Holiness theology is a law-based doctrine that places the burden of justification and salvation on the believer. Some of the religions that support holiness salvation are Catholicism, Judaism, Church of Christ, Nazarene, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostalism. Holiness religions can be found in most mainstream organized religions. Before I discovered the Gospel and justification by faith, I was a holiness, Christian. Most holiness Christians reject the historical Gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation by grace through faith. This is unfortunate because no one will be saved without faith in Christ and his Gospel.
Holiness believers, believe that they must participate in their salvation by doing good works and keeping the commandments. "Being holy". Paul said, "Therefore by the deeds of the law (what you do) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law (what you do) is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20. Holiness Christians believe that if they are not doing good works and obedience to the law they will not be saved. Many of the Galatians were holiness Christians this is why Paul wrote.
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law (what we do) but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law (what we do) shall no flesh be justified" Galatians 2:16.
This scripture and many others like it have caused many to reject Paul and his Gospel. Any religious thing that we do is a work of the law. Trying to be saved by the works of the law (what we do) is not of the faith and is under the judgment of God and is why Paul wrote, "Because the law works wrath: for where no law is there is no transgression" Romans 4:15. It is not wise to be under the law or subject to it. The purpose of the law is to judge and condemn. Why anyone would want to be subject to the law is a mystery to me. Yet multitudes of holiness Christians are under the law and will be judged by it.
In the Gospel Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles them unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. No laws, rules or religion needed. We are justified by faith alone, because we are justified by Christ alone. Jesus justifies us by doing for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. It was Jesus that fulfilled the law and then abolished it, Romans 10:4. There are no laws or rules for Christians because Christ is our righteousness and we are complete in him, Colossians 2:10.
Holiness believers, believe that they must participate in their salvation by doing good works and keeping the commandments. "Being holy". Paul said, "Therefore by the deeds of the law (what you do) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law (what you do) is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20. Holiness Christians believe that if they are not doing good works and obedience to the law they will not be saved. Many of the Galatians were holiness Christians this is why Paul wrote.
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law (what we do) but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law (what we do) shall no flesh be justified" Galatians 2:16.
This scripture and many others like it have caused many to reject Paul and his Gospel. Any religious thing that we do is a work of the law. Trying to be saved by the works of the law (what we do) is not of the faith and is under the judgment of God and is why Paul wrote, "Because the law works wrath: for where no law is there is no transgression" Romans 4:15. It is not wise to be under the law or subject to it. The purpose of the law is to judge and condemn. Why anyone would want to be subject to the law is a mystery to me. Yet multitudes of holiness Christians are under the law and will be judged by it.
In the Gospel Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles them unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. No laws, rules or religion needed. We are justified by faith alone, because we are justified by Christ alone. Jesus justifies us by doing for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. It was Jesus that fulfilled the law and then abolished it, Romans 10:4. There are no laws or rules for Christians because Christ is our righteousness and we are complete in him, Colossians 2:10.
