TO THIS END...

ST LOUIS HOLINESS CONVENTION BEGINS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16!

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,  even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.  1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

TO THIS END...

Is GRACE a means or an end?  
In Ephesians 2:8 we read: "By grace are ye saved..." 

In Titus 2:11-14 we read: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

In Romans 6:14-18 we read, "Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 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? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

Without God's grace not one of us would be saved. We celebrate God's grace. We appreciate God's grace. John Newton was right! God's grace is amazing. Yet GRACE it is not proper to think of grace as the end, it is the means to an end. 

Is FAITH a means or an end?
In Ephesians 2:8 we read: "By grace are ye saved through faith..."

In Hebrews 11:6 we read: "Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

In Romans 5:1 we read: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Certainly faith is necessary to salvation.  Certainly it is through faith that we have "the victory that overcomes the world."  Yet FAITH in and of itself is not the end, it is a means to an end.

IS OBEDIENCE a means or an end?
In Ephesians 2:10 we read: "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." 

In James 2:26 we read: "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."  

Obedience is certainly natural (or I should say supernatural) for disciples who love the Lord Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples: "If ye love me keep my commandments." (John 14:15). We do love the Lord and we love to please Him!

But the Apostle John reveals that obedience is not the end, rather it is a means to an end: "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." 1 John 2:4-5

We see that keeping the Word of God is a means to another end, namely the perfecting of our love for God.

In his first letter to the Thessalonians (which by the way is the oldest book of our New Testament) the Apostle Paul puts it this way: "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another,  and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,

IN FACT GOD'S REVELATION OF HIS WORD WRITTEN, GOD'S REVELATION OF HIS WORD INCARNATE (IN THE FLESH--JESUS), GOD'S REDEMPTIVE ECONOMY IS DIRECTED TO ONE END--THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH OUR HEARTS UNBLAMEABLE IN HOLINESS!

The Bible is unequivocal:  "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14); "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." (Revelation 20:6); "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8).  Holiness of heart is the purpose, the "raison d'etre" for all that God has done, is doing, and will do, in us, and for us, and through us.  He knows that without holiness we can never dwell in the City of God.

If we can be distracted from pressing toward the end--hearts unblameable in holiness--the enemy knows he can keep us from heaven!  Like "Mr.By-Ends" in Bunyon's "Progress," too many people rest in forms rather than the fact.  

Some have halted along the journey unwittingly.  Entranced by the marvels of Grace, the possibilities of Faith, or the love of good works, they fail to "go on unto perfection."  (Hebrews 6:1).

Others have purposefully hesitated along the highway to holiness.  The call to discipleship--"Come and die"--is too much for them.  Like the rich young ruler, they have heard Christ say, "sell all," and they are unwilling.  

Unwilling to sell all, and unwilling to admit the truth about themselves they spend their days shouting "GRACE, GRACE, GRACE" or "FAITH, FAITH, FAITH."  Absorbed in these vital means they finally deceive themselves into thinking that the end, "a heart established in holiness," is not only improbable and implausible, but it is impossible.  

To this sort, Jesus spoke plainly: "This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  In vain do they worship me."  (Matthew 15:8-9)

THE GREAT END TOWARD WHICH ALL THE MEANS OF GRACE ARE DIRECTED, IS THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY!  God is willing and able to purify our hearts. Malachi, that last of the Prophets before John the Baptist, saw the LORD'S COMING and declared, "Who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.  And HE SHALL SIT AS A REFINER AND PURIFIER of silver: and HE SHALL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI, and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering IN RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Malachi 3:2-3).

Paul prayed, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." And then he testified, "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).  

MAY GOD AWAKEN HIS PEOPLE TO THIS GREAT END--HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD NOW AND FOREVER!

Pastor Rick Jones
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH + A CRUSADERS USA CONGREGATION
2969 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Ann, MO 63074   Cell Phone (314) 607-1424; Fax (314) 298-7442
BLOG: www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com  WEB: www.FCCToday.org

PREACHING SERVICES SUNDAYS 11AM & 6:30 PM

5 POWERFUL DAYS OF PRAYING, PREACHING, TEACHING, CONVERSATION, AND FELLOWSHIP
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

The Convention & Indoor Campmeeting Schedule are under the leadership of the HOLY SPIRIT and our plans will give way to HIS!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012       

6:30 pm  DOORS OPEN FOR PRAYER
7:00 pm  OPENING CHALLENGE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012          

9:00 am  PRAYER GATHERING & DEVOTION
10:00      HOLY CONVOCATION
11:00      EVANGELIST BEN CRAWFORD (Bible Methodist Connection, Alabama)

LUNCH BREAK - Served in the parsonage next door. Enjoy great food and fellowship.

1:30 pm  PASTOR ANDREW DURST (Great Commission Camp, Illinois)
2:15       THE GREAT CONVERSATION (A open discussion time)
3:15       MELVIN WATERS, (Wesleyan Nazarene Church, Arkansas)
4:00       KEN THOMPSON, (Church of God Holiness, Missouri)

EVENING MEAL - Served in the parsonage next door. Stay to visit with others attending.

7:00 pm  WILLIAM CAWMAN, (Emmanuel Church Association, New Jersey)
Singing by the Duane Elmore Family (Bible Holiness Church, Missouri)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012                  

9:00 am  PRAYER GATHERING  PASTOR JOHN POFF (Carthage Church of God Holiness)
10:00      GARY JACKSON (Bible Methodist, Pastors Troy Bible Holiness, Missouri)
11:00      WALLACE THORNTON, Sr. (Church of the Nazarene, Kentucky)
LUNCH BREAK - Served in the parsonage next door. Enjoy great food and fellowship.
1:30 pm  MISSIONARY STEVE GIBSON (Holiness Pilgrim Mission, Indiana)
2:15 pm  THE GREAT CONVERSATION (A open discussion time)
3:00 pm  MARSH JONES, (Crusaders Church, Illinois)
4:00 pm  GENE HOOD, (Independent Church of the Nazarene, Indiana)

EVENING MEAL - Served in the parsonage next door. Stay to visit with others attending.

7:00 pm  WILLIAM CAWMAN, (Emmanuel Church Association, New Jersey)
Singing by the Duane Elmore Family (Bible Holiness Church, Missouri)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012       
        10:00 am  SOUL-WINNING, WORK and WITNESS

6:30 pm  PRAYER SERVICE
7:00       EVANGELIST BEN CRAWFORD (Bible Methodist Connection, Alabama)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012       

9:00 am  Sunday School Bus Rolls
10:45      SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVOCATION
11:00      MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE (Evangelist Ben Crawford)
6 pm      PRAYER SERVICE
6:30       EVENING RALLY (Evangelist Ben Crawford)

IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT HOTEL RESERVATIONS OR TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT, BUS, OR TRAIN STATION, OR IF WE CAN HELP YOU IN ANY WAY GET TO THIS CONVENTION, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL ON MY CELL PHONE 314 607 1424 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            314 607 1424      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.