Restoration of God’s Grand Plan Part 1 – A Dual Remedy for a Dual Dilemma

Holiness to the Lord "Holiness to the Lord is to us a fundamental truth; it stands in the front rank of our doctrines. We inscribe it on our banners. It is with us in no shape or form an open debatable question as to whether God can sanctify wholly, or whether Jesus does save His people from their sins." (William Booth)

A Sanctification Army "We are a salvation and sanctification Army.... We must recapture our nerve about the practicality of living a holy life day by day.... Explicit, well-informed teaching about sanctification is in danger of becoming a neglected art in our ranks. Yet it is intended by God to be a sacred trust bestowed upon us, a central facet of all we stand for in the world." (Shaw Clifton) "We are a salvation and sanctification Army.... We must recapture our nerve about the practicality of living a holy life day by day.... Explicit, well-informed teaching about sanctification is in danger of becoming a neglected art in our ranks. Yet it is intended by God to be a sacred trust bestowed upon us, a central facet of all we stand for in the world." (Shaw Clifton)

Doctrine #10 “We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our Dual Dilemma We are sinners because we commit sins. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We are sinners because we commit sins. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Our Dual Dilemma We commit sins because we are sinners. “Sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned... the judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation …” We commit sins because we are sinners. “Sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned... the judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation …”

Our Dual Dilemma... by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man... the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men... through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners.” (Romans 5:12-19)

Discussion Is the concept that sin’s nature and sin’s acts are distinguishable a new concept to you?

Planned Partnership The Trinity is involved in providing the possibility of holy humans:  God the Father planned this great blessing;  God the Son provided the way for us to become holy;  God the Holy Spirit administers God the Father’s grand plan. The Trinity is involved in providing the possibility of holy humans:  God the Father planned this great blessing;  God the Son provided the way for us to become holy;  God the Holy Spirit administers God the Father’s grand plan.

Planned Partnership “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

Planned Partnership Romans 12:1-2 –Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice; –Do not conform to the world; –Be transformed by the renewing of your minds. Romans 12:1-2 –Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice; –Do not conform to the world; –Be transformed by the renewing of your minds.

Planned Partnership “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.... And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12, 18, 19 “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.... And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12, 18, 19

Planned Partnership What are the barriers to receiving the blessing of holiness? Unbelief Faulty consecration. What are the barriers to receiving the blessing of holiness? Unbelief Faulty consecration.

Consider How can Christians “keep in step with the Spirit” in today’s culture?