If a person has not obeyed Acts 2:38 to become a real Christian it does not matter how holy they live. In fact some of the more holy living false-christians who have reformed their lives can be some of the hardest to reach with the true Acts 2:38 salvation message because they are convinced that they are already Christian and the better they are living the more the devil can hold them by their pride.
It is considered prudent to teach holiness principles privately to those who have already become Christians by obeying Acts 2:38 so as not to confuse the heathen or choke babes in Christ with the meat of the Word. However in this hour with so many lukewarm compromised Oneness churches with blind leading the blind preachers I feel to publish this publicly since holiness is part of salvation. The "old paths" are not being taught.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Technically holiness is really a part of repentance from sin which is the first part of Acts 2:38
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
2 Peter 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
So we see that temperance is part of Christianity and that you cannot be "too" temperate. You cannot be "too" holy.
Holiness preachers were preaching against tobacco and alcohol long before society woke up to the negative effects.
Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Regarding drug abuse did you realize that the word translated as witchcraft in the Bible is pharmakeía where we get our word pharmacy. That is not to say that medicine is sinful, only abuse.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones
Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
So the Bible does NOT teach against doctors and medicine though I submit that prayer should be the first step in any such matter.
It is unholy/sinful for women to speak out and address the congregation during worship services or to teach. This is violated wholesale by corrupt Bible defying men. Many organizations have been measuring themselves by themselves and commending themselves for several generations.
II Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
From the Zodhiates' Study Bible Dictionary
2980. laleo aprol. form of an otherwise obsol. verb: to talk, i.e. utter words: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter,
Notice carefully that though women are commanded not to laleo at all during a worship service, that there is also a situation where a man is also commanded not to laleo to the congregation. We see here that women are ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN to laleo during a worship service:
1 Corinthians 14:34. Let your women keep <4601> silence <4601> in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak 2980>; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
Notice also that if there is no interpreter that a man with the gift of tongues is commanded not to use that gift but to laleo to himself and to God.
1 Cor 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep <4601> silence <4601> in the church; and let him speak <2980> to himself, and to God.
Whereas women are commanded NEVER to laleo to the church, men are commanded not to laleo under certain circumstances.
Regardless of popular traditions, the simple fact is that "speak" (laleo) means "speak" and when the Bible says that women are not permitted to speak to the church during a worship service it simply says what it means and means what it says.
I Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are
commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
I Corinthians 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Certainly "ask" in verse 35 doesn't mean "preach". Speak means "speak"
When the same word "laleo" is used in the verse that limits men to three messages in tongues and further limits that to the
situation where there is the gift of interpretation of tongues, it is definitely addressing the situation where the congregation is being addressed from the congregation and not from the pulpit. The word "laleo" INCLUDES preaching but is NOT in any way limited to preaching.
1 Corinthians 14:34. Let your women keep <4601> silence <4601> in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak <2980>; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
2980 laleo {lal-eh'-o} a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete
verb; TDNT - 4:3/4:69,505; vb
AV - speak (244) - say (15) - tell (12) - talk (11)
- preach (6) - utter (4) - misc (3) [295]
1) to utter a voice or emit a sound
2) to speak, i.e. to use the tongue or the faculty of speech; to utter articulate sounds
3) to talk
4) to utter, tell
5) to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts; to speak
4601 sigao {see-gah'-o}
from 4602; TDNT - omitted,omitted; vb
AV - hold (one's) peace (4)
- keep silence (3)
- keep close (1)
- keep secret (1) [9]
1) to keep silence, hold one's peace; to be kept in silence, be concealed
Women are COMMANDED to hold their peace during a worship service. They are COMMANDED not to "declare their thoughts". They are COMMANDED not to "tell". Notice carefully that there are also circumstances when MEN are commanded to keep silence and not give a message in tongues, and this is NOT referring to preaching.
1 Cor 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep <4601> silence <4601> in the church; and let him speak <2980> to himself, and to God.
It is a SIN for a woman to "testify" make a verbal "prayer request" or in ANY way address the congregation during a Christian
worship service. Such practices are REBELLIOUS TRADITIONS clearly forbidden by the Word of God. Paul also went on to say:
I Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
I Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
I hope I haven't violated verse 38 here.
There are reasons that Christians do not make a habit of telling dirty jokes or filthy stories.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Regarding tattoos or piercings:
Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.
Regarding jewelry and more... Including the whole makeup industry. Do a study about Jezebel.
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair,
or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Jewelry is just as much a sin as women speaking in Church or cutting her hair or a man having long hair. Shame = sin in these verses. Does a clock on the end of a string of pearls make it somehow not a necklace?
What about the ornamental cloth necklace status symbol that so many preachers wear so that they can look like lawyers?
Do a search about the history of the necktie.
How can a preacher with an ornamental cloth necklace status symbol and a clock bracelet or other ornament have the audacity to get up and preach against a woman having a string of pearls around her neck? The Bible forbids jewelry period!
Regarding watches: Does a clock on a bracelet make it no longer a bracelet?
Modesty in dress has always been important to God.
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Note that to Adam and Eve aprons were adequate for clothing but that was not adequate for God. God made them coats. Consider that aprons are like unto a lot of modern dress that leaves arms, chest and legs uncovered. Coats however have long sleeves and cover the body.
Holiness includes many things (and of course, if the heart is not right none of these things will matter, BUT if the heart is right then these things will matter VERY MUCH to the real Christian).
Holiness includes not wearing short sleeve clothing or shorts. Of course men wearing women's clothing or women wearing pants is sinful.
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.
Why would any real Christian woman wear pants knowing that it is abomination to God for them to do so? Of course a lot of preachers just don't love folks enough to tell them the truth.
1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without
the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any
amazement.
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Christian women obey their husbands.
Christian men cut their hair short, Christian women do not cut or burn or trim their hair. There is nothing in the Bible that would suggest that God views any types of rings or bracelets differently just because of a wedding or a clock. You won't find rings in any wedding in the Bible. Do you really think that a clock on a gold bracelet makes it less jewelry?
When the Bible speaks of long hair it is not referring to beards because most all men had one. Jesus had one. Amazing isn't it how many preachers would not let Jesus Christ Himself on their platform because of His beard?
1 Corinthians 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be
covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Why would any real Christian woman cut her hair and remove her covering and her glory and be as if she was shorn?
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
It is notable that if you are sitting under a pastor that is so tradition bound and scripturally ignorant that he calls
on women to speak and address the congregation during a worship service or has women running music or parts of the service, you might as well be sitting under a pastor with hair down to his waist.
Think there are any secrets from God? Think again.
Ezekiel 8:12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every
man in the chambers of his imagery ? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder,
debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have
pleasure in them that do them.
Having pleasure in them that do them? Does not the last group of scriptures sound like an ad for a soap opera or some
super new movie from Hellywood? When people watch wicked TV shows or movies are they not having pleasure from people sinning? We need to be careful.
Holiness preachers have always preached against television. If your preacher has a TV or lacks the spiritual integrity to preach strongly against wicked TV and movies, you need to start looking for a real pastor. Of course the internet has changed much but it is still different than TV because you have a choice whether to watch things you shouldn't or not. On the internet if you watched something you shouldn't have you did it on purpose.
Of course the cure for any of the stuff that I have mentioned here is simply repentance. To repent means to quit. If you are sinning then quit doing that. One of God's biggest things is forgiving sin when people sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness. Oh and really be CAREFUL what your kids are getting into on the internet.
Bro. Steve Winter DD
