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Holy?, Are All Christians
ARE ALL CHRISTIANS HOLY?
One of the great scarecrows of modern religion is the word holiness. People of various churches are more afraid of this word or the word holy than they are of the very devil himself. In fact, many had rather fellowship the devil than anyone who believes in holiness. There are many holiness denominations that are looked upon as the offscouring of all things and as the refuse of all that is evil. Why not be fair and honest a few minutes and consider with us what God says on the question. Now, don’t misunderstand, we are not advocating some of the peculiarities of certain groups that call themselves holiness. We are not suggesting that you have to be branded as such before you can be saved and be holy, according to the Bible. We merely want to point out that there is no reasonable excuse for anyone to be afraid of the words holy and holiness. No man needs to think that holiness is going to jump on him and take him to Hell without his consent. One can only become holy in Christ and by full obedience to the gospel. It will not fall upon anyone. It is not some devil that seeks entrance into the lives of men. Devils are in the business of keeping men from becoming holy, hence the great scare that they have caused among honest people. They do not want you to live any kind of life that even looks like it is holy, so just calm yourself and don’t be afraid you will get something wrong while we consider what God says.
Believe it or not, everyone who is a real Christian is holy and therefore is a holiness person. This is true whether he is a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or what not. This is proved by the scriptures in points given above. If men today get the salvation of the New Testament they will be holy. The words holy and holiness are used in the following passages which prove that all children of God are holy people:
“That we . . . might serve him without fear, IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:74-75); “Even so now yield your members servants TO RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO HOLINESS . . . ye have your fruit UNTO HOLINESS, and the end everlasting life” (Rom.6:16-23); “For if the first fruit BE HOLY, the lump is ALSO HOLY: and if the root BE HOLY, SO ARE THE BRANCHES” (Rom.11:16); “Present YOUR BODIES a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God” (Rom.12:1); “Ye are the temple of God . . . the temple of God IS HOLY, which temple ye are” (1 Cor. 3:16-17;1 Cor 6:19-20); “That she may BE HOLY both in body and in spirit” (1 Cor. 7:34); “Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1); “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME before him in love” (Eph. 1:4); “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS” (Eph. 4:24): “That it [the church] should BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH” (Eph. 5:25-27); “To present you HOLY AND UNBLAMEABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE in his sight” (Col. 1:20-23;Col 3:12); “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but UNTO HOLINESS” (1 Thess. 4:3-7); “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all THE HOLY BRETHREN” (1 Thess. 5:27); “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up HOLY HANDS, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8); “She shall be saved in childbearing [from death in child birth], if they continue in faith and charity AND HOLINESS with sobriety” (1 Tim. 2:15); “Who hath saved us, and called us with an HOLY CALLING” (2 Tim. 1:9); “A bishop must be blameless . . . sober, just, HOLY, temperate” (Titus 1:8); “That they be in behaviour AS BECOMETH HOLINESS.. . Teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” (Titus 2:3,11-14); “Wherefore, HOLY BRETHREN, partakers of the heavenly calling. . . Follow peace with all men, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God” (Heb. 3:1;Heb 12:10,14); “But as he which hath called you IS HOLY, SO BE YE HOLY IN ALL MANNER OF CONVERSATION [manner of life). . . Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD” (1 Peter 1:15-16;1 Peter 2:5,9;1 Peter 3:5; 2 Peter 3:11).
In face of such plain Scriptures can anyone with a clear conscience claim to believe the Bible and still deny that Christians are and must be holy to be saved in the end? These passages speak for themselves. It matters not what modern religious leaders say, these passages demand holiness from every believer. If men are not holy, they are not saved; if they are saved, they are holy. In fact, every born again person is holy according to the above passages and 1 John 2:29;1 John 3:5-10;1 John 5:1-4,18; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:24; etc. No man will have any part in the first resurrection without holiness of life: “Blessed AND HOLY is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4-6;Rev 22:11).
Modern religionists can argue all that they want to that no man can be holy and live free from sin, but it is certainly clear that no man who does not live this way will ever see God in peace. If men cannot live this way, then there cannot be any such thing as Christians and saved men either now or in eternity. Men do not have to belong to any particular group who are classed as holiness on Earth, but it is certain that without being holy in God they are lost, so let us all become holy in Christ and be more tolerant toward other holy people.
The new birth means more than mere profession of faith that Jesus is the Son of God, or that one is saved because of church membership, water baptism, church attendance, partaking of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, and a lot of other substitutes that some men are trusting in to save their souls. One must become honest and face facts and be saved the Bible way or be lost. We have given to you the truth about the new birth, how to get saved, and how to live a saved life in Christ to the end. The responsibility of conforming to truth is yours. You will be saved or lost as you accept the message of God and obey the gospel. Give your heart to God and do not be satisfied with anything short of becoming a new creature in Christ and then you can experience eternal life.Dake Topical Index.
Jamie Brown
This is a clear Biblical truth that can’t be denied
we may disagree about the particulars, like what exactly it looks like, or to what degree we must grow into it.
But the general idea of true Christians having some degree of holiness can’t be denied.
Like you said it might be a definition issue too, but that doesn’t change the idea.
Also the idea would be even more clear and prevalent if you extended it to passages that don’t use the exact word “holiness” but still had the idea, like 1 John 2:3-6, or Matthew 7:21-23.
Varnel Watson
meaning what exactly?
Jamie Brown
I was basically just agreeing with you, but idk if you’re referring to a specific part of my comment??
Varnel Watson
Jamie Brown felt so but still asked Thanks
Nora Neel-Toney
We are called to be Holy but some are not unfortunately.
Rick Ferguson
When you get saved you are made holy. You are set apart for service to God. However, you can become unholy as well. By living in a different way then you were set apart to live. Holy vessels become unholy if they are used in ways they were not intended
Louise Cummings
I would say all real Christians are Holy. But all who say they are Christians. Their fruit doesn’t bear it out. In that case I would have to say no. But the Bible said Lukewarm. He would spur out of his mouth.
RichardAnna Boyce
Ro 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”.
Ro 8:1, 33,34 The enemy can only succeed in condemning us if we look to our condition or behaviour, instead of our position as a saint who has died in Christ and sometimes sins.
Ro 4:5 God justifies (our position) when we were ungodly in our condition.
Our righteousness did not come by our performance; and cannot be lost by our failure.
Eph 6:14 We put on our breastplate of righteousness when we were born again.
It is the one spiritual armour that God uses to answer Satan’s condemnation.
We are not told to put it on or seek it; it is on permanently.
2 Cor 6:14,15. “Do not yoke righteousness with wickedness, they have nothing in
common. There can be no fellowship between light and darkness.
Because you are holy, live holy”.
Accepting Christ is not getting something, but becoming something we weren’t before.
When Christ becomes our life, we become partakers of all that is true of Him.
When we had Adam’s life, all that was true of Adam became true of us.
Therefore ‘what happened to the old me didn’t happen to the new me.
And what the old me did the new me didn’t do’.
The question may then be asked ‘Is Christ holy?’ YES!
‘Do I have His Life?’ YES!
‘Am I holy?’ YES!
Satan’s definition of a hypocrite is ‘Don’t act holy, you sinner’;
while God’s definition of a hypocrite is ‘Why are you sinning when you are so holy?’
Varnel Watson
they SHOULD be holy all right
Isara Mo
Not at all.
Only BORN AGAIN.or SAVED ones.
Varnel Watson
and sanctified
Isara Mo
Troy Day
Onesness are also Christians isnt it Troy?
Varnel Watson
Isara Mo are you saying there could be Christians that are not saved?
RichardAnna Boyce
all Christian believers are holy positionally; and should be being progressively sanctified in holiness experientially. But it is not compulsory and apostasy believers still go to heaven as a child of God; but not as a co-heir with Christ.
Varnel Watson
Isara Mo I dont think Charles Page and RichardAnna Boyce are holy Christians- they are progressing well but not yet there They are unholy Christians as it seems
RichardAnna Boyce
Troy Day we are as holy positionally as the Life of Christ living inside us; and not sarcastic like you brother 🙂
Charles Page
A Christian can be sarcastic and still be born again. He doesn’t lose his salvation however he loses his sanctification.
Charles Page
once you are a child of God you are always a child of God.
Jamie Brown
The idea that a person could essentially be apostate and still go to heaven is dangerous and unbiblical
Charles Page
all born again people are equally holy, no more no less
Charles Page
I am as holy as the apostle Paul!
Varnel Watson
you think? do you have a thorn yet ?
Charles Page
Troy Day yes
Varnel Watson
Charles Page where about Alan Smith
Alan Smith
Who is the thorn…
The Council of 18?
Charles Page
Alan Smith Troy
Alan Smith
Charles Page. LoL
Varnel Watson
Alan Smith he was holy but then just wholy and not even jolly yet a bit trolly
Rick Ferguson
Charles Page so you don’t strive for holiness as scripture commands???
Rick Ferguson
Charles Page so you don’t have to obey the Biblical command in 2 Cor 7 to cleanse yourself, perfecting holiness?
Charles Page
Rick Ferguson w/o holiness no one will see the Lord
Charles Page
Rick Ferguson
If we don’t perfect holiness we will perish in hell
Rick Ferguson
It is entirely possible for a Christian to become unholy
Varnel Watson
THANK YOU Joe Absher
Joe Absher
unholy means rebellious and unrepentant puffed up and full of the world
Varnel Watson
dont know if I would use such definition but this one is great too
2 Timothy 3:5, KJV: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce I would still say GOD could care less about positional if its not heart conditional
RichardAnna Boyce
Troy Day, God’s promises are positional, and my God doesn’t lie brother.
RichardAnna Boyce
but its true He does judge our faithful works to be rewarded at the Millennium. But i’m sure God favours those who trust in His grace only; and not the quality of our efforts to do ‘better’ than other believers, especially when we judge their flesh in the process. No judgment intended here; only stating positional truths.
Varnel Watson
you aint right either Charles Page