Struggling with Holiness?

By Dennis Edwards: 

Dear Friend,

Thanks for your second letter which I was so glad to receive. When I read it the part the struck me the most was when you wrote, “I struggle mightily with holiness.” I will address this point. Since you are already a believer, I will use scripture. I am praying that it will be a blessing to you.

We all struggle with our besetting sins common to man. Paul said, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold unto sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. …For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil that I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (It is Jesus that is going to deliver and does deliver as we call upon Him) (Romans 7:14-25)

So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, (If we are not doing things which we know we should not, then we should not fall into condemnation. If we are doing things we know we should not, then we will probably need confession and prayer to gain victory over deep spiritual sins and problems) who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 7:25-8:8)

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. …For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba; Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that he sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. … Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is not seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:11, 14-18, 20-25)

Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his promise…(Even our sins and problems can work together for God’s good if we confess and ask for prayer and get the counseling and support we need for greater victories).What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:26- 28, 31-33, 35-39)

”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, (We may need help in laying our sins aside. It helps greatly to have others pray for you when you feel oppressed, or distressed, afflicted or attacked by the enemy. One can chase a thousand, but two can put ten thousands to flight.) and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the thrown of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. (Don’t faint in your mind, God will give you the strength if you come unto him with all your heart mind and body.) You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father chastens not? (Hebrews 12:1-7)

Now no chastening for the moment seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, (Start praising God for the victory by faith!) and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, (In other words, don’t be doing the things the Lord has told you not to do.) lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fails of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. …. See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven….For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:11-16, 25 & 29) “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving praise to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

“Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him. Let no man say when tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. ….But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:12-15, 22) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he shall flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” “Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. (James 5:8)

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults (Confession helps to take a stand against our sins and temptations and we can get the support and help of others) one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:13-16)

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things be in you and abound, they make that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fail.” (2Peter 1:4-10)

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted…. Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for exsamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthian 10:6,10-13)

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:17-19) “Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John1:8-9)

(Again we see the importance of confessing, getting prayer and spiritual support from those that love us in the Lord, so that we can overcome our besetting sins, get victories and be the more than conquerors that God wants and needs us to be. Ted, don’t fall into this holiness trip where you are striving in your own flesh for righteousness. You will never be righteous enough. Stay on the straight and narrow and get prayer when you need it. 

Don’t be doing things that you know you shouldn’t. For to him that knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. In any case, you will never be holy enough or your own righteousness could have saved you. But it didn’t. It is His righteousness that counts. Stay close to Him. Obey His still, small voice in your heart and you can’t go wrong. But if you do, ask for help. God is more than willing to help if you will call upon him with all your heart.) Hope this helps. I have included a letter called “Flesh or Spirit?” which I think will help clarify what the Bible teachers. 

http://fightforyourfaith.blogspot.pt/2013/05/flesh-or-spirit-mountain-streams.html Dennis