us to wash away our sins. And from then on God looks at us as
forgiven Saints.
However, there is no biblical support for the idea that we actually
reach a complete sinless state during our life. Our sins are continually
forgiven because when we remain in Jesus, He make intercession for us with the
Father. Beside Jesus Christ Himself, there never has been and never will be a
human who is perfectly sinless. God's word teaches us that " there is no one who
does not sin"[2Cr. 6-36]. And " there is not a just man on earth that does good
and does not sin" [Ecl.7-20]. Apostle Paul states in Romans that we all are
falling short and in Phil.3 he declares that he has not already been
perfected. If Paul had not reached that perfect state yet, who are we that we should
claim that we have, or even that we can obtain that state ?
We are exhorted by the word to continually pray for forgiveness of
our sin. lt would be useless if we did not commit any sins any more, would it
not ? That sanctification is a life long process is made clear by God's word.
For instance in Hebrew 10-14 it says; " for by one offering [Christ death on
the cross], He has perfected those who are BEING SANCTIFIED. Being sanctified by
the Holy Spirit is also is used in Romans 15-16 and it clearly indicates a
on-going process.
I must indicate that that process can be interupted by us. The Lords
stern warnings rings out loud and clear in Hebr .10-29. " We are worthy of
much more punishment, if we trample the Son of God under foot, counting the blood
of the Covenant [Jesus's blood] BY WHICH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, a common thing".
From verse 26 to verse 29, the Lord gives the most severe warnings to us. It
is awsome and very direct language. I recommend for all Christians to read this
over and over.
Because although we are new creatures ln Chrlst and have HIS promise
that He will hold us, we remain prone to sin. Those sincere Christians, who
are reading into GOd'S Word that one can lead a complete Sinless life, are
coming to a very eroneous and dangerous conclusion. It has shown to lead to all
kinds of wrong Interpretation of the Word. A presldent of an conservative
christian college wrote me one time, that they were holding the view that the
doctrine of entire sanctification was just another wording for the Baptisme with the
Holy Spirit ! I think he did not realize that he rejected this one time
instantanious event for today and the terminology that Jesus Himself used for it.
It also seems that they get fortified in this wrong thinking about
sanctification by mlsreadlng scriptures about Christian perfection and Holiness.
Specially the writings of John Wesley on Christian perfection seem to have
confused many Wesleyans. Although I think, that Wesley did not go so far as to
say that we can lead a sinless life and that he or anyone else was completeley
sinless. Some other writers in the past and contemporary, have gone through
great effort to explain away the scripures, which are sayIng that there are no
slnless human belngs on earth.
The word perfect comes from several different Hebrew and Greek words
used in the Bible. It shows how complex this concept is. In English it can and
is translated sometimes with mature, completed, finished and improved. The
way I see the word perfect, is that the bible shows that only God is perfect and
that Jesus was the only one who had lead a perfect live. That has to make the
word perfect rather relative to us.
The bible show us in different states of perfection. Babes, children,
young people, adults and elders. Therefore I believe that when we are in that
stage of christian Iive, in which our Lord has lead us, we can be perfect at
that level. In other words, a person who is born anew in Christ is perfect at
the level our Lord has brought him and there is no difference between a babe
in Christ or an elder, or vice versa. Each human being in a class at a certain
level is not better or higher rated than any other.
When a person is reborn, he is a new creature and made perfect by
the blood of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will grow him or her into more maturity
until he/she is called up . That is why the Lord is not unfair demanding from us,
when he said in Math.5-48, for us to be perfect. In 2 Tim.3-17 it says that
the man of God; may be perfect(complete] thoroughly equiped for every good
work. He also commands us "to be Holy ,even as I am Holy says the Lord". He knows
we can be Holy and perfect as long as we remain in His son Jesus Christ and are covered by his blood . In Him we are perfect and Holy ! AMEN
Friday, January 14, 2005
Desirable Riches?
As sinful human beings, we seem always to be striving to gain more
finances and possessions. We are aiming to be more comfortable or to have more
power. We are even taught that unless you have this ambition, you are a
failure. There is a very popular saying among Wesleyan Christians and others: " Make
all you can, save all you can and give all you can ". It sounds so good and
Godly, but is it really?
For the first part, Jesus's words of Matthew19:24 come to my mind.
" It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to enter the Kingdom of God" Do we really heed this very serious warning?
The Lord considers this subject of "gaining" so important that He repeats it
twice in His saying of Mathew 27:26 and Mark 8:36. " For what shall It profit a
man If he gains the whole world and lose his soul ? " Do we as followers of Chr
ist have much regard for our souls ?
As far as saving all you can is concerned, the story of the rich
fool should be a serious lesson for us. [Luke 12:16]. Then, the Lords teaching
frcm Matthew 6:19/20" Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth" is very
plain. That is not to say that you should never save. Joseph was let by the
Lord to lay up for the 7 years of famine. But we should only do it as led by the
Holy Spirit.
To give all you can is not the right idea either, although It sounds
very spiritual. There is strife in this idea and in following this concept
you feel compulsion! We never should give out of compulsion {2 Cor. 9:7] As
opposed to compulsion we should give with a cheerful heart. It will become
naturally for us to give our whole self cheerfully when we become Godly in obeying
God's Word. [Romans 12:1]
Can volunteer austerity be Godly ? It can be, but not necessarily
so! It depends on our motives. I used to be a real Dutch cheapskate. However,
my motive was not to please the Lord but to gain more for my self. I pray that
the Lord will eliminate this selfishness in me. In ancient times there rose up
a sect called the Asetics, followers of an old hermit who lived on roots and
berries, thinking that this would make him super spiritual. They preached and
inforced complete self denial. In their rigid self denial, they actually did
do serious damage to their bodies and were in fact very ungodly ! However
volunteer austerity, led by the Holy spirit can be a great help to conquer our
selfishness. Our motive then should be that we can do more for others with our God
given resources.
To be rich towards God should be our goal instead of gathering
riches for our self. Contentment with what the Lord has provided for us is also
much needed. 1Tim 6:6-8 says" Godliness with contentment is great gain" and to
be content with food and raiment." If we seek first the Kingdom of God, all
things will be added unto us and we will prosper even as our souls prospers. When
the Lord pours out His blesings of abundance upon us, riches will not become
a curse and a cause of losing our soul. A final thought. The Lord usually will
bless us only to the extend of which we can deal with. This in order not to
tempt us beyond our endurance. Praise His Holy Name! Amen.
Johannes G. Weiss
finances and possessions. We are aiming to be more comfortable or to have more
power. We are even taught that unless you have this ambition, you are a
failure. There is a very popular saying among Wesleyan Christians and others: " Make
all you can, save all you can and give all you can ". It sounds so good and
Godly, but is it really?
For the first part, Jesus's words of Matthew19:24 come to my mind.
" It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to enter the Kingdom of God" Do we really heed this very serious warning?
The Lord considers this subject of "gaining" so important that He repeats it
twice in His saying of Mathew 27:26 and Mark 8:36. " For what shall It profit a
man If he gains the whole world and lose his soul ? " Do we as followers of Chr
ist have much regard for our souls ?
As far as saving all you can is concerned, the story of the rich
fool should be a serious lesson for us. [Luke 12:16]. Then, the Lords teaching
frcm Matthew 6:19/20" Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth" is very
plain. That is not to say that you should never save. Joseph was let by the
Lord to lay up for the 7 years of famine. But we should only do it as led by the
Holy Spirit.
To give all you can is not the right idea either, although It sounds
very spiritual. There is strife in this idea and in following this concept
you feel compulsion! We never should give out of compulsion {2 Cor. 9:7] As
opposed to compulsion we should give with a cheerful heart. It will become
naturally for us to give our whole self cheerfully when we become Godly in obeying
God's Word. [Romans 12:1]
Can volunteer austerity be Godly ? It can be, but not necessarily
so! It depends on our motives. I used to be a real Dutch cheapskate. However,
my motive was not to please the Lord but to gain more for my self. I pray that
the Lord will eliminate this selfishness in me. In ancient times there rose up
a sect called the Asetics, followers of an old hermit who lived on roots and
berries, thinking that this would make him super spiritual. They preached and
inforced complete self denial. In their rigid self denial, they actually did
do serious damage to their bodies and were in fact very ungodly ! However
volunteer austerity, led by the Holy spirit can be a great help to conquer our
selfishness. Our motive then should be that we can do more for others with our God
given resources.
To be rich towards God should be our goal instead of gathering
riches for our self. Contentment with what the Lord has provided for us is also
much needed. 1Tim 6:6-8 says" Godliness with contentment is great gain" and to
be content with food and raiment." If we seek first the Kingdom of God, all
things will be added unto us and we will prosper even as our souls prospers. When
the Lord pours out His blesings of abundance upon us, riches will not become
a curse and a cause of losing our soul. A final thought. The Lord usually will
bless us only to the extend of which we can deal with. This in order not to
tempt us beyond our endurance. Praise His Holy Name! Amen.
Johannes G. Weiss
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
The Honey Coated Gospel
Usually the honey coating of the Gospel is being done by sincere Christians, who have the desire to make the gospel more attractive. And they think that by doing that they will draw more people to Christ. They do not realize that they themselves have a problem accepting our Father God the way He says He is and acts.
Therefore they feel the need to make the Lord look better by softening up the message of the Gospel. Ofcourse this is actually very arrogant and displeasing to God, because in their mind they feel that our heavenly Father does not appear loving enough.
And so judging God to be less than perfect.
Most of the time this seems to happen when they are witnessing or
teaching on the " unconditional love of God " . As an example I will tell you
what I heard in a so called Spirit filled church recently. the sermon subject was the amazing Love of God for all people . The Pastors reasoning went as follows;
1 . God's love for all people requires our response and a relationship with Him . Amen !
2 . A relationship requires change , so God changed ! Wrong . God never changes . We have to change. Mal.3:6 " For I the Lord do not change"
3 . Then he made the explicit statement, of which He declared that it would surprise most of us. { It sure did surprise me unpleasantly } ; " God never send anybody to Hell .!"
Dead wrong again! Who did send into the Lake of eternal fire, Satan and His angels, the anti Christ and the false prophets ? Rev, 20:10/15 And of course there are numeral scriptures which are warning us thet certain sins will lead us to Hell.
The Honey coating of the Gospel seem to be wide spread . They are teaching that because God is Love, a loving God would not cause you physical or spiritual harm and throw you into Hell. They can not and do not accept our heavenly Father the way He says He is and does act. Disregarding totally Deut
32:89 Or 1 Sam 2"6, where our God states that He kills and makes alive , wounds and heals, brings low and lifts up , makes poor and rich . There must be very little understanding of the total sovereingnity of our God.
In Romans chapter 9 from verse 12 till end our Lord is addressing people who find Him unjust and dare to talk back to Him. He says " shall what is formed say to whom formed it , why did you make me thus ? "
No there is absolutely no need to sweeten up the Gospel and trying to make God look more loving. John 3:16 tells it all . Jesus declared in John
15:13 that there is no greater love than this " He lays his life down for his friend " And Jesus Our Lord Himself did do that, while we were yet sinners !
Amazing Grace !
The way we His followers are supposed to bring the Gospel is to bring this message of redeeming Love together with a warning where it will lead to if they reject it and refuse to repent. If a person rejects Jesus as is Savior and as the greatest proof of God's love, he is in serious trouble indeed and the Bible states that Jeus will then become a stumbling stone .
The message of the Love of God for His creation and the warning of Hell fire should be preached together. Jesus did so and God designed it to bring people into salvation.
the Fear of God is a much needed doctrine today,
" For our God is a consuming fire . ! Hebr.12:29
Yours in Christ, Johannes Weiss
Therefore they feel the need to make the Lord look better by softening up the message of the Gospel. Ofcourse this is actually very arrogant and displeasing to God, because in their mind they feel that our heavenly Father does not appear loving enough.
And so judging God to be less than perfect.
Most of the time this seems to happen when they are witnessing or
teaching on the " unconditional love of God " . As an example I will tell you
what I heard in a so called Spirit filled church recently. the sermon subject was the amazing Love of God for all people . The Pastors reasoning went as follows;
1 . God's love for all people requires our response and a relationship with Him . Amen !
2 . A relationship requires change , so God changed ! Wrong . God never changes . We have to change. Mal.3:6 " For I the Lord do not change"
3 . Then he made the explicit statement, of which He declared that it would surprise most of us. { It sure did surprise me unpleasantly } ; " God never send anybody to Hell .!"
Dead wrong again! Who did send into the Lake of eternal fire, Satan and His angels, the anti Christ and the false prophets ? Rev, 20:10/15 And of course there are numeral scriptures which are warning us thet certain sins will lead us to Hell.
The Honey coating of the Gospel seem to be wide spread . They are teaching that because God is Love, a loving God would not cause you physical or spiritual harm and throw you into Hell. They can not and do not accept our heavenly Father the way He says He is and does act. Disregarding totally Deut
32:89 Or 1 Sam 2"6, where our God states that He kills and makes alive , wounds and heals, brings low and lifts up , makes poor and rich . There must be very little understanding of the total sovereingnity of our God.
In Romans chapter 9 from verse 12 till end our Lord is addressing people who find Him unjust and dare to talk back to Him. He says " shall what is formed say to whom formed it , why did you make me thus ? "
No there is absolutely no need to sweeten up the Gospel and trying to make God look more loving. John 3:16 tells it all . Jesus declared in John
15:13 that there is no greater love than this " He lays his life down for his friend " And Jesus Our Lord Himself did do that, while we were yet sinners !
Amazing Grace !
The way we His followers are supposed to bring the Gospel is to bring this message of redeeming Love together with a warning where it will lead to if they reject it and refuse to repent. If a person rejects Jesus as is Savior and as the greatest proof of God's love, he is in serious trouble indeed and the Bible states that Jeus will then become a stumbling stone .
The message of the Love of God for His creation and the warning of Hell fire should be preached together. Jesus did so and God designed it to bring people into salvation.
the Fear of God is a much needed doctrine today,
" For our God is a consuming fire . ! Hebr.12:29
Yours in Christ, Johannes Weiss
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