Holiness Doctrine

“Holiness Doctrine” by George E. Crumbly

II CORINTHIANS 6

Holiness Doctrine

George E. Crumbly

II Corinthians 6:14-7:1

April 18, 2004 AM

Sheridan, Arkansas

INTRO:

Was in Baptist Church this past Sunday. Enjoyed the people, the service….it was good. I thought this week as we came back that they were Baptist and I was a Nazarene. Although I love the Nazarene doctrine, we can get attached to ‘names” when we should get attached to Jesus. Regardless of where they attended church, we were CHRISTIANS!!

I thought to about the doctrine of Holiness. We believe in scriptural Holiness. We believe in proclaiming the good news that we may be delivered from all sin to a new life in Christ. By the Grace of God we Christians are to “put off the old self”-the old patterns of conduct as well as the old carnal mind-and are to “put on the new self”- a new and holy way of life as well as the mind of Christ.

This morning…..wouldn’t you like to be DELIVERED? SET FREE? As a Holiness church we believe that we can be set free & live the life God created us to live. I believe there are things that we need to STOP doing…….and there are things we need to START doing as well!!

II CORINTHIANS 6: verses 14 – 7: 1

The first thing this morning? God needs you to be “FIT TO USE”. I’m afraid there are too many in every church that is just not fit to use. How many of us if we were to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water would reach in the sink full of dirty dishes to put the water in? God isn’t going to use an unclean vessel.

Today: the question is: AM I AN UNCLEAN OR A CLEAN VESSEL? It does matter!!! You are either one or the other!!

This is what Paul is saying to the Corinthians (Read 7:1 again) We are to clean up & SERVE the Lord!! (People really need to get serious with God & come clean)

People think they can just do as they please…..and get by…it don’t work that way. There are rules & regulations, there are boundaries that have been set, boundaries that people have given their lives fighting for.

We believe that you are saved from your sins & that you are to seek completeness in Christ Jesus. We believe you are to have a Godly walk and that you should be or desire to be cleansed from all indwelling sin. These are things that shall evidence our commitment to God.

I. By DOING that which is enjoined in the Word of God: (Job was a perfect & upright man)

1.) Loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength – loving one’s neighbor as oneself. This is absolutely the most IMPORTANT thing we do….LOVE GOD!!!!

(Mark 12:28-31) “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, He asked him, of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

It’s funny…..when people love God first, you will see them in church, you will see them giving & serving. Not just talking!! Too much talking today.

2.) Pressing upon the attention of the unsaved the claims of the Gospel, inviting them to the House of the Lord, and trying to compass their Salvation.

(Romans 1:14-16) “I am obligated both to the Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the Gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jews, then for the Gentile.”

How EAGER are we too win the lost? Win our family? How many folks during the week do we invite to church? (It is possible that you might be ashamed today!?!)

Are you inviting people you know to this church?? Why not?? It’s OUR responsibility to be inviting them in.

3.) Being courteous to ALL men.

(Ephesians 4:32) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Courteous means “Polite”. These are things that we do that lets the world know that we have Jesus in our heart. Treat folks like you want to be treated!! Bottom line? IF YOU ARE SAVED – THEN ACT LIKE IT!! We don’t treat folks like they treat us….we treat them like we want to be treated!!