The Gospel was changed by God:

[Episkopos]

The story does not need to be interpreted by you. It speaks for its self.

Why do you want to put words in my mouth and then use them to attack me. I never said the Holy Spirit is a religion. That is absured!!!!

You manufactured this false saying so you could use it against me and yet you are on this forum telling me that you do not sin. The eyes of God are upon you as well as me.

You are accusing me of preaching a dead religion...how ironic. I have only spoken of walking in the Spirit...which you then interpret me saying as walking in religion. Perhaps you should re-read your responses to me but this time according to what I actually said. That would help the process along very nicely! :)

 

[lawrance]

Matt 5: 20
And something about a narrow gate.

 

[RichardBurger]

Matt 5: 20
And something about a narrow gate.

Have you noticed how many on forums talk about trying to not sins? Most all believe that the way to God is to not sin.

It is the few that understand that God made a way for sinners to be saved by faith in His work on the cross, - plus nothing.

 

[Episkopos]

Have you noticed how many on forums talk about trying to not sins? Most all believe that the way to God is to not sin.

It is the few that understand that God made a way for sinners to be saved by faith in His work on the cross, - plus nothing.

The biblical position is that when we are in Christ...we just don't sin...not through human effort, but by grace. God will not condone sin. Jesus did not die in order to condone sin. He was resurrected to give us the same power as He has. THAT is the gospel. But to obtain this new life, we need to forsake the old life and have God crucify it for us...so that we turn from what previously empowered us (the flesh) and cling to the new life that now empowers us (through the Spirit).

Being holy is NOT through our own efforts. I have told you this easily dozens of times...but you can't hear it either from me or from reading the bible. We overcome sin BY ABIDING IN CHRIST who is already without sin. :)

Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

[RichardBurger]

The biblical position is that when we are in Christ...we just don't sin...not through human effort, but by grace. God will not condone sin. Jesus did not die in order to condone sin. He was resurrected to give us the same power as He has. THAT is the gospel. But to obtain this new life, we need to forsake the old life and have God crucify it for us...so that we turn from what previously empowered us (the flesh) and cling to the new life that now empowers us (through the Spirit).

Being holy is NOT through our own efforts. I have told you this easily dozens of times...but you can't hear it either from me or from reading the bible. We overcome sin BY ABIDING IN CHRIST who is already without sin. :)

Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

If a person looks behind what you are saying it all boils down to your trying not to sin.

It is correct to say that because we are in Christ our sins are not counted against us. It is incorrect to say that becaue we are in Christ our flesh no longer sins.

 

[Episkopos]

If a person looks behind what you are saying it all boils down to your trying not to sin.

It is correct to say that because we are in Christ our sins are not counted against us. It is incorrect to say that becaue we are in Christ our flesh no longer sins.

Not according to the bible....You are expressing your own opinions rather than looking to the word.

What does this mean.?
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Will you try to look "behind" this message...or will you look at it dead on in all honesty? Don't apply your worldly understanding to the message...look at it head on. The word says what it says...don't read your own interpretation into it. The gospel is according to POWER...the power of a NEW life in Christ...not a forgiven old life.


This is a very basic message of the gospel. It takes faith...not human understanding to go to God with this and have HIM make this a reality in your life. Believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and sin not! He is risen!!!!

1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

 

[mark s]

Episkopos,

AMEN!!!

 

[Rach1370]

Have you noticed how many on forums talk about trying to not sins? Most all believe that the way to God is to not sin.

It is the few that understand that God made a way for sinners to be saved by faith in His work on the cross, - plus nothing.

Yes, salvation is by faith alone. The end, no more, nothing to do with us.
However....once salvation is ours and we are saved by grace...we then spend our lives, walking by the Holy Spirit, in sanctification...part of which is the process of putting sin to death every day and striving to live and love like Jesus.

 

[Episkopos]

Paul warned the Galatians to not resort to human efforts of the law after they had received grace....but to continue trusting God and having faith in His continuing provision of grace.

Manna for one day cannot be kept over for the next (unless it was to be sabbath). "Give us this day our daily bread." So we cannot just rely on what God did for us yesterday...or 2,000 years ago. Grace is always for today. So we walk in THAT grace provision in order to be overcomers TODAY! That is the salvation process of REMAINING in Christ and walking in the Spirit of grace.

So we can intellectually figure we are saved by applying a past event to our present circumstances (but without the power)...or else we can walk in the daily provision of grace...procurred for us 2,000 years ago...but alive TODAY in the form of the grace portion we receive today (like manna).

We cannot walk in the past...but we can walk in the intimacy of God's presence TODAY. IF we do this, then we cannot sin. But we will have to trust God as if for our next breath. We don't rely or get fooled into walking in our own strength through some intellectual grasp of an act of Jesus from the past...we walk in newness of life by the POWER of the life to come continually. :)

This is the best kept secret in the world...it would seem.

ειπεν αυτη ο ιησους εγω ειμι η αναστασις και η ζωη ο πιστευων εις εμε καν αποθανη ζησεται
. . . saying to her Jesus, I AM the resurrection and the life, the one believing into Me even dying shall live .


I love the Greek KAI....for INTO. We have faith and God places us INTO Christ so that we walk as He walked on this earth. And we must remain IN Christ in order to overcome and fulfill the commandments. A Christian in truth is one who lives FROM Christ because he has believed INTO Him. :)

 

[veteran]

This is a false gospel. We are not saved in order to be saved. A shovel is not bought in order that we can say we have a shovel. Grace is the means given to us in order to fulfill the righteous and holy standards of God and to do the works of God through the Spirit. The lazy servant is called wicked and he is rejected. We must WALK in the Spirit...not relax in a spirit of self-satisfaction that we are SO saved by lip-service. Faith without works isn't faith yet.

I really like that metaphor, "A shovel is not bought in order that we can say we have a shovel."


Richard's confusion comes from the Hper-Dispensationalist movement, an offshoot of Dispensationalism that John Darby in 1830's Britain instituted. Later ones like C.R. Stam continued to develope Darby's Dispensationalist ideas, going so far that even mainstream Dispensationalists disagree with them! Many of the Hyper-dispensationalists do not believe in water baptism, nor partaking of The Lord's Supper.

The real center doctrine of Hyper-Dispensationalism follows the "Pauline" doctrine of Marcion, an excommunicated bishop of the 2nd century A.D. (See Marcionism). Marcion's doctrines are linked to early Gnosticism, a belief system that combined Greek pagan philosophy with Christian doctrine (a la The Da Vinci Code).

Marcion treated The God of Israel as merely a 'demiurge', not linked with God The Son Jesus Christ. He treated our Lord Jesus as totally independent of The God of Israel. Can you now see why those like Richard denies there is only One Gospel which is to both Israel and Gentiles alike? It's from the false doctrines of Marcionism, which migrated to form 'Pauline' doctrine.

Yes, salvation is by faith alone. The end, no more, nothing to do with us.
However....once salvation is ours and we are saved by grace...we then spend our lives, walking by the Holy Spirit, in sanctification...part of which is the process of putting sin to death every day and striving to live and love like Jesus.

Richard's message originates from Marcionism who held doctrines of Greek Gnosticism. That's where the idea that once 'grace' is applied, then we can do whatever we want and still be saved. It's the root of the "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrines going around today.

What that confusion does is put the believing Christian back in bondage to the law, for it means to walk by our flesh, instead of walking by The Spirit like Paul said for us to do (Galatians). Apostle Paul was very exact on what happens to those who walk by their flesh with what kind of works that produces (Gal.5; 1 Tim.1; 1 Cor.6). It is these that will have a greater propensity to allow on-going uncorrected sins within the congregations, actually destroying those congregations.

 

[Rach1370]

Richard's message originates from Marcionism who held doctrines of Greek Gnosticism. That's where the idea that once 'grace' is applied, then we can do whatever we want and still be saved. It's the root of the "Once Saved, Always Saved" doctrines going around today.

What that confusion does is put the believing Christian back in bondage to the law, for it means to walk by our flesh, instead of walking by The Spirit like Paul said for us to do (Galatians). Apostle Paul was very exact on what happens to those who walk by their flesh with what kind of works that produces (Gal.5; 1 Tim.1; 1 Cor.6). It is these that will have a greater propensity to allow on-going uncorrected sins within the congregations, actually destroying those congregations.

Hey. Can I ask how you know Richard follows this 'Marcionism'? Has he said so?
I do believe he is very mistaken on his 'two gospels' idea. Especially when the whole OT points at Christ....as does the whole NT!
I've been reading some of your and Richard back and forths, and apart from the 'two gospel' thing I have to wonder at whether some miscommunication is happening...either between you guys or on my part! He says that salvation is through faith alone by grace alone. Which the bible certainly backs up. You say that that teaches licentiousness. And to those not truly saved, it does. But to those who have truly been regenerated, it doesn't....it leads us to live, as you say, in step with the Spirit, living a life pleasing to God. But in this walk, we need to be very careful we don't fall back on rules...that leads to religiousness and lawfulness (which ultimately leads to lawlessness, as we can't keep them perfectly as required!). In grace we have the freedom to follow the Spirit, be free from a law we can't keep, and just please God by enjoying and praising Him.
Anyway, it seems to me that you both have some good points....we need to be careful not to try and earn our own salvation, but we mustn't think this gives us licence to sin.

 

[veteran]

Hey. Can I ask how you know Richard follows this 'Marcionism'? Has he said so?
I do believe he is very mistaken on his 'two gospels' idea. Especially when the whole OT points at Christ....as does the whole NT!
I've been reading some of your and Richard back and forths, and apart from the 'two gospel' thing I have to wonder at whether some miscommunication is happening...either between you guys or on my part! He says that salvation is through faith alone by grace alone. Which the bible certainly backs up. You say that that teaches licentiousness. And to those not truly saved, it does. But to those who have truly been regenerated, it doesn't....it leads us to live, as you say, in step with the Spirit, living a life pleasing to God. But in this walk, we need to be very careful we don't fall back on rules...that leads to religiousness and lawfulness (which ultimately leads to lawlessness, as we can't keep them perfectly as required!). In grace we have the freedom to follow the Spirit, be free from a law we can't keep, and just please God by enjoying and praising Him.
Anyway, it seems to me that you both have some good points....we need to be careful not to try and earn our own salvation, but we mustn't think this gives us licence to sin.

Because that's the early origin that led to 'Pauline' teaching that tries to separate The One Gospel apart from all other Scripture except Paul's. That's what a separate gospel only to Israel, and a separate gospel only for Gentiles is about (i.e., 2 Gospels), and that's what Richard has been pushing in several threads on this Forum.

He says that salvation is through faith alone by grace alone. Which the bible certainly backs up. You say that that teaches licentiousness. And to those not truly saved, it does.

Please don't put words into my mouth. What you infer I said is wrong, I never said any such thing.

I never said anything against the Biblical fact that we are saved ONLY by Faith on Jesus Christ. That Salvation by Faith automatically includes... the idea of His Grace; not a difficult issue to understand, for it simply means we cannot save ourselves, nor can following God's laws save us.

So if I am not against any of that, then just what matter in his posts do you think I'm against? You yourself dealt with the 'two gospels' idea he's been pushing here, on this very thread if I'm not mistaken. Even you said you did not agree with him on that.

Are you showing bias against me because I disagreed with your own views of Amillennialism?

If not, then why would you think I don't agree we are saved ONLY by Faith on Jesus Christ, by His grace?

 

[Rach1370]

Because that's the early origin that led to 'Pauline' teaching that tries to separate The One Gospel apart from all other Scripture except Paul's. That's what a separate gospel only to Israel, and a separate gospel only for Gentiles is about (i.e., 2 Gospels), and that's what Richard has been pushing in several threads on this Forum.

Mm..okay!

Please don't put words into my mouth. What you infer I said is wrong, I never said any such thing.

Whoa, take a breath! Sorry, I didn't at all mean to 'put words in your mouth'...no need to be so defensive. I thought that was your point...sorry if it was not.

I never said anything against the Biblical fact that we are saved ONLY by Faith on Jesus Christ. That Salvation by Faith automatically includes... the idea of His Grace; not a difficult issue to understand, for it simply means we cannot save ourselves, nor can following God's laws save us.

Again, please, you don't need to be defensive...I didn't say you were against Biblical grace! I never even thought it! I only thought that you were pointing out to Richard that believing a Christian life means nothing but 'Jesus' got it, we can do what we want', lead to licentiousness. Which I agree with.

So if I am not against any of that, then just what matter in his posts do you think I'm against? You yourself dealt with the 'two gospels' idea he's been pushing here, on this very thread if I'm not mistaken. Even you said you did not agree with him on that.

Are you showing bias against me because I disagreed with your own views of Amillennialism?

If not, then why would you think I don't agree we are saved ONLY by Faith on Jesus Christ, by His grace?

No, this has absolutely nothing to do with Amil views....at all. We have spoken and disagreed on that...it's done and I have no problem with you...nothing I've said here reflects on any of that. I disagree with plenty of people and it doesn't stop me from having friendship with or respect of them.

As far as my point "beyond the two gospels", I thought I mentioned it:

Anyway, it seems to me that you both have some good points....we need to be careful not to try and earn our own salvation, but we mustn't think this gives us licence to sin.

I was, perhaps clumsily, trying to make a small bridge between you. Richard holds to grace by faith (as you do) which is right and true, and you make a very important point that grace which truly changes our hearts leads beyond a life of licentiousness to a life that pleases God...a response to grace.
My point was that they are both very good points. That was all.

 

[RichardBurger]

Yes, salvation is by faith alone. The end, no more, nothing to do with us.
However....once salvation is ours and we are saved by grace...we then spend our lives, walking by the Holy Spirit, in sanctification...part of which is the process of putting sin to death every day and striving to live and love like Jesus.

We put sin to death when we place our faith in Jesus' shed blood. Not by what we do in trying not to sin.

I am truely sorry that you and Veteran refuse toi hear Paul when he wrote that the gospel of grace that was revealed to him by Jesus was ""HIDDEN IN GOD"" and revealed to him. He also said that he did not learn his gospel from flesh and blood. Nor from the 12. But many refuse to see what Paul wrote.

 

[Episkopos]

But many refuse to see what Paul wrote.

This is so true!...or else indoctrinated to not be able to see...

 

[Rach1370]

We put sin to death when we place our faith in Jesus' shed blood. Not by what we do in trying not to sin.

I am truely sorry that you and Veteran refuse toi hear Paul when he wrote that the gospel of grace that was revealed to him by Jesus was ""HIDDEN IN GOD"" and revealed to him. He also said that he did not learn his gospel from flesh and blood. Nor from the 12. But many refuse to see what Paul wrote.

I didn't say sin isn't put to death by putting our faith in Christ. I only said that once salvation is ours, and we have a new and regenerated heart, we then try to live in a manner pleasing to God.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,(Philippians 1:27 ESV)

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:17 ESV)

and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Ephesians 5:10-11 ESV)

These verses all show that even once we have salvation, we still must live in a 'manner worthy of the gospel'. So again...yes, I agree that salvation is by faith alone, in Jesus alone. But true saving faith (which comes from Jesus!) moves us to live in a Christ like manner.

As far as your 'hidden' gospel...I'm sorry, there is zero biblical proof for it. You cannot hide behind your 'hidden' either. Just because God declared to Paul that He now was moving his salvation plan onto the Gentiles does not mean He suddenly switched to Plan B. As I have already shown in another post on this thread, there is plenty of verses to show that God always intended to use the Israelites and Jesus to bring salvation to the whole world. When you add that to the very real and clear fact that people do not see what God has already stated, then your 'hidden' gospel falls apart. God in the OT gave plenty of hints about who the Messiah would be, but when Jesus came, everyone was clueless. Doesn't mean God's plan was nebulous in anyway...Jesus arrived exactly how God said he would, in the 'fullness of time'. Likewise God's plan to 'harden the Jews' and extend salvation to the Gentiles, happened exactly how God had planned...no plan B. Then, of course there is the more blatant proof....Jesus said "I am the way" and Paul said "Jesus is the way". No differences there. And while they may have been speaking to predominately different audiences, the message...the 'gospel' was still exactly the same. So you really need to drop this 'two different gospels' thing and perhaps get into a study of Jews/Gentiles in the fullness of God's redemptive history. Plenty of books out there....

 

[RichardBurger]

I didn't say sin isn't put to death by putting our faith in Christ. I only said that once salvation is ours, and we have a new and regenerated heart, we then try to live in a manner pleasing to God.

These verses all show that even once we have salvation, we still must live in a 'manner worthy of the gospel'. So again...yes, I agree that salvation is by faith alone, in Jesus alone. But true saving faith (which comes from Jesus!) moves us to live in a Christ like manner.

NOTE: I notice you used the word "MUST." What I see is that you say once we have been saved we are then back under a law of works. I don't think works is compatible with grace. RB

As far as your 'hidden' gospel...I'm sorry, there is zero biblical proof for it. You cannot hide behind your 'hidden' either. Just because God declared to Paul that He now was moving his salvation plan onto the Gentiles does not mean He suddenly switched to Plan B. As I have already shown in another post on this thread, there is plenty of verses to show that God always intended to use the Israelites and Jesus to bring salvation to the whole world. When you add that to the very real and clear fact that people do not see what God has already stated, then your 'hidden' gospel falls apart. God in the OT gave plenty of hints about who the Messiah would be, but when Jesus came, everyone was clueless. Doesn't mean God's plan was nebulous in anyway...Jesus arrived exactly how God said he would, in the 'fullness of time'. Likewise God's plan to 'harden the Jews' and extend salvation to the Gentiles, happened exactly how God had planned...no plan B. Then, of course there is the more blatant proof....Jesus said "I am the way" and Paul said "Jesus is the way". No differences there. And while they may have been speaking to predominately different audiences, the message...the 'gospel' was still exactly the same. So you really need to drop this 'two different gospels' thing and perhaps get into a study of Jews/Gentiles in the fullness of God's redemptive history. Plenty of books out there....

Ephesians 3:9-10
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
NKJV

Don't miss the word """NOW""" in verse 10.

1 Timothy 1:15-16
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
NKJV

What does the words ""that in me first Jesus Christ"" and the word ""Going"" mean to you. Was Paul lying?

Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
26 but """""now"""" made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith —
NKJV

Galatians 1:11-21
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Contacts at Jerusalem (cf. Acts 9:26-31) 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.
20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
NKJV

 

[Episkopos]

Ephesians 3:9-10
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
NKJV

Don't miss the word """NOW""" in verse 10.

1 Timothy 1:15-16
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
NKJV

What does the words ""that in me first Jesus Christ"" and the word ""Going"" mean to you. Was Paul lying?

Romans 16:25-26
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began
26 but """""now"""" made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith —
NKJV

Galatians 1:11-21
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Contacts at Jerusalem (cf. Acts 9:26-31) 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.
20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
NKJV

What was hidden was the new creation in Christ that restores man to his previous fellowship with God. And a greater place yet, since God has joined Himself to men through Christ. Who could have foreseen that God Himself would fuse with His creation in order to create a "new man" that is made in perfection and holiness. :)

 

[RichardBurger]

What was hidden was the new creation in Christ that restores man to his previous fellowship with God. And a greater place yet, since God has joined Himself to men through Christ. Who could have foreseen that God Himself would fuse with His creation in order to create a "new man" that is made in perfection and holiness. :)

I sincerely believe that you believe what you have said here.

But I don't agree with you. Jesus did not come to elevate man, and to exalt him, but to give himself a ransom for many. He came so that through His shed blood sinners can be saved by placing their belief, faith, trust, and confidence in His work on the cross. All glory belongs to the one who saved us, Jesus Christ.

 

[Episkopos]

I sincerely believe that you believe what you have said here.

But I don't agree with you. Jesus did not come to elevate man, and to exalt him, but to give himself a ransom for many. He came so that through His shed blood sinners can be saved by placing their belief, faith, trust, and confidence in His work on the cross. All glory belongs to the one who saved us, Jesus Christ.

...as I believe you are also sincere in what you believe. But the gospel is far more than just a means of escape for sinners. Being sinners is our point of departure. We are forgiven of our past so that we can get on with a future IN God. The real question is the purpose of our salvation.

Were the Israelites only taken out of Egypt in order to be saved? Or were they led out of Egypt in order to serve the Lord?

Exo_8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

But without holiness we cannot serve the Lord. In the OT, this holiness was strictly in regards to ownership...being a separated people unto God. But in the NT this holiness is according to Spirit and in truth. So we now are slaves of righteousness insofar as we are no longer ruled by the old nature that was once ours in common with the world around us. We have been redeemed by the blood AND regenerated by His Spirit in order to become a NEW creation.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Eph 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.