“Second Hand Holiness”
October 20, 2019
2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Nothing caused Wesley so much trouble and controversy as his teaching about Christian Perfection. And yet he maintained this teaching throughout his entire life. He even considered it to be the “Grand Depositum” or the key purpose to the people called Methodists. This phenomenon he yearned for had some different names: Christian Perfection, Sanctification, Holiness or Perfect Love. Although he always kept “Christian Perfection” as the proper name, he seems himself to have preferred “Perfect Love”.
The main difficulty with Perfection is its kinship with the Latin
‘perfectus’ with its meaning of something static, something achieved. The Biblical
references use instead the Greek word ‘teleios’ with its connotation of goal, or something to press forward to. Paul expressed this idea when he said,
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” Philippians 3:12-16
The idea today when we hear the word “perfection” is more related to the Latin – meaning something achieved. “We did it! We are without sin or flaw!” Of course anyone who has that understanding of perfection would criticize those of us who believe in “Christian perfection”. No one is perfect in word, thought or deed – if perfection is defined as having the same will as God. Not even Jesus was perfect if that is your definition, for He prayed
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
Obviously Jesus’ will was different than the Father’s – but He did not sin because He did not do His will – but the Father’s will. He did not rebel and therefore His heart was perfect before God the Father. His goal was to please the Father; to walk in obedience to Him – therefore He walked in holiness and perfection.
Let us take another look at the Scripture I read previously from a modern translation – only now let’s read it from the King James Version.
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Philippians 3:12-16
Notice instead of ‘perfect’ the newer translation uses “have already arrived at my goal” and mature. The change is because of our use and understanding of the word ‘perfect’ today. Our modern day connotation is more in line with the Latin rather than the Greek. This has caused a lot of confusion concerning this doctrine. Biblical holiness is a state of purity of heart rather than a purity of action. The Bible says,
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:10
“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” Proverbs 16:2
“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”
1 Corinthians 4:5
Do you understand that the intent of the heart – rather than the action – justifies a person in God’s sight? So our goal; our aim; our desire; needs to be purity of heart. And because of that there is the possibility to grow in grace and achieve a goal of perfection (telos) in this life, before death.
John Wesley said,
“the very nature of a command, which is not given to the dead, but to
the living, therefore, “Thou shalt love God with all thy heart,” cannot mean, Thou
shalt do this when thou diest, but while thou livest.”
He gives a summary of his thoughts in the following way:
“In the year 1764, upon a review of the whole subject, I wrote down the sum of what I had observed in the following short propositions:-
(1) There is such a thing as perfection; for it is again and again mentioned in
Scripture
(2) It is not so early as justification; for justified persons are to ‘go on unto perfection’.
(3) It is not so late as death. (Hebrews 6:1; Rom 5:1)
(4) It is not absolute. Absolute perfection belongs not to man, nor to angels, but to God alone.
(5) It does not make a man infallible
(6) Is it sinless? It is not worthwhile to contend for a term. It is ‘salvation from sin’.11
(7) It is ‘perfect love’.
(8) It is improvable
(9) It is missable, capable of being lost
(10) It is constantly both preceded and followed by a gradual work.
Methodism was born as a movement of renewal from within the Church of England. Its founders, the brothers John and Charles Wesley, understood their mission to be that of "raising up a holy people" and "spreading scriptural holiness over the land." Holiness was the “marrow” of the Bible, John Wesley argued. Holiness has become a lost doctrine in the church today. Maybe because it is misunderstood; perhaps because of the immaturity of believers; certainly because the emphasis is on growing numerically rather than spiritually. But the true believer cannot help but desire to be more like God. The true lover of Jesus cannot be content to live in sin and unholiness. There will be a yearning for purity and more of God in our lives. And this has caused a condition which I call “Second Hand Holiness”. It is a condition of following a list of ‘do’s and don’ts’ rather than a purity of intention. Let me explain.
A person begins to come to church and likes it. They like the fellowship; they like the music; they like the idea of heaven and salvation from sin. As they grow they are given an idea of what a Christian should do and not do. They observe the older Christian members living a certain way; talking a certain way; and acting a certain way. They think “this is the way I need to be”. And they begin to emulate their examples; the pastor; the Sunday School teacher; the Board member; the old saints in the church. In some churches they stop things like smoking, drinking, dancing and going to movies. In another church the new believer may go to every Bible study and carry a big bible and know all the books of the Bible. Still another church they may focus on the gifts; speaking in tongues; healing and demonstrative worship. Still another goes door to door evangelizing. They do these things because they were taught that this is the result, or even proof, of ‘sanctification’ or being filled with the Spirit.
The problem with this is they can emulate these things without experiencing a personal heart change. I think Wesley preferred the term “Perfect Love” because it more accurately described the heart. When you are totally in love with Jesus you will do what HE wants you to do and care little what others may think or do. And in first hand holiness the original experience of perfect love may have required a sacrifice of a self-destructive habit or doing something new or to stop doing certain things. As an expression of love and self-sacrifice the act had great personal meaning. In second-hand holiness the act is done – not so much as a response to God – but in response to people and what they think of us. A person living in second-hand holiness may still have an unsurrendered heart to God. He may look quite religious; quite spiritual; but living with secret sin in his or her heart.
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” Matthew 23:27-28
Do you see the problem? There needs to be a real heart change before any outward change has any meaning. When our actions are a result of a heart of love they then have great meaning. When God changes our hearts – then He will, through the Holy Spirit, begin to change us outwardly.
Holiness is progressive in that the Holy Spirit, for the rest of our life on earth and possibly for all eternity, will reveal areas for us to grow in. We ought always to be changing little by little in word, thoughts and deeds. We are in a process of continually becoming better people; more loving; more kind; more gentle; more disciplined; more joyful; etc. The Spirit-filled Christian never stops improving and becoming even more good. Holiness is progressive in this way.
Holiness is obtained in an instant through entire sanctification; through coming to a place of dying to self and totally surrendering the will to God. It is like dying. It is a process culminated in an instantaneous crisis experience. You are dying; slowly losing your vital signs; but you aren’t dead yet. But then comes that moment you are and all bodily function stop. You are dying, dying, dying, DEAD! Then you continue to be dead and slowly dissolve away.
Holiness is like that in that the Holy Spirit works in your heart; asking for your will; leading you to truth; convicting you of sin. There is a process that may take many years – but most certainly a certain period of time after salvation. But then comes the moment you come to total commitment; total sacrifice of self; total yielding of the will. And you enter into the state of heart holiness or perfect love. Then you go on to a lifetime of holy living; progressively becoming more Christlike; ever growing in grace. Holiness is a process in this sense.
Are you living in second-hand holiness or are you living the real thing. The Bible says,
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
The test of faith is if you are completely, 100% given over to doing the will of God. The test is if you are living in perfect love with Jesus. Only you can know that. We can fool others. We can do all the right things – and still not be right. We can learn to talk the talk without walking the walk. God examines the hearts and minds of men. There is no fooling Him.
Have you yielded body and soul to the Spirit’s control? That is perfect love.
