Sermons on Holiness

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Eric Aboadwe
October 15, 2017 ·

HE WHO IS HOLY, LET HIM BE HOLY (Part 1)

Our Scripture reading is still on Revelation where it is says that:

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is HOLY, let him be HOLY still” (Revelation 22:11).

As at now, we have already looked at the first three parts of our Scripture reading. So today we are looking at the fourth (4th) part of the passage where it says, “He who is HOLY, let him be HOLY still.” And even though the passage is divided into fourth (4) parts, it can also categorized into two (2) parts. This is because the “UNJUST” and the “FILTHY” refers to children of the Devil, whiles the “RIGHTEOUS” and the “HOLY” refers to the children of God.

So who is a “HOLY” person or how are we made “HOLY”?

First of all, the “HOLY” people refers to those who were CHOSEN in CHRIST. The Apostle Paul explains this when he said, “Just as He CHOSE us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and without blame before Him in LOVE” (Ephesians 1:4). It says clearly here that when God CHOOSE you in CHRIST, you become “HOLY” and without blame before Him in “LOVE.”

It means that we can never become “HOLY” through the Commandments and the LAW which exposes our SINS and bring God’s judgment on us, but rather we became the “HOLY” people of God because God Himself “CHOSE” us in JESUS to be “HOLY” before Him in His “LOVE.”

When it says, “that we should be HOLY and without blame before Him in LOVE,” it means that “For God so LOVE the world that He sent His only begotten Son” to be borne by the Virgin Mary, and to receive baptism for the passing on of our SINS, and to die on the Cross for the judgment of our SINS, and to resurrect from the dead for our justification, so that “whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” because such a person has been made “HOLY” in JESUS CHRIST.

Secondly, we must understand that a person is “HOLY” when JESUS Himself baptizes him or her with the “HOLY SPIRIT.” That’s why John the Baptist who passed all our SINS onto JESUS told us, “I indeed baptized you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is MIGHTIER than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry, He will baptized you with the HOLY SPIRIT and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

When John the Baptist says that JESUS “is MIGHTIER than I,” it means that JESUS has the power to cleanse away all our SINS with His water baptism and blood so that we can be made “HOLY.” When John says, “He will baptized you with the HOLY SPIRIT and fire,” it means that JESUS will take away our SINS upon Himself in order to qualify us to receive the gift of the “HOLY SPIRIT” so that we can become the “HOLY” people of God because we have the indwelling of His “HOLY SPIRIT.”

Therefore JESUS CHRIST “baptized” us with “HOLY SPIRIT and fire” because God “made Him who knew no SIN to be SIN for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21) when He was baptized by John the Baptist before dying on the Cross. That’s why Jesus told the disciples that when He is resurrected, the “HOLY SPIRIT” will be theirs. He said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the HELPER will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).

This passage also shows clearly that you can never receive the “HOLY SPIRIT” by begging God to give you His “HOLY SPIRIT” through your prayers of repentance. But rather, you can receive Him when you accept the fact that you were born a SINNER from your mothers womb (Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 48:8), and that you commit SIN until you die (Isaiah 64:5b), and then believe in the WATER baptism of JESUS by which He washed away your SINS once for all in addition to His blood on the Cross.

That’s why when the Apostle Peter was preaching he told the people, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of SINS; and you shall receive the gift of of the HOLY SPIRIT” (Acts 2:38). This means when you receive the REMISSION (forgiveness) of the SINS that you commit from the day you were born until the day you die, then you have become a “HOLY” person. From then on you can do “good” things but that is not what made you “HOLY,” but you were made “HOLY” by God.

So let us understand that nobody can be made “HOLY” outside the “HOLY SPIRIT.” That’s why the Word of God tells us that, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your SALVATION; in whom also having BELIEVED, you were sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

This is how we were made “HOLY” by the power of JESUS CHRIST because He is “MIGHTIER” as testified by John the Baptist who proclaimed, “Behold! The LAMB of God who takes away the SIN of the world” (John 1:29).

Our study continues.............

Those who are “HOLY still” are BLESSED!



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Eric Aboadwe
October 19, 2017 ·

HOLINESS TO THE LORD

Our Scripture reading for today is taken from Exodus where it says,

“You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the TURBAN” (Exodus 28:36-37).

We thank the Almighty God for giving us another New Day and for nurturing us continuously with the spiritual nourishment which comes from His Word in JESUS CHRIST who has made us “HOLY.”

We couldn't complete our study concerning the passage that we read in Exodus. So I want us to take a look at what God wants to teach us from that passage and its related Scripture verse about how God made us His “HOLY” people.

In the Old Testament, God appointed priests from the family of Aaron (the Levites) to minister in the “HOLY” Tabernacle and in the “HOLY things.” Therefore the priest themselves were supposed to be “HOLY” before they could minister in the “HOLY PLACE” and in the “HOLY of HOLIES.” And because it was God Himself who made them “HOLY,” He instructed them to make a plate of “pure gold” and engrave on it with the inscription “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”

But we must take note of the fact that God told them to put this inscription on a “blue cord” which was tied in front of the “TURBAN.” When you read Exodus chapter 25 going, you will always come across “blue, purple, scarlet thread, and fine woven line.” These things were foreshadowing the work of CHRIST to make us “HOLY,” and therefore they all have spiritual meanings.

The Apostle Paul wanted to teach these things in detail to the Hebrew believers, but he couldn't do it and so he said, “...Of these things we cannot now speak in detail” (Hebrews 9:5). In fact Paul even told the Hebrew believers that, “Of whom we have much to say, and HARD to explain, since you have become DULL of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11). Therefore there are some things we cannot talk about it now, but time will tell and God will lead us based on the preparedness of our spiritual “hearts” and “minds” and “hearing.”

So going back to Exodus, we must understand that God made the priest “HOLY,” and so He made them put on a “TURBAN” which was a garment wrapped around the head with an inscription in front of it which says, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” Any priest who did not put on this “TURBAN” as ordained by God was UNHOLY and could not minister to God.

But in order to understand the “TURBAN” worn by the priests with the inscription “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” very well, I want us to read something from Zechariah. It says, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him” (Zechariah 3:1). This happened because we are told in the same chapter that, “...Joshua was clothed with FILTHY GARMENTS, and was standing before the angel of the LORD” (Zechariah 3:3).

When it says here that Joshua the high priest “was clothed with FILTHY GARMENTS,” it represent SIN, and it means that Joshua could not obey the 10 Commandments and the 613 Articles of the LAW of Moses. This is the reason why Satan “the ACCUSER of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10) was standing at his right hand to “oppose” him.

But the GOOD NEWS is that, in order to deliver Joshua from Satan’s accusations and to make him “HOLY,” JESUS came to his rescue and He rebuked Satan. Therefore amidst all the accusations against Joshua, it is written that the LORD answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, and He said, “TAKE AWAY the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have REMOVED your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes” (Zechariah 3:4). This is how Joshua was made “HOLY” by the LORD JESUS.

Not only this, but the LORD who is God also said, “Let them put a clean TURBAN on his head.” So they put a clean TURBAN on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the angel of the LORD stood by” (Zechariah 3:5). Don’t forget that in our reading from Exodus, this “TURBAN” was having the inscription “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.” This is the unilateral “LOVE” of JESUS CHRIST for Joshua the high priest

This shows clearly that it is JESUS CHRIST who made Joshua “HOLY” by removing his “iniquity” from him which is the same as taking away his “filthy garments,” and clothing him with “rich robes” which stands for His “RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Therefore in the New Testament, if John the Baptist bear witness about JESUS and he proclaims, “Behold! The LAMB of God who TAKES AWAY the SIN of the world” (John 1:29), then we must know that when JESUS was baptized by John and He bore all our SINS upon Himself and died on the Cross for our SINS, He did this to make us “HOLY” and to qualify us as the spiritual priest who have are also put on the spiritual “TURBAN” with the inscription “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”

That’s why the Apostle Peter said, “But you are a chosen generation, a ROYAL priesthood, a HOLY nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of DARKNESS into His marvelous LIGHT” (1 Peter 2:9). It means that the Lord JESUS made us His “HOLY” priest when He called us out of “DARKNESS” (SIN) into His marvelous “LIGHT” (RIGHTEOUSNESS).

As a Christian, you can never join the “ROYAL priesthood” until you believe in JESUS baptism that speak about Him as “The LAMB of God who TAKES AWAY the SIN of the world” (John 1:29). Until now if you have not believed in this, then this explains the reason why you are offering the Prayers of Repentance on a daily bases. This is because your SINS have not been “REMOVED” by JESUS CHRIST due to your “unbelief.” Therefore you are not wearing the “TURBAN” which says, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”

Don’t forget that in Exodus, God said that the gold plate with the inscription “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” was placed on the “blue cord” that it may be on the “TURBAN.” This “blue cord” represent JESUS’ baptism. It was not placed on a “scarlet thread” which represent the blood of JESUS. This shows clearly that without the “blue cord,” there is nothing like “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”

You must therefore believe in both the water baptism of JESUS CHRIST, His blood on the Cross, and His resurrection to make your FAITH complete. Those who believe like this have become “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” no matter their weaknesses or the accusations of the Devil. That’s why the Apostle Paul said that, “Who shall bring a CHARGE against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33).

PRAISE be to God for making us “HOLY” in JESUS CHRIST!





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Eric Aboadwe
October 21, 2017 ·

THOSE OUTSIDE THE HOLY CITY

Our Scripture reading still remains in the Book of Revelation where it says that:

“But OUTSIDE are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practice a lie” (Revelation 22:15).

The passage above is similar to the one in Revelation 21:8 where we are told that “the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolater, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death.”

The Apostle Paul even added more to this when he said that “uncleanness, lewdness, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, drunkenness, revelries, and the alike; of which I tell you before in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the KINGDOM of GOD” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Not only these, but in Corinthians too, Paul added that “neither homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the KINGDOM of GOD” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

After reading these passages of Scripture from the eschatological book of Revelation, Galatians, and Corinthians, many believers in Christendom are engulfed and stricken by “FEAR.” But the question is WHY? This is because when human beings look at themselves critically through these quotations, no one can acclaim that he does not commit any of the SINS listed above. That’s why the Holy Bible tells us clearly that, “For there is NOT a just man on earth who does GOOD and does not SIN” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

If this is the case, then we must know that all human beings by NATURE are supposed to be “OUTSIDE” the “HOLY CITY” which refers to the lake which burns with “fire and brimstone.” In other words everybody is “qualified” to be OUTSIDE the City. This is due to the fact that human beings are all born SINNERS (Psalm 51:5) and they commit SIN until they die (Isaiah 64:5).

However, JESUS CHRIST brought a change in the destiny of mankind when he “disqualified” SINNERS from going to “hell” by “qualifying” them to enter “the HOLY CITY, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” He did this when He accepted the SINS of everyone by being baptized by John the Baptist, dying on the Cross to shed His precious blood, and resurrecting from the death.

And because JESUS cleansed everyone’s SINS successfully with His water, blood and the Spirit, He said that when the “Holy Spirit” comes, “He will CONVICT the world of SIN, and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT; of SIN, because they do not believe in Me; of RIGHTEOUSNESS, because I go to the Father and you see Me no more; of JUDGMENT, because the ruler of this world is judged” (John 16:8-11).

We must know that all the SINS listed in Revelation, Galatians, and Corinthians were summarized by John the Baptist when he said, “Behold! The LAMB of God who takes AWAY the SIN of the world! (John 1:29). Therefore when JESUS tells us that “of SIN because they do not BELIEVE in Me,” He is talking about those who don’t believe that He is the “LAMB of God” who took AWAY the SIN of the world. This is the SIN of “unbelief” which cannot be forgiven (Matthew 12:31), and which will send people to hell.

The Apostle Paul believed that JESUS CHRIST has taken AWAY the SIN of the world. That’s why after he said that “neither homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the KINGDOM of GOD,” he also added by saying, “And such were some of you. But your were WASHED, but you were SANCTIFIED, but you were JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord JESUS and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Here Paul did not say “And such were some of you, but you have done well to obey the LAW and COMMANDMENTS.” This is not what he said, and the reason is because the SOLUTION to our SIN problem is not by doing something by ourselves, but the SOLUTION is in the “ACT” (doings) of the Lord JESUS through His “water and blood” (1 John 5:6). That’s why the same Paul said that, “...even so through One Man’s RIGHTEOUS ACT the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:18).

Please just take your time and read the Scripture here very well. It does not say that we are “justified” through our own RIGHTEOUS ACT to enter the “HOLY CITY,” but rather it says it is by “One Man’s RIGHTEOUS ACT” which refers to JESUS CHRIST. So it is not by your own acts of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Paul once again confirms this when he said, “Not by works of RIGHTEOUSNESS which we have done, but according to His MERCY He SAVED us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

As a Christian, staying away from SIN is good, and this is recommendable for all of us. But whether you like it or not, you still commit SINS as we were told in Ecclesiastes 7:20. Therefore as Christians, we must NOT think that if we do not commit “murderer, sexual immoral, sorcery, idolatry, uncleanness, lewdness, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, drunkenness, revelries,” it means we shall inherit the Kingdom of God.

The teachings of Apostle Paul are so HARD and DIFFICULT to the extent that the Apostle Peter says that the “untaught and unstable people twist to their own DESTRUCTION, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16). If you can go to Heaven just by staying away from “murderer, fornication, alcohol and cigarette,” then WHY should JESUS take your SINS through His baptism and be brutalized mercilessly, scourged, chastised, disgraced, and be crucified in horror on the Cross because of your SINS?

How on earth can you enter the “HOLY CITY” through your own acts of RIGHTEOUSNESS whiles the works of the suffering MESSIAH are all in “VAIN?” That’s why the Apostle Paul said that, “I do not set aside the GRACE of God; for if RIGHTEOUSNESS comes through the LAW, then CHRIST died in VAIN” (Galatians 2:21).

Therefore when our Scripture reading says that, “But OUTSIDE are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practice a lie,” it is actually referring to those who have NOT been “WASHED, SANCTIFIED,” and “JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord JESUS and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Our study continues.................

THANK you Lord JESUS!



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Eric Aboadwe
October 22, 2017 ·

SPIRITUAL DOGS OUTSIDE THE CITY

Our Scripture reading still remains in Revelation where it is written:

“But OUTSIDE are DOGS and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practice a lie” (Revelation 22:15).

We are grateful to the Lord God of MERCY and COMPASSION for revealing His intention and will for us in JESUS CHRIST who gave Himself for our SINS and who delivered those of us who believe in His eternal atonement from this present evil age (Galatians 1:4).

When the Word of God says that, “But OUTSIDE” the Holy City “are DOGS,” we must know that this is referring to those who have turned themselves into SPIRITUAL “DOGS” before the Lord God Almighty. But in order comprehend the reason why our Scripture reading refer to such people as “DOGS,” I want us to read a passage from the Epistle of Apostle Peter.

He said, “But it has happened according to the true proverb: A DOG returns to his own VOMIT,” and a sow, having been washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:22). Through this passage, we can see that “OUTSIDE” the Holy City are not only SPIRITUAL “DOGS,” but there are also SPIRITUAL “PIGS.”

One peculiar characteristics of the animal called “DOG” is the fact that when they eat, they eject or throw up the contents of the food in their stomach through their mouth, and this is what is referred to as “VOMITING.” However, these “DOGS” eat again what they have vomited out, and they throw it up once more, and then eat what they had just vomited out again.

The sad thing is that but many BELIEVERS in Christendom have also turned themselves like this, and they exhibit the same characteristics. Such people confess before God, “Lord, I’m a SINNER; please wash away my SINS.” After that they will be praising God and singing, “He paid the DEPT He did not owe, I owed a DEBT I could not pay. I needed someone to WASH my SINS away. And now I sing a brand new song amazing grace. CHRIST JESUS paid a DEBT that I could never pay.”

But within the next moment, such people end up crying again, “Lord, I’m a SINNER; if you would just forgive me one more time, I’ll never SIN again.” They then begin to sing again, “He paid the DEPT He did not owe, I owed a DEBT I could not pay....” These are the very people that the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST which God gave Him to show His servant John (Revelation 1:1) is telling us that they are the “DOGS” who would not be able to enter into the Holy City.

People like that go back and forth to the extent that you cannot tell whether they were actually FORGIVEN of their SINS or not. Another characteristics of “DOGS” is that they bark every day. Therefore they do it in the morning, afternoon, and at dawn. Therefore the SPIRITUAL “DOGS” cry out that they are still “SINNERS” even though they claim that their SINS have been FORGIVEN. They are “RIGHTEOUS” one minute, and they turn into “SINNERS” the next minute.

By living their life of FAITH like this, they are like the “DOGS” that “VOMIT” out what’s inside and eat it again, and then they “VOMIT” it out again only to eat it one more time. In short, the Bible refers to Christians who still have SIN in their hearts as the “DOGS.” These “DOGS” can never enter the Kingdom of God, but must remain “OUTSIDE” the City.

As a Christian, you must vomit SIN and drink the RIGHTEOUSNESS of JESUS CHRIST by faith in His salvation which “came by water and blood” (1 John 5:6). You don’t have to vomit SIN and swallow it back again. The Holy Bible refer to those who do that as spiritual “DOGS.” And it is not Brother Eric who is saying this, but it is the Holy Book of the “Revelation” of JESUS CHRIST.

When the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians that, “And such were some of you. But your were WASHED, but you were SANCTIFIED, but you were JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord JESUS and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11), it means that by NATURE we were all like “DOGS” and “PIGS” and “GOATS” after the fall of man.

However the Lord JESUS saved us from this SINFUL NATURE through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). And He did this in order for us to become His “SHEEP.” That’s why He said, “My SHEEP hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall NEVER perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is GREATER than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).

Therefore if JESUS has transformed you as His “SHEEP” like this through His “ETERNAL POWER,” and you still offer the prayers of “DOGS” and “PIGS” and “GOATS,” then you will be thrown “OUTSIDE” the City where Satan the Devil, the Beast, and the false prophet are cast to be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).

If you say that JESUS has SAVED you but you are still a “SINNER,” then you have turned the salvation of CHRIST into a lie. God cannot tolerate such people in His Kingdom of “HOLINESS.” So all Christians must return to the TRUE GOSPEL of the salvation of the water and the Spirit which JESUS told Nicodemus (John 3:5). This is the only way of ESCAPE from being destroyed “OUTSIDE” the City.

Those who believe in the “TRUTH” will never become “DOGS.”