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People of The Living God |
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June 2025
COMPLETE SANCTIFICATION AND PEACE WITH GOD
Charles Woodard
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:23).
The believer’s complete sanctification and peace with God come through “pleroo,” or whole sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. A partial sanctification of body, soul, and spirit does not result in complete peace with God. “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21). Just as there is no peace with God to the unsaved, there is no total peace with God to those who do not have sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. Complete, or perfect peace with God, is not found through salvation, belonging to a specific church or denomination, or through praise and worship. It is found through total holiness, or sanctification of body, soul, and spirit.
A little sin spoils peace with God. A little leaven (type of sin) robs a Christian of peace with God: “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (I Cor. 5:6b).
God’s place of dwelling is a holy building, which building we are if we are wholly sanctified: “For we are God’s fellow workers; ye are God’s field, ye are God’s building” (I Cor. 3:9). God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48), but in vessels of honor, “sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (II Tim. 2:21).
The key to peace with God and sanctification of body, soul and spirit is crucifixion of the flesh, for “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24). The apostle Paul, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, could say that he was crucified to the world: “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).
Complete sanctification takes care of the conduct of the believer. Only positive moral conduct will assure the Christian of standing fast in the gospel: “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). The primary goal is to have conduct worthy of the gospel. Total peace with God does not depend on how many we have led to Christ, how high we jump, or how loud we are in praise and worship. It depends on the fact that we stand blameless and harmless as children of God: “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).
Christ is coming again! It is a great comfort to those who are blameless, harmless, and without fault to know that we will appear with Him: “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4).
God is seeking to establish our hearts “blameless in holiness” (I Thess. 3:14). The apostle Paul admonishes us to “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Tim. 2:19). It is God’s will that we be counted worthy of His calling in order that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in us (II Thess. 1:12).
The qualifications of those who would lead others must start with being blameless and include being temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach (I Tim. 3:2). God’s command is for us to be holy: “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’” (I Peter 1:15,16). How can we be holy? We are to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (II Tim. 2:1). We are to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). The main purpose of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify, or set us free from sin! “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” (Rom. 6:22).
The theme of Romans, Chapter 6, is posed in the question, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Verse 1). The answer is found in Verse 2: “God forbid!” The problem with many who profess to know Christ is that the “old man” still lives in them. He must die, or be crucified with Him: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Verse 6). Therefore, we are to “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Verse 11). If we die with Him spiritually, we begin to live a resurrected life with Him!
The proof that we are in Christ and He is in us is evidenced by our lives. Jesus walked in total holiness and submission to God, and “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (I John 2:6). The believer’s part in his sanctification is total yielding to the Holy Spirit. Yield to Him, and let Him do His sanctifying work in you. “Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good” (Rom. 12:9).
THE WORDS, SAYINGS, AND COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS
Randall Walton
We are amazed at the number of people who write to us informing us that we over-emphasize the importance of obeying the commands of Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is our opinion, however, that we cannot emphasize that importance often enough nor loudly enough. This is a message that is seldom uttered among the Christian clergy, allegedly because the majority do not want to hear it. Too many people object to the idea of obligations or requirements in order to please God. They demand free salvation, free grace, freedom from law, freedom from restraint, freedom to do as one wishes, and still maintain citizenship in the kingdom of God.
This, according to the Scriptures, is wishful thinking and is a most dangerous path to pursue. To substantiate this claim, we offer the following verses of New Testament Scripture.
Matthew 28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
This “Great Commission” should forever be sufficient cause for anyone to recognize the importance of obeying the commands which Jesus gave to His disciples, irrespective of any other portion of holy writ anywhere else in the good Book. This does not override nor contradict the doctrine of grace: there is no conflict here. We are saved by grace through faith, but that does not relieve us of the obligation of obeying “whatsoever” Jesus “commanded” His disciples to do. Grace is the empowerment needed to observe (obey, keep, do) His commands.
But this is only the beginning: much more will be added to the necessity of obeying the words of our blessed Lord:
“Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my father's commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10)
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14)
“He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:” (John 14:21a)
“If a man love me; he will keep my words:” (John 14:23a)
“He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.” (John 14:24a)
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell: and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:47-49)
“But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and do it.” (Luke 11;28)
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48)
“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)
“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” (Acts 5:32)
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting upon questions and strifes of words,” etc., etc. (I Tim. 6:3-5)
The ultimatum is clear and positive: Jesus demands obedience to His teachings. Refusal to do so (or at least to try) indicates a condition of rebellion and defiance of the words of the Creator, a most serious offense. Let us not suppose that He looks the other way when people purposely, deliberately, and intentionally disregard His words and teachings.
Please take special note of this warning from the lips of the Savior Himself: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and THEN SHALL HE REWARD EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS” (Matt. 16:27). Not according to his faith, nor God's grace, nor mercy, nor any other consideration – according to every man's works. These works are the acts of obedience to the words and the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus – The Author & Finisher
The lax attitude toward the teachings of Jesus is due, most probably, to the erroneous doctrine known as “dispensationism,” that is, the idea that time is divided into different eras, or dispensations, beginning with Adam and progressing through six or seven different periods when God dealt with mankind on completely different standards and issues. One Bible expert explains it as follows:
1 – Innocence; 2 – Conscience; 3 – Human Government; 4 – Promise; 5 – Law; 6 – Grace; 7 – Kingdom (yet in the future!). It is purported that Jesus came offering the kingdom to the Jewish nation, but they summarily rejected the kingdom because it did not meet their expectations of glory and military might. Then Jesus (because of their rejection) changed His mission and instead offered rest and service to those in need, and founded them, not upon precepts and laws, but upon grace. In place of the kingdom, Jesus promised to establish the church.
This theory has no foundation in the word of God. It actually degrades the kingdom of God to the mere whims and desires of mankind. It strips Jesus of His royal power and authority and relegates both Him and the kingdom to a future time of which the Scriptures are silent. It aims to nullify the commands of the King, Jesus, and postpone their authority to another time. The result of this teaching is the abrogation of law and moral standards and a false definition of the word grace. We are being very kind to call this a theory: it is an out-and-out lie!
It is true that the Jews rejected both the king and the kingdom, but that in no way detracted from either. At His trial before Pilate, He reaffirmed both His kingship and His kingdom (John 18:36,37). He never once suggested that the church would supplant or take the place of the kingdom, nor did He imply that anyone would be granted a license to sin (a popular definition of grace).
It was upon the truth of His Kingship that He declared just prior to His ascension: “All power (lit., authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). Upon the basis of this profound declaration, He ordered His followers to teach people everywhere that they are required to obey (observe) everything that He commanded them to do. And in the face of this infallible and majestic declaration, millions are being told that Jesus' words apply only to that long-ago generation and some mythical generation in the far-off future!
The results? A nation of professing Christians who look upon Christ as a scapegoat who excuses them from all obligation and responsibility. They, therefore, have justification for their immorality and evil behavior. Divorce is no longer serious; remarriage is normal; premarital and extramarital sex is okay (maybe even normal); homosexuality is just a preferred lifestyle; abortion is a safe means of birth control; drugs can be healthful; alcohol is really not bad – only old fogies think so; greed and covetousness are only a lucid part of the American dream; violence is entertainment; love is a mere emotion: it changes with the setting and rising of the sun; lying is only a measure of self-defense – everybody has a right to do it!
The wholesale rejection of the commands of Jesus by the majority of clergymen in the U.S. has placed this nation in jeopardy of the wrath of God. Paul informs us that when Jesus returns it will be “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST” (II Thess. 1:7,8).
We, as a nation, have reached the saturation point of disobedience, neglect, and rejection of the word of God. It is now time for repentance and a renewal of commitment to God and to His Word. We place much blame for today's complacency and apathy upon the Scofield Reference Edition of the King James Version Bible, for in it he strongly attacks the words and commands of the Lord Jesus.
In his notes of the Sermon on the Mount, Mr. Scofield states: “In this sense the Sermon on the Mount is pure law, and transfers the offense from the overt act to the motive. Here lies the deeper reason why the Jews rejected the kingdom … For these reasons the Sermon on the Mount in its primary application gives neither the privilege nor the duty of the church. These are found in the Epistles.” Lies, deceit, irreverence!
In Scofield's introduction to II Corinthians he had this to say: “It is evident that the really dangerous sect in Corinth was that which said 'and I of Christ' (I Cor. 1:12). They rejected the new revelation through Paul of the doctrines of grace; grounding themselves, probably, on the kingdom teachings of our Lord as 'a minister of the circumcision;' seemingly oblivious that a new dispensation had been introduced by Christ's death.” More lies!
It is a well-known fact that Scofield's notes form the backbone of most of the evangelical ministries in the U.S. Not only does he support the rapture theory, he also promotes the erroneous teaching of a future earthly, visible, physical, political kingdom of God on this old globe. We dread to think of the price this man will pay for his misleading millions of gullible souls with his antichristian annotated version of the holy Scriptures which has produced a generation of “do nothing” professing Christians who believe that salvation requires nothing more than believing that your sins are forgiven even before you ask for forgiveness. (Scofield's notes affirm that idea.)
It is needful to repeat again and again Jesus' statement in Matt. 16:27: “for the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS.”!!
SURRENDER
Rene’ Rankhorn
Romans 6:13 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
Since humanity's transgression in the Garden of Eden, sin has permeated the world, resulting in our sinful nature. This nature stands in opposition to God, seeking dominance over all aspects of life. Initially, when we commit ourselves to God, we respond to the Holy Spirit's call towards salvation. However, this journey does not conclude at that moment; to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, ongoing surrender is essential throughout our lives.
I have recently faced numerous challenges, even being scammed. In my distress, I turned to the Lord in tears, yet I permitted feelings of worthlessness to overwhelm me. Primarily, I lacked the full armor of God during these experiences. I did not adhere to the Lord's guidance and neglected to surrender these difficulties and trials to Him.
James 1:2-8, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
I have found myself wavering and being double-minded, which has undoubtedly contributed to my feelings of depression and the sense of being under constant attack from various fronts. This realization has prompted a desire for change; I no longer wish to remain in this tumultuous state. Acknowledging that perfection is unattainable for any of us, I understand the importance of confessing my struggles to Jesus and moving forward, leaving my past behind. It is essential to embrace a fresh start and commit to following Him wholeheartedly. This is not a one-time endeavor but a daily practice, as our human nature stands in opposition to the divine will of God.
Today, I engaged with a devotional that discussed the concept of fasting, involving abstaining from food, social media, television, and other distractions. However, what resonated most with me was a particular quote from Adele Ahlberg Calhoun: “Through self-denial, we begin to recognize what controls us.” From an early age, I have been instructed to dedicate everything to God and to embrace the concept of being "crucified with Christ," as expressed in Galatians 2:20. However, maintaining this mindset daily proves to be challenging. Our inherent, stubborn nature often seeks to retain control. Upon hearing that quote, I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me with the question, "What are you willing to sacrifice for Me?" This resonated deeply within me. I began to reflect on the activities and passions I cherish. Am I truly prepared to relinquish them for the sake of Jesus? I reminded myself that none of these pursuits can rival the profound joy that comes from fully surrendering to Him.
As I prepared to write this, I found myself tempted to engage in my favorite computer game. However, I opted to delve deeper into this subject and follow God's guidance. Surrendering to God entails embracing a victorious life in Christ, which fosters peace and joy. As Shana Schutte says, “Surrender isn’t about giving up; it’s about giving in to the One who knows best for us, to the One who knows us most and has a good, good plan. Surrender is the only real way to experience His peace. It’s the only way to true joy.” By resisting the urge to play my game, I was rewarded with peace, joy, and gratitude to our Father for guiding me back into the fold.
The best example of surrender is our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything He did was in obedience to the Father. I found notes my great-grandmother, Honor Nester, wrote from a sermon by Bro. Miller in 1964. “Jesus learned obedience here by the things He suffered. He had a self-will. He had to deal with it. The garden experience showed His battle: Matthew 26:39, ‘And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’”
John 15:10, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”
My great-grandmother continued to write, “As we come into the court, we are kings and priests. Man is then called to meet these sacrifices, which are based on the word or law of God. As we apply the word of God to our lives, certain things happen. If we want peace, we love God’s law. Psalm 19:165, ‘Great peace have they that love Thy law.’ We can set our affections on God. It is natural for our thoughts to go gutterward, but we can take them and rebuke them and cast them down and set our affections on heavenly things. It takes great effort, but we must do it.”
In another sermon from Bro. Miller in 1964, she writes, “What is righteousness? (rightness) The world doesn’t want it. The Lord said in Matthew 6:33 ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ He will give, heaped up and running over. Righteousness is to do the will of God … The foundation cleanses. The government of God is set forth in Jesus Christ. As we give ourselves completely over to Him, He will cleanse us. If we love Him, we will keep His commands. After the grain is reaped, the door is shut, and he that is filthy will be filthy still. Love is not emotion, it is devotion. Whom, having not seen, we love. We seek out to know what His mind is in the thing, then we will do it. Jesus’ meat was to do the will of the Father. Righteousness is to do God’s will; it is well to know what His will is!”
Surrendering to God involves a profound commitment to sacrifice and adherence to His teachings. It means entrusting our problems, anxieties, and fears into His hands, allowing Him to take control of our lives. This act of surrender also encompasses being receptive to the guidance and correction of the Holy Spirit, who leads us toward a path of righteousness. Each day presents us with a critical decision: do we choose to succumb to sin, which ultimately leads to destruction, or do we opt for a life of obedience that aligns with God's will? This choice is not a one-time event but a continuous commitment we must make at every moment of our lives, reflecting our dedication to living in accordance with divine principles. Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
GENUINE FAITH AND EASY BELIEVISM
Alfred King
Faith is probably the most preached, the most discussed, debated, and argued of all the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Since Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the Wittenberg Castle Church door in 1517, modern Christianity has been in a never-ending debate over how faith and works fit together. The debate is not easily settled nor balance simply obtained as far as the various schools of theology are concerned. However, it is relatively simple to a newly converted Christian or to one who allows the Holy Spirit to teach him and reveal the simplicity that is in Christ. The Bible teaches that we are saved through faith and by faith all spiritual blessings, supernatural power, godliness, and even eternal life are obtained. Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” So the importance of faith cannot be denied, nor should its value be diminished. Realizing that without faith we cannot please God places faith close to the top on the list of priorities for those who truly want to walk with God and please Him. So every Christian needs to know what true faith is and be able to recognize the fraud and superficial ideas masquerading as Biblical faith and parading themselves throughout the Christian arena, deceiving many and causing them to sell themselves short of a genuine walk with God.
The contention over genuine faith versus easy believism is no doubt the result of certain groups who carry their particular view of faith to the extreme. Martin Luther entered a Catholic monastery, seeking and desiring peace in his soul. He attempted to find rest for his troubled and sin-sick soul by going above and beyond the requirements of Catholic catechism, seeking through much prayer, fasting, Bible study, self-denial, and privation only to find himself more troubled and ever more certain that he had not satisfied a Holy God. It was after several events had taken place in his life, each leaving him more hopeless and in greater despair, that he found himself searching over again God’s Word, and it was there that the wonderful truths of Christ were suddenly revealed to his heart and mind and he began to understand that all of his works were no more than filthy rags before a righteous and holy God. All the good works he could ever perform never would, nor could they, erase the sin from his account before God. God’s grace was unveiled to Martin Luther as he searched through Paul’s epistle to the Romans where he discovered that Jesus Christ had left His heavenly glory to take upon Himself the likeness of man’s nature, to share in man’s weaknesses and frailties, to experience man’s temptations, and taste of worldly ambitions and appetites to which men in this world are prone, and to triumph over them all and live sinless in an evil environment and a sinful world, and then to offer Himself as a spotless Lamb for the sins of the world. Martin Luther saw for the first time in his life that the blood of Jesus was shed for his transgressions and for his iniquities, and that forgiveness was his through faith in that supreme sacrifice. He could find the peace for which he had so long searched simply by believing in the atoning sacrifice and repenting of his sins.
When Martin Luther began preaching this new-found truth, it caused a great uproar in the church, but it began to give hope to thousands who had followed similar paths to that which Luther had traveled. This was the beginning of the Great Reformation, and many embraced this gospel revelation and were ushered into a genuine relationship with Christ, finding peace, love, and liberty in salvation. As the glorious light of the gospel began to shine throughout Europe, it began to push back that era called by historians “the Dark Ages.”
The pendulum of truth that had begun to swing, teaching that salvation was through faith and not by works, that brought such liberty and salvation to so many, soon began to swing to another extreme and endangered the new church with a plague so serious that it threatened to snuff out the new-found light of the gospel and destroy the young church in a very short time. Some pastors, theologians, and preachers began to teach that faith was merely a belief in Jesus Christ as God, Who died for man’s sins, and that belief was sufficient for salvation. No works or good deeds were necessary at all. Sin began to flood the church as men sought to embrace both Christianity and mammon. Martin Luther immediately took the offensive and rebuked such ideas and doctrines, and spent much of his life both teaching and writing in an effort to restrain these false teachings and to help Christians understand the balance between faith and works. Still today, there are many who teach that all one must do is believe and he is eternally secure. Their argument is that man is saved by faith, and to add works to faith is to add to what the scriptures teach and is an effort to add to the complete and perfect work of Jesus Christ. To attempt to require more than simple “faith” (easy believism) is to say, in essence, that the work of Jesus Christ, His death in payment for man’s sin, in itself, is not enough. Good works must be added to complete Christ’s work. Faith and works is often termed “The faith plus” doctrine.
To understand Biblical faith, that fruit of the Spirit spoken of in Galatians 5, we must always remember that faith is not something which man can, in himself, muster up. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:3 that God gives to every man a measure of faith. It is God-given. Every man is given enough faith to find Christ and be saved. But if faith were just easy believism, most people in America would be saved, as most people in this country do believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that He died for the sins of the world. Even many who never set foot into a church believe this. Probably most who sit in the bars and nightclubs across America believe these basic facts, but that does not save them. It takes some work or response to that belief that saves the soul. No matter how much one believes, if he never repents (which is a work) he will never be saved. Faith is only Biblically genuine when it is accompanied by works. Notice what the Apostle James says about faith and works in James 2:20 & 26, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (verse 26) “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” So Biblical and genuine Christian faith is a belief that is accompanied and proven by works. The works produced are obedience to God’s commands as recorded in His Holy Word.
A couple of definitions might give a better understanding of true faith. Faith is “a constant and certain confidence and trust in God’s love to us and in His ability and power to order and sustain all things, all of which is confirmed in our hearts by His Spirit and manifest in our hearts and lives by our deeds.” From the above definition, faith is a trust or confidence in God that is constant (it is ever with the believer) and certain (it is concrete, firm, resolute, absolute, and free from doubt). It first realizes and embraces God’s love for man (implying a personal experience of God’s love, revealed in Christ’s sacrificial atonement), and comprehends God’s omnipotence and sovereignty so that he knows positively that He is able to order (direct and control) all circumstances and situations in which the Christian may find himself and in those conditions has not only the ability, but in fact will sustain (keep, strengthen, hold and support) him in the most trying and difficult trials of life. All of this is confirmed (revealed and assured) by the Holy Spirit, Who is sent to abide in the Christian’s heart, and the true manifestation of this faith is revealed and demonstrated by the deeds produced in his life.
Rudolph Bultmann in Gerhard Kittel, ed., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament wrote: “It is thus made perfectly plain that pistis [faith] is a man’s absolute committal to God, a committal in which man cannot make any resolutions of his own…It is indeed the radical decision of the will in which a man delivers himself up” (pg. 219) “This renunciation of the world, this turning of man from himself, is the primary meaning of faith. It is man’s self-surrender” (pg. 223). Such a definition of faith certainly destroys the modern idea of easy believism so prevalent in today’s Christian arena, yet it fully complies with Jesus’ words when He calls His followers or disciples to take up their cross daily, deny themselves, forsake all and follow Him (Matt. 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23). It harmonizes with Christ’s sermon on the mount in which He declares ever so boldly that there are two ways, a strait and narrow way that leads to life and a wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7: 13-14).
Since Martin Luther is credited with the Great Reformation, and that primarily because of his teaching of salvation through faith, it might be well to look at what he said himself about genuine faith. Martin Luther: “Faith is not something dreamed, a human illusion, although this is what many people understand by the term…The reason is that, when they hear the gospel, they miss the point; in their hearts, and out of their own resources, they conjure up an idea which they call “belief,” which they treat as genuine faith. All the same, it is but a human fabrication, an idea without a corresponding experience in the depths of the heart. It is therefore ineffective and not followed by a better kind of life.
“Faith, however, is something that God effects in us. It changes us and we are reborn from God (John 1). Faith puts the old Adam to death and makes us quite different men in heart, in mind, and in all our powers; and it is accompanied by the Holy Spirit. O, when it comes to faith, what a living, creative, active, powerful thing it is. It cannot do other than good at all times…A man not active in this way is a man without faith…It is impossible, indeed, to separate works from faith, just as it is impossible to separate heat and light from fire.”(John Dillenberger, ed., Martin Luther, New York: Doubleday, 1961)
Martin Luther very vividly states his position and exposes the false idea that positive thinking (thoughts mustered or conjured up), terming it “something dreamed” or “human illusion,” is not genuine, nor is it Biblical faith.
While it is essential to see how easy believism is dangerously false, it is equally perilous if one finds himself on an extreme legalistic platform. Here, the pendulum of truth is swung to the opposite and excessive extreme, where the Christian is thrown into a dark, hopeless, and formidable prison of bondage to “good works.” He is always striving to obtain God’s favor through his own efforts. He is burdened down with a load that he can never carry. The scripture clearly states in Isa. 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Man can never be saved by his own righteous works or attainments. What takes place in the heart of a man who strives to earn his salvation or a position in God is that he will either become extremely proud of his accomplishments and think that he has some special position in God’s honor society (as the Pharisees and religious leaders of Christ’s time) or he will be conscious of his continual failure to measure up to the ideal standard, and with that consciousness, will be consistently condemned, cast down and defeated. Or he will experience both and so will find himself vacillating in spiritual bipolarism.
Referring back to our first definition of faith, it is faith that produces good works and not good works that produce faith. Faith must be understood and remembered to be a fruit of the Spirit and, as such, can only be obtained by the Holy Spirit working in one’s life. Without the Holy Spirit, genuine and Biblical faith cannot be obtained, therefore it is evident that the more control the Holy Spirit is allowed to have in one’s life, the more faith will manifest itself in its pure and unadulterated form and the fruit of faith will be manifest in one’s life by his deeds, actions and even in his personality. Faith will produce good works as it will create and build up a divine love for God and will bring one to rest in God’s love and sovereignty. The more vividly Christ is revealed to man’s heart, the more faith will blossom and a love will flood his soul. His service, good deeds, and obedience will spring from a heart aflame with love for Jesus Christ. He will realize full well that no amount of good works performed can save or justify him, but he finds himself obeying, forsaking all, taking up his cross and following Christ out of a heart of love and in that love he is able to find rest for his soul. This is the result of genuine faith; producing good works and changing one’s life so he is changed from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (II Cor. 3:18).
So, faith is a most wonderful and necessary fruit of God’s Holy Spirit, without which we cannot please God. It is obtainable to those who will set their affections upon things above, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And to those, God promises He will add all blessings unto them (Matt. 6:33).
KENNETH L. FOUNTAIN
August 25, 1961 – May 12, 2025
We, at People of the Living God, are again saddened by another passing of one of our members. Brother Kenneth Fountain, who has been in good health with no indication of any serious health issues, experienced an aorta split on the morning of May 12th. He began feeling some pressure in his chest and some dizziness, which grew rapidly worse. He was taken to the hospital, where his condition was diagnosed and his situation was critical. He passed within a couple of hours afterward. His passing has been a tremendous shock to his family and also to the PLG church.
Brother Kenneth has been a member of People of the Living God church since his birth, his parents being members. He has been a very active member in many different ways over the years. He married Gina DeLand in 1991 and they have served together in any area where they were needed. Brother Kenneth has been the printer for the Testimony of Truth publication for over thirty-five years, a trade he learned from his late grandfather, Russel Dockum. He also printed many tracks and other literature for the church and things needed for the church school, Cedars of Lebanon Academy. Brother Kenneth has written several articles for the Testimony of Truth and we include the following in this month’s publication.
When Kenneth was younger, he worked alongside other members in the building program where he learned to do carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical. In time, when the need arose where teachers were needed for the school, he went to college and earned a degree and began teaching middle school and junior high. He also taught P.E. and was interested in the children’s health and their body’s physical development. He was loved by all the students, both present and those in the past. Most of the children wept when they heard that he had passed. All the older students and several of the younger attended his funeral, where some stood and expressed their appreciation for Kenneth, his character, and the influence he had had on their lives. Many former students also attended.
Brother Kenneth’s sudden passing has left a void in the school and in the church because he labored in so many different areas, always stepping up when a need arose. However, we know that God has His reasons, which we cannot second-guess. We know that when one is taken, it means that God is bringing about something important and that will fill that void. God’s ways are above ours, and we trust Him even in circumstances we don’t understand.
Our request to all our readers is that you remember Brother Kenneth’s family as you pray, and for that, we will be very grateful.
ABIDING IN CHRIST
Kenneth Fountain
Abiding in Christ involves much more than the initial experience of being born again. Abiding has to do with remaining in a specific place, setting up residence, or continuing in a certain thing. Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines abide as follows: to sojourn, tarry; not to depart, not to leave, to continue to be present; to be held, or kept continually; to last, to endure, to survive, to live; to remain as one is, not to become another or different; to remain faithful to, to obey, to live, to stay. The apostle John made the following statements about the importance of abiding in Christ:
John 5:5: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing.”
I John 2:6: “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked.”
I John 3:6: “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not (practices sin): whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.”
II John 9: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
From the above Scriptures and the Biblical definition of the word abide, it seems evident that anytime a person sins, he has vacated his abode in Christ. This seems a logical conclusion, because God cannot and will not be found cohabiting with sin. This is not to say that the Christian who sins is cut off from God, but he does have to confess his sin before God, repent, and receive forgiveness anew. God never overlooks sin, but He is patient and merciful (Psalm 103:8-13). Abiding in Christ and sinning are opposites: one does not take place in the presence of the other. The individual must depart (in his heart) from the presence of God to be able to sin. James explains it this way: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14,15). The word abiding has to do with remaining, not vacillating; therefore, when a person is “drawn away,” he leaves his abode in Christ and pursues sin. A departure from Christ has taken place: he is (even temporarily) NOT ABIDING! We never find Christ departing from God’s will and call for His life even momentarily, and we see in Him the fulfillment of the truth He presents in John 15:5 in that He brought forth MUCH FRUIT. If (or when, since it is a possibility) we “walk even as He walked” (I John 2:6) as He has called His disciples to do, the result will be the acquisition of Christ-like character. The people who do this will also bring forth much fruit – just by abiding! This is because the very act of abiding is contingent upon the sacrificing of one’s own will, humbling oneself, being obedient to His every command, and remaining in the holy glory of His presence. There is no uprooting or severing of fellowship with God when one truly and entirely (constantly and consistently) ABIDES in the vine. There is no disruption of growth and production of fruit – it is ongoing, without any interruption or setback.
Can you imagine a gardener in his greenhouse who attentively provides everything the plants need, when they need it, and in the proper portions, but some plants randomly remove themselves from the greenhouse because they do not want to be pruned today, or receive more water, sunshine, or fertilizer at the present time? These plants exercising self–will are handicapped in their growth and development. They have removed themselves from the master’s care at times to pursue their own interests! If and when they repent of their waywardness and return from their separation, the master gardener will need to help them recover from the damage done by their absence – progress has been hindered. The plants may have some shriveled roots or leaves, or even dead or diseased parts that must be removed or healed before any more growth may be attained.
When an activity of any kind is abandoned or simply interrupted for a time, a period of readjustment must take place in order to regain lost ground. A professional athlete or musician, for example, who is unable to exercise or practice for an entire week, will notice a disparity in his performance ability upon returning to his former routine. He has lost a measure of keenness due to not consistently maintaining his schedule. The same is true with walking with God: any measure of separation hinders the development of spiritual fruit within the life.
There is a saying, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.” Actually, spiritual weakness comes much quicker: Jesus prayed, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matt. 6:11) We are in a spiritual warfare; consequently, we need strength from God frequently and consistently because we have no strength in ourselves: it comes from Him. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). “Without Me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). We even need God’s help to want to do His will (Phil. 2:13)!
After David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, he continued with “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit” (verses 10–12). Obviously, these blessings had been lost when he sinned, so he asked that God create, renew, and restore these to him.
Repeated sin brings hardness of heart (Heb. 3:13). The mighty, God-ordained Samson reached a point in his life due to frequent rebellion and stubbornness that we read in Judges 16:20, “he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.” Ancient Israel reached a point, after years of repeated rebellion, when God said there was no more remedy (II Chron. 36:16; Prov. 29:1)! Paul warns us in Gal. 5:1 to “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” He also commands us in Rom. 6:12-18, to not yield to sin, and to not allow sin to dominate our lives. In II Peter 2, we read how a righteous, just man named Lot vexed (oppressed, distressed, wore down) his soul daily with the moral pollution of his city (verse 7,8). We also find that those who walk after the flesh are presumptuous and self–willed (10), and are even sporting themselves with their own deceivings (13), and cannot cease from sin (14). These have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray because they loved the wages of unrighteousness (verse 15). “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (verses 21 and 22). “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” These were individuals who had received salvation, but dabbled in sin until their latter end was worse than their beginning (II Peter 2:20). The born–again believer has been given everything necessary to overcome sin in his life and to walk in the freedom from that sin of which he had been delivered (John 1:12). However, to be successful, he must abide in Christ, where he can gather spiritual nourishment and strength through personal prayer, worship, and application of the Word.
The parable of the sower and the four types of ground (Matt. 13:18-23) describes the responses of various individuals to God’s Word in their hearts. It would be an unjust assumption to think that God assigns these soil types to the individuals. This is not so! The person responded according to his power of choice. The wayside hearer did not even receive the Word (verse 19), the other three did receive the Word, but only one ultimately brought forth fruit. Why is this? The “good soil” hearer applied the Word to his heart, adjusted his life to God’s commands, nurtured the seed in his heart, and walked resolutely with God. The things of this life that would ensnare the heart were replaced with the joy of salvation.
When one is truly satisfied with the one he loves, he shuns anything that would disrupt that satisfaction. He treasures what he has found in Christ: freedom from the bondage of sin. This far surpasses anything the world or Satan has to offer, and he gladly rejects everything else to keep the presence and blessings of God (Matt. 13:44-46; Phil. 3:8). He joyously abides in the vine, reveling in the unsurpassable effervescence of the glorious presence of the love of God. He thrives. He grows. And he matures with greater stability and more fruit.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (I Cor. 2:9). God has special plans in this life for those who love Him to the degree of total submission. He will be able to use them as He did those faithful believers in the early church. There is no limit to the joys and satisfaction available in the relationship with God. The disciple needs only to sustain his love and appreciation for God by abiding in the vine.
As with any human relationship, respect, appreciation, and love must be maintained and nurtured. Too many allow their love to grow cold and begin to drift with the surging tides of daily life. When trials come (as they must come to all), he should hang on all the more to the source of his contentment; or he may be drawn away of his own lust and fall into sin – his choice. The trials will help him grow stronger in his devotion to and appreciation for God, or they will bring forth bitterness and resentment: again, by the choice of the individual. These trials and persecutions are part of the pruning (John 15:2) and the molding into His image (II Cor. 3:18). We must be overcomers (Rev. 3:21), and shall be IF we abide in the vine. God takes care of His own! “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:18). He sustains us; He keeps us. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
Jesus was in constant communion with the Father. He (Jesus) stated that the words that He spoke and the works that He did came directly from the throne of God. Even with this, we find that there were times when He separated Himself from everyone for personal, intimate fellowship with the Father. If Jesus needed these times of refreshing, how much more must we need this direct, personal contact with God? Each of us personally needs daily bread, daily fellowship, and daily refreshing. Our spiritual roots must acquire nourishment from the God of our salvation (Psalm 1:3).
Abiding throughout the duration of one’s life in Christ could be compared to the education process of a child’s developmental years. God is “bringing many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10) through a process of spiritual growth and development unto maturity in Him (“the full measure of the stature of Christ,” Eph. 4:13). He has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5), so we are secured from His side, but the glaring question persists, “Do we never leave or forsake Him?” We find numerous examples throughout Holy Writ where members of God’s family disobeyed and dishonored God through sin, which separated them from Him. These persons, at the time of their sin, did not abide in Him! By acknowledging that God is in control of every challenge that confronts His servants, and that He has promised that He will not put more upon us than we can bear (I Cor. 10:13), we should realize that these individuals failed their respective tests by sinning. At the very least, progress in their walk with God was hindered. This is much like a student failing a written test in school: he has damaged his progress, and must learn from his mistakes, apply himself more diligently, and do better next time. If the student repeatedly fails his tests, he may require special tutoring or be held back from passing to the next level. (Remember that, as with academics where every test is designed for the grade level of the student, our tests in life are tailored to our capability in Him.) God desires to take His people all the way into the promise land, but if they continually resist His guidance, and rebelliously fail His tests designed to promote progress, they will not grow in grace, nor bring forth much fruit. There are many who began a good schooling, but became wearied with the curriculum and have failed to go on to graduation in Him.
When Jesus was on the cross and proclaimed, “It is finished!”(John 19:30), He had completed everything necessary for man to successfully walk with God. Satan had been dealt with, God’s power for the believer had been demonstrated, and the solution for man’s sin had been given. Also, there is no more faithful, devoted, loving, kind teacher than the Holy Spirit; our textbook (the Holy Bible) explains everything necessary for success, thoroughly and with simplicity; and the entire host of heaven is our cheering section. The only poor ingredient in this recipe for success is the human will, because God has provided everything else already. Any who do not progress under these circumstances plainly do not truly want to achieve promotion. “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?” (Rom. 8:31, 32)
“He that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22). God’s desire is “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:7). We must fight the good fight of faith, and go on unto perfection. We should allow the trials and temptations of life to strengthen our roots and send them ever deeper into God until we are solidly grounded on The Solid Rock, Christ Jesus. We will enjoy spiritual blessings beyond measure, our life will become a glorious testimony of the grace of God, He will be glorified and honored, and our eternal reward will be realized. “He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (I John 2:17)