Read Rev. Bowman’s article “When It Comes to Holiness” here
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB)
John Wesley was a champion of functional holiness. He said there are two types of holiness, personal holiness, which is growing your personal relationship with God, and social holiness, in which the depth of your love for God is revealed by the way you love whom God loves.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 NASB)
Many Christians feel holiness is either irrelevant or unattainable; not a big deal so why even try. Both of these conclusions are in error and point back to the contemporary plague of Biblical illiteracy in our nation.
“Others before me have gone much farther into holy mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large, it is yet real and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame.”
A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine
When Moses encountered God at the burning bush, God encountered Moses first with His holiness. The ground was not holy because of Moses; it was holy because God was there, and He declared it so.
Holiness is not only of God, and through God, and by God. Holiness is for God. He commands that His people be holy and we do play a role in cooperating with the Holy Spirit in our sanctification.
“Helping people to know God and to be obedient to him is perhaps the greatest gift we can bestow. Understood in this way, Christian education can be one of the most compassionate ministries of the church.”
Perry G. Downs, Teaching for Spiritual Growth: An Introduction to Christian Education
‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ‘Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
(Revelation 2:4-5 NASB)
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
(Matthew 7:13-14 NASB)
And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.
(Matthew 24:4-5 NASB)
Late Harvest Wesleyan Ministries 