By God’s grace, Jesus saved, sanctified, and filled me with His Holy Spirit.
That’s my testimony, and I intend to live accordingly by cooperating with His grace.
Theologically speaking, I am sort of a mixed bag.
Neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian, I’m not sure if I chose to write this article or if this article chose me to write it. Primarily, I can be described as Wesleyan-Pentecostal. However, I’d rather be described as a Holiness preacher than a Pentecostal preacher.
Generally speaking, I fear too much of Pentecostalism has bypassed the foundation of personal holiness and dove in headfirst for miracles, signs, and wonders. Yes, I do believe in them. But when they become our primary focus, it appears that we have sensationalized the Gospel by which we are saved. However, when being right with God (justification) develops into right living for God (sanctification), the Pentecostal experience becomes divinely genuine.
I desire the American Church to see a revival of scriptural holiness.
So, I’ll share 7 verses from the New Testament on the subject. I intentionally chose New Testament verses because personal true biblical holiness is not based on misinterpreted Old Testament verses or religious legalism.
Now I don’t want you to take this personally. Scratch that. I do want us all to take these seven from Heaven personally.
As a matter of consumption, let’s ingest them.
1. According to Romans 1, Jesus Christ our Lord was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).
2. Romans 6 moves to the end result of your freedom in Christ. It says, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).
3. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian Church, the Holy Spirit reminds you of your personal responsibility towards holiness: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
4. Praying for the Thessalonian Church, Paul stated how God desires to establish your heart: “So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
5. Teaching that sanctification is the will of God for you, Paul said: “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
6. Your Father in Heaven will sometimes find the need to chastise (discipline) His child. Compared to earthly fathers, we are told: “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).
7. The key to your spiritual vitality is found in this admonition: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
BONUS!
Through the Apostle Peter, the Holy Spirit teaches that the principles of holiness have not vanished. We are not bound to the cultural methods of attaining holiness via Old Testament Law. But in light of Christ’s impending return for each of us, New Testament Christians are commanded to a grace-filled lifestyle of holiness. Peter said, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy”” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
With the ability to save unto the uttermost, Jesus saves us from our sins and not in our sins (see Matt. 1:21). Therefore, holiness is an inside job of grace. It does not begin with external appearances. It starts on the inside and manifests in a lifestyle of purity (see 1 John 3:1-3) for those who have been born again into the family of God.
So, what’s your testimony?
What has Jesus done for you? Have you been “justified within His sight” and ready to hear your name called in glory?
williamstricklandblog.com 
William, thank you for this post. We are in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, His timing to reveal and fulfill the promises through Jesus Christ’s ministry according to the will of the Father. How precious is HIs work in our hearts and lives. Seemingly, humility and holiness have taken a back seat to evangelism, eschatology, and apologetics, but the Lord rules and reigns in His sovereignty over all things, in heaven and earth, until that time when the kingdom’s work is finished here. Have a blessed week-end. Praying for you as you preach the word in power. 🙂
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You leave some of the best comments with such astute observations. Thank you for those prayers too, I surely need and appreciate them.
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Blessings for today.:)
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As I minister in the prisons on a daily basis, I am overwhelmed by the amount of men who claim to be born-again and have not lived a holy life. Thank you for this post as I am putting a couple of messages together concerning the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit.
I have provided my site address and am trying to build it up. I have put many messages from many men of God also with a few of mine. I want to thank you for the holiness approach, it has truly been put on the back burner. God continue to richly bless you, your ministry, and your family.
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Bro Ron, thank you so much for reading and commenting here. And thank you for your careful handling of the Gospel. It is my opinion that if we leave out the doctrine of holiness (the sanctified life) then we are not teaching the whole counsel of God’s message to mankind. I am grateful for His powerful grace that saves our lives, teaches us how to live, and thus prepares us for Christ’s return (Titus 2:11-13).
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This is a powerful and important post. Why? It is because, without holiness, no one can see the Lord. Meaning, without holiness, true success and riches are rear! Well done here sir! God will continue to strengthen you and reveal more of Himself to you. Best regards in Jesus’ name.
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God bless you, Peter. Thank you for this note of encouragement. It is a blessing.
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You’re welcome sir!
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A timely word. The first thing the Holy Spirit is going to do in a believers life is make them holy. It’s right in His name. I think the reason we hear so little about this truth within Pentecost is that Pentecostals are worried about being associated with some of the excesses of days gone by.
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Thank you for reading and commenting. It’s nice to connect with you here and on Facebook. I believe you are correct in your assessment too. Also, I think that many were so offended at the excesses of legalism that they went to the extreme of looseness. They left the camp that said nothing was okay and went to the camp that says everything is okay. Neither camp is resting in grace. And neither trust the Holy Spirit or His Word. Have a great day.
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Great and needed post. I agree that it begins with the inside work of the Spirit but the proof of that work manifests itself in fruit, a dying to self, hating sin, putting off the deeds of the body, and putting on the deeds of the Spirit. We have blended so well with the world that we are losing our distinctiveness. Mmmmm, this has just given me fodder for a new post! Thanks.
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Thank you for being a reader, a thinker, and a writer. Keep on doing them as unto the Lord.
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Oh, have you read JC Ryle’s book, Holiness? It’s a great book on this topic!
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I sure need to.
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That book is like going back into days of rich preaching for the soul! Thanks again for reading my post, Pastor Strickland. It really did give me fodder for What Makes Me Christian? So, thank you for that!
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I stayed a “baby Christian” far too long” but once I set my heart to read and believe” and make time for God’s word”, I realize now that I want Jesus more than anyone or anything this world has to offer”
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I almost didn’t leave a comment, because I can’t even come close to sounding as educated as you all” my testimony is simple, because I know I’m a child of God, saved only by the blood of Jesus” I’m just so thankful for His Grace” I know I can’t repay the debt I owe” so I just don’t want to continue a life of sin” I never want to go back to that life, I only want to know Him more”
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You are a child of God who is growing in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
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If you are Wesleyan then you are Arminian.
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If you classify yourself as a Wesleyan theologicaly, that would make you an Arminian by default.
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Spot on brother. I hope you don’t mind if I borrow this:
“However, when being right with God (justification) develops into right living for God (sanctification), the Pentecostal experience becomes divinely genuine.”
As a person who has been among Pentecostals all my life, though I don’t consider myself one, I have observed that the spirit of Jezebel has cast her spell on many in the Pentecostal church by their following false prophets and tolerating immorality much like the church in Thyatira. It can also be said of the very same people that their love for the Lord and each other and good works are more than in the beginning. What a paradox.
The call has been and will continue to be to repent and walk worthy before God until that day when the call stops. I have a heavy heart for the Pentecostal branch of the tree because of what is lodged in their branches.
Bless you brother
Todd
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Go for the quote borrow. And thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
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Hello Pastor William,
I am in the process of completing a book titled Covenant of Peace: A Return to Holiness. Some of the key pointers include understanding 2 Corinthians 3 (and, for that matter, all of Hebrews). While there is much talk about the role of the Holy Spirit and entering into fellowship with the Father and Son through the “Holy Spirit” (John 14:20, 23; 17:21), the word “Holy” seems to get lost in the title. Almost like we need to say Holy Holy Holy Spirit!
Being made clean, for all practical purposes, returning to the pre-sin state in the garden, wherein we can be the temple, is a powerful concept. I really like what you said about Holiness, with which I must concur:
”I fear too much of Pentecostalism has bypassed the foundation of personal holiness and dove in headfirst for miracles, signs, and wonders. Yes, I do believe in them. But when they become our primary focus, it appears that we have sensationalized the Gospel by which we are saved. However, when being right with God (justification) develops into right living for God (sanctification), the Pentecostal experience becomes divinely genuine.
I desire the American Church to see a revival of scriptural holiness.“
It was in a “healing service” where there was a Pool of Bethsaida moment, where only one person attending received their miracle (or so it seems). I do not mean to ridicule the experience. I have been miraculously healed. I have prayed for folks where the Holy Spirit flowed and did the miraculous, all glory to God! However, seeing all of the wheelchairs strolling out after the service made me wonder,
”What is it that we’re missing?” What answer could I give as a “Pentecostal minister” whose secret hope is to be recognized for having the anointing? LOL! And it struck me that they are missing out on the message of grace, that God has a message for the unhealed, that He has not forsaken them, that the inner healing He performs is much greater.
The Holiness of God brings about trust, peace, overcoming faith, and knowing that it is not how much we gave or positioned ourselves for healing and tried to earn it. It transforms us into eternity – a knowing that He will never leave nor forsake. They NEED to hear this, even if they receive a physical healing.
So, I’ve been looking for a set of scriptures about holiness to add to my conclusion, and lo and behold, I came across your post. Thank you for your casual nature in sharing these things.
I’m an American pastor in the Philippines – been here 2 years after a long IT experience. It seems I get to be the “best wine saved for the last third of my life.” LOL. It never hurts to be formed like a Joseph or a Moses on the backside of the wilderness. PTL!
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Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I appreciate you.
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I have been in Prison Ministry for over 20 years two Sundays out of a month at a 1750 man inmate system and every Tuesday night at CRV where people have broken parole and they keep them for 90 days. The pursuit of holiness is not an option. It’s a requirement if every man of God wants to truly see the Lord then he must live his hot life in reverent fear as the holy apostle Peter said in first Peter 1:17 And the apostle Paul emphatically stated such in second Corinthians 7:1 because of the great and precious promises we have received, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the spirit that of the flesh.
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Thank you for reading and commenting. Keep up the good work of the ministry. Colossians 3:23.
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