Holiness (excerpt of The Theology of Robert B. Thompson)

HOLINESS (EXCERPT OF THE THEOLOGY OF ROBERT B. THOMPSON)

The Baptism With Fire

There is a baptism with the Holy Spirit. This is the spiritual fulfillment of the Jewish observance of Pentecost. There is a baptism with fire. This is the spiritual fulfillment of the Jewish observance of the Day of Atonement. During the previous century, numerous believers were baptized with the Holy Spirit. During the present century, numerous believers will be baptized with fire. Our God is a consuming Fire!

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11—NIV)
As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:40-43—NIV)

Notice the timing: “At the end of the age.” We are here now.

Please notice that at the end of the age, everything that causes sin will be weeded out of the Kingdom of God. Also, all who do evil will be weeded out of the Kingdom of God. All this “at the end of the age.”

It appears that for the two thousand years of the Church Age, the Christian salvation has been regarded as one of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Now a radical change is here. The Christian salvation still is one of forgiveness, but the emphasis is on the removing of sin and sinners from the Kingdom of God. The Savior has become the Man of War. Moses has become Joshua. The twenty-third Psalm has merged into the twenty-fourth Psalm.

It has to happen sometime, doesn’t it? We know intuitively that the Kingdom of God is not a kingdom of people who are continuing to sin. The new Jerusalem is not a city of those who do not do God’s will. But when will the sin be removed—not the guilt of sin, but the sinning itself?

“At the end of the age.” The time is now. The place is wherever we are. The program involves God and our cooperation with God.

Christ will not do it alone. We cannot do it alone. It is the sword of the Lord and of Gideon, so to speak.

The Fire of God will burn the sin out of our personality. If we refuse to cooperate with the Lord, we ourselves will be removed from the Kingdom of God—Christian or not. It is a purging of the Kingdom, not a purging of the world!

Each one of us carries a suitcase loaded with snakes. Our snakes are in three categories: our love for and trust in the world system; the lusts of our flesh; and our self-will, self-determination. The Holy Spirit deals with each of these areas of sin in a different manner.

Concerning our love for the world spirit: we take the first step by being baptized in water, reckoning ourselves crucified with Christ. Then each day we make an effort to keep our involvement in the world, in the Antichrist spirit, to a minimum. We are not of the world and we need to act like it.

As we make this determination, God helps by bringing tribulation on us so that we have to keep praying fervently in order to come successfully through our problems. When we do our part by being in the world but not of the world, the Fire of God gives us the wisdom and strength we must have if we are to live a victorious life in the Lord Jesus.

Concerning the lusts of our flesh: the Spirit of God keeps pointing out to us the specific uncleannesses in our thinking, speech, and actions. Sexual lust is a major problem in the world today. Numerous leaders in the government and the churches are falling into sexual sin.

When we become aware of a specific fleshly sin, we are to confess it, denounce it as fit for the Lake of Fire, renounce it, turning away from it with all the strength we have, and then come to the Lord Jesus for wisdom and help so we do not fall into the same pit again. Many believers of today are going to be torn down from their high position in Christ because they are yielding to the fiery temptations that afflict our flesh.

Satan works with deception, particularly but not exclusively in the area of sexual lust. The only manner in which we can avoid being deceived is to take up our personal cross and carry it behind Jesus each day. This world is not Heaven, and when we try to make it heavenly we fall into deception.

Also, we are to pray constantly, “Do not lead me into temptation but deliver me from the evil one.” God hears this prayer if we are sincere and fervent.

Concerning our self-determination: of the three areas of sin, self-determination is the most difficult to deal with, and the most prevalent in Christianity.

I believe God has impressed on me that the only way to survive the coming age of moral horrors in America is to be very close to the Lord Jesus. I make it a practice at all times to talk to Jesus about everything I am doing, sometimes praying for help. In this manner I keep in the Lord’s Presence.

But as I look at how the denominations and the churches approach their work, it is as though they are doing what they think is best for Jesus and his Kingdom, but they are not actually hearing from him. They are taking for granted that he wants everyone on earth to make a profession of faith in Jesus. But is this actually what Christ wants? They are guessing, I believe.

There has been much talk about the timing of the so-called “rapture.” But has anyone heard from the Lord about a “rapture,” or are they offering their opinion?

Concerning the welfare of America: there are calls for repentance so our nation will be saved. But is this what Christ wants? Or has the practice of abortion-on-demand pushed America over the edge where Christ is not willing to hear our prayer for our nation? Do we know for sure or don’t we? It is not enough to just assume this is what God wants.

The principal problem of mankind is that of making decisions apart from Christ. This problem began in the Garden of Eden. It has continued to the present day. It exists in secular society and it exists in the Christian churches.

How many believers of our day are listening to Jesus and obeying Him diligently? I think there may be numerous believers who do walk with Christ through the day. But I do not know of a Christian organization or group that waits on the Lord. They all seem to have an idea of what Christ wants; but their decision so often is mental, not prophetic.

What would happen if every Christian organization stopped what it is doing and assigned some people to pray until God revealed his will?

According to what I was told by Einar Gislason, an Icelandic pastor, it was by assigning an individual to remain in an oxhide tent until he heard from God that Christianity was chosen as the religion of Iceland. It is a thrilling story!

To put it simply, we Christians must cease taking things for granted, assuming what Jesus wants today. Rather, we are to keep petitioning Him to make our wishes known. I do this. He has instructed me to seek Him fervently in every decision of life down to the smallest detail, and to encourage others to do the same. No decision we make during the day or night is too insignificant to merit the Lord’s attention,.

I think Jesus is saying that we now are entering the spiritual fulfillment of the Jewish Day of Atonement. It is a time of being reconciled to God as He points out the various sins of our personality. We confess our specific sins as being unworthy of the Kingdom of God. We judge them as evil. We denounce and renounce them with all of our strength, plus Jesus’ help.

Some denominations may have a true call to go forth and bring the Gospel to the spiritually dead people of the world. But I believe Jesus is telling me that what He desires is that his people turn from their sins and listen to Him at all times for directions for their life.

Those who make the change from self-determination to the rule of Jesus over their life will save themselves and those who hear them, throughout the coming age of moral horrors in America.

It is time for the baptism with fire that we might be reconciled to the Consuming Fire.

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, (Malachi 3:2,3—NIV)

Holiness

To be righteous is to behave with integrity of character, not defrauding another person. The righteous person is upright, merciful, honest, and truthful.

To be holy is to be set apart to God for His special purposes; and to be free from unclean spirits.

We see in the Levitical priesthood that some are more holy than others, depending on their calling. However, righteousness is an absolute. All people are required to be righteous, regardless of his or her position in the Kingdom of God.

God is holy. He has commanded us to be holy as He is holy. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Holiness is that important. But what exactly is holiness? Holiness is God himself.

God himself is Holiness. All that is of God is holy. All that is not of God is not holy. Thus we see that Divine calling, and obedience to God, are part of true holiness.

There is “holiness” of dress and of speech. But these are not holy unless God has ordained them. They are nothing more than religious practices, although the believers may be people of integrity and sincere in their actions.

We must be careful at this point, however. In the early Pentecostal churches there were strict opinions about dress, makeup, hairdos, usually aimed at women as we see. Then there was a reaction to these outward holiness guidelines. The pendulum swung too far the other way. Now Christian people can go to X-rated movies, swear, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and do as they please. “To the pure all things are pure,” they cry.

However, not all things are pure to the Lord Jesus. The “liberated” believers simply do not know the Lord and how important holiness is to God. I guess they forgot Paul said, “Come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing.”

The truth is, a Christian should look like a Christian; talk like a Christian; dress like a Christian; act like a Christian. Common sense tells us this; but sometimes common sense is in short supply, isn’t it?

If a believer does not know how to act like a Christian or look like a Christian, all he or she needs to do is to ask Jesus, or an unsaved person. Either one will set the record straight.

The filthiest aspect of the human personality is self-will. The Pharisees murdered the Lord because of their self-will, reflected in their love to be preeminent.

There is no foolishness, silliness, giddiness, joking, mischief, abandonment to revelry, spite, insincerity, lying, or duplicity in God. These are unclean spirits. They are not holy.

When we are brought before God our speech must be sound, sincere, void of craft or guile of any sort. This is why little children can stand in his Presence.

There is an ultimate sincerity and lack of foolishness in Gethsemane and Calvary. The thought of them is a comfort to us when we are suffering and at the end of our strength.

There is a romantic spirit that comes from God and is holy. God created such things as music, poetry, sunsets, and sunrises. This spirit leads us to the new Jerusalem.

There is a romantic spirit that comes from Satan and is unclean. This spirit results in treachery, despair, and sexual perversions. It leads to torment and finally to Hell.

A matter is holy if it includes the Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. A matter is not holy if it does not include the Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

How are righteousness and holiness related? Righteousness has to do with our behavior toward people. Holiness has to do with the relationship of our thinking, speaking, and acting toward God.

Ordinarily, truly holy people will behave righteously and are people of integrity. However, God may choose someone to be holy; but while he is coming to maturity he may from time to time behave unrighteously. We see this in the case of Jacob lying to his father.

One way of looking at holiness is that there is an absence of unclean spirits. God is totally spiritually clean and wants us to purge ourselves from all spiritual filthiness of the flesh and spirit. The Holy Spirit will accomplish such purging if we will cooperate with him.

When we are totally in God’s moral image, totally free from unclean spirits, and totally at rest in the very center of his Person and will, then we will be totally holy. May God grant this for each one of us.

I think the essence of holiness is obedience to God. It is true that God may regard us as holy if we are seeking to please and obey him, and yet not be behaving in total obedience to him. But in the final analysis, the person who truly is holy is the individual who is committing all of his or her ways to the Lord.

Our God is a Consuming Fire. All that does not proceed from Him cannot possibly survive his Presence. The time soon will be here when God shakes the heavens. Then all that has not been wrought in Christ, especially religious people and their works, shall be removed.

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken, that is, created things so that what cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:26,27—NIV)

When the above passage mentions “created things” it is referring to the works of human thinking and ambition. None of them will survive the Divine shaking. Only that which God brought forth in Christ is holy and unshakable and will remain in God’s Presence.

As I grow older I increasingly am aware of how much Christian work and activity is coming from the good intentions of Christian organizations and people. How often do denominations cry, “Let us go forth and save the world.” They are assuming that this is what God wants, because of the Great Commission.

But they do not seem to realize that the New Testament describes a covenant of the Spirit of God, and must be interpreted and obeyed only as we wait until we hear from the Lord Jesus. The Spirit of God must teach us how to apply any passage of the Bible.

Thus our well-intentioned Christian work may not be holy and may be subject to shaking and removal. God may not be authorizing it.

For years I have been making it a practice to listen carefully to what Jesus is saying. His word to me has been consistent: “It is time for God’s people to listen to his Spirit as He points out to them those areas of their personality that are not holy. They are to diligently confess, denounce, and renounce these unclean areas. The Holy Spirit will help all along the way.”

God is not speaking to me about going forth and trying to save the world. Is He to you? Rather He is telling me to advise his people to listen to Him and to obey him. God has new and surprising things to show us that will survive the shaking and will enable us to stand in Christ throughout the age of moral horrors that America is entering, and to help others to stand.

Is Christ saying this to you, or is He urging you to go out and save the world?

The behavior of the leaders of our government and their supporters in the mainstream media is difficult for some of us to understand. It appears obvious to me that our nation is being destroyed from within. So many people seem to be devoid of common sense!

I realize this is God’s punishment because of our tolerance of abortion-on-demand and other abominations. We have been given minds void of judgment. So our country increasingly is being weakened. If I am not mistaken, other nations of the world are seeing this destruction and are rejoicing that the once mighty America is falling to its knees, like so many great empires of the past.

Numerous sincere Christians are humbling themselves and praying that God will restore America. May God hear them and grant their prayer, provided we do not return to the present abominable practices.

There came a time in the history of Israel when God declared that He would not spare the nation from destruction. On one occasion God told Jeremiah that the people who surrendered to the Babylonians would be spared.

My point is, we need to hear from God before we tell Him what we want Him to do. Do you agree with that, or are you willing to pray against what God has determined? If we keep praying, and keep listening, then we will be able to pray in line with God’s Spirit.

“Be holy, because I am holy,” says the Lord. If we would see the Lord and live in his Presence we must be holy.

What does this mean? It means each day we are to bring more of our thinking, speaking, and acting into conformity to Christ’s will for us. It increasingly must be true that our personality and behavior are reflecting the current Word of God to us.

“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (II Corinthians 6:17,18; 7:1—NIV)
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. (I Peter 1:15—NIV)

The following text is taken from Perfecting Holiness
Copyright © 2006 Trumpet Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Our inner spiritual darkness is a destructive, corrupting bondage. If we are wise we will come to Christ that we may be delivered; that Christ may destroy the works of Satan that are part of our personality.

A treacherous, faithless spirit; lack of integrity. The Lord Jesus Christ is faithful and true. We must receive His integrity if we are to be in the image of God.

Self-centeredness; self-love; self-will. If we are to find love, joy, and peace, we must become an eternal part of God through Jesus Christ. God has given us our personal cross so our self-centeredness will be destroyed, releasing us into the ability to emphasize what will benefit the Lord and mankind.

An ungrateful attitude will be converted to thanksgiving when Christ is in us.

Self-interest rather than principle. The Lord Jesus does what is pleasing to God whether or not it is enjoyable to do so. He will help us adopt this attitude.

A perverse mind has no place in the Kingdom of God. It must be replaced with the sound, clear judgment of the mind of Christ.

A gossiping, slandering spirit must be replaced with speech that builds up the believer. Christ formed in us will accomplish this.

An undisciplined tongue is not part of the image of God. The Spirit of Christ will help us overcome this sin.

The spirit of fear, cowardice, timidity is unclean and must be replaced with the courage of Christ.

The fear of change is not holy. We are to be filled with the confidence of the Lord Jesus Christ when faced with change.

Fear of success/fear of failure. If we will ask the Lord Jesus, He will replace our fear of success/fear of failure with His confidence in His Father. Christ always is ready to receive favor and glory—whatever the Father has chosen for Him.

A sense of inevitability is an unclean spirit. Jesus Christ understands that His prayers move the hand of God. If we ask Him to, He will put that same confidence in us.

Dread, worry, apprehension, despair are unclean and must be replaced with the confidence and joy of Christ.

Not trusting God for the future is spiritual darkness. Christ will give us His faith if we ask Him.

Anxiety, nervousness because of the problems of life is unclean. We can gain mastery over this spiritual darkness if we will ask the Lord to replace our anxiety and nervousness with His peace—peace that passes understanding.

A man-pleasing spirit, seeking the approval of people must be replaced with Christ’s attitude who speaks and acts to please the Father.

Fear of a lack of money, material provisions must be replaced with Christ’s absolute confidence and trust in God to provide all His physical needs.

A willingness to bribe or be bribed must be replaced with the honesty and integrity of Christ.

An indulgent, weak nature must be replaced with the iron righteousness of Christ. How can we sit on the throne with Christ and govern with Him if we are indulgent and weak?

Rage and murder must be replaced with the compassion of Christ.

The desire to kill is an unclean spirit. A person must defend himself, his family, and his country; and sometimes it becomes necessary to kill an animal. But above and beyond the necessities of life on the earth is an urge to kill or murder. The Spirit of Christ can take the place of this satanic impulse.

The suspicious spirit must be replaced with the knowledge of Christ that He gains through constant prayer to God.

A jealous, envious spirit must be replaced with Christ’s contentment—contentment based on His understanding of His secure place in God’s Person.

All forms of witchcraft, fortune telling, tea leaves, astrology, seeking to bring something to pass by imaging it or believing or speaking it into existence, must be replaced with prayer and the faith of Christ. This includes the current “faith,” “prosperity,” and “imaging” practices. This includes also astrology-type personal prophecies. Believers become addicted to these in place of finding God’s will by presenting their bodies a living sacrifice. There is, however, a proper place for personal prophecies, but only under the supervision of godly elders.

A desire to be seen as mysterious or as having occult powers is unclean. The idea of being a sorcerer or magician can be appealing to Christians. They may desire to bring other believers into bondage by directing them with prophetic words. When we are filled with Christ we move in the supernatural realm but we make the supernatural natural.

A false spirit of prophecy must be replaced with the true Spirit of Christ.

Grandiose prophecy usually is not of the Lord. Sometimes God does speak to us of marvels; but much of the prophecy we are hearing today tends to glorify us and not the Lord Jesus. It is unclean. When Christ has become our life God deals with us in simple, unpretentious terms. We do not hear how great we are, how we are going to be revealed as all-powerful sons of God before the return of the Lord Jesus.

Indifference, complacency, lukewarmness are unclean attitudes. They must be replaced with the zeal of Christ for doing the Father’s will.

Smugness, offensive satisfaction with oneself must be replaced with Christ’s humility and His intense desire to please the Father.

Self-pity and pouting must be replaced with the worship of God and confidence in Him.

Self-justifying, defensiveness is terribly destructive. If we are to have the peace of Christ and move forward in Him we absolutely must let Him be the One who justifies our behavior. This He will do after He chastens us for any wrongdoing on our part.

Blaming other people for our troubles is the wrong way to respond to pain. Instead we should go to the Lord for relief and not look at the tools the Lord is using to teach us His ways.

A sensitive, easily offended spirit must be replaced with the buoyant attitude of the Lord.

Self-sufficiency is unclean. It must be replaced with Christ’s utter dependence on the Father for all matters of life and behavior.

Disobedience to God must be replaced with Christ’s determination to do God’s will in every aspect of life.

Arrogance and pride must be replaced with the humility of Christ, His willingness to be a servant.

Pride of station must be replaced with the humility of Christ. He always is ready to take the lowest place and associate with people of low estate.

Pride of knowledge, of intellect, is an unclean spirit. Such pride must be replaced with the humility of Jesus Christ, for it true that we know nothing at all!

Verbose, garrulous, glib speech must be replaced with Christ’s diligence in saying only that which the Father gives Him.

Flirtation must be replaced with the purity of Christ.

Infatuation, the tendency to “fall in love,” must be replaced with the Spirit of Christ. We will not be able to walk obediently, carrying our cross behind Christ, if we are being led astray by our blind emotions.

Narcissism, self-worship, is unclean and must be replaced with Christ’s concern for others.

Covetousness must be replaced with the contentment of Christ.

Idolatry, unclean attractions, soul-ties, must be replaced with Christ’s intense, undivided love for His Father. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Everything else must take second place.

Personal ambition and seeking preeminence, discontent with one’s appointed place, a desire to be important, must be replaced with the concern Christ has for other people, and with Christ’s willingness to be only that which the Father desires and to fulfill the role to which He has been appointed.

Seeking to control another person, possessiveness, must be replaced with a willingness to allow God to manage that individual. This does not, of course, refer to our duty as parents to guide young children. Even then our guidance must not be an arbitrary, unthinking control of the child but strong, reasonable, and kind direction.

The spirit of rebellion against God and other authority must be replaced with the submission of Christ.

An unloving, unkind, unfriendly attitude is unclean. When Christ is living in us we will be kind and friendly toward other people, as the Lord leads.

Insensitive to the needs of others. Our self-centeredness must be replaced with the care for others that is characteristic of God and Christ.

The spirit of exhibitionism, showing off, is unclean and must be replaced with humility.

A lust for, entertainment, pleasure, must be replaced with the joy of the Lord.

Partying, dissipation, drunkenness, orgies must be replaced with Christ’s ability to be satisfied with the pleasures granted Him by the Father.

Excessive pessimism, optimism, and enthusiasm must be replaced with the steady patience and confidence of Christ.

A morbid attitude must be replaced with the faith, joy, courage, beauty, and hope that are found in the Lord Jesus.

Antipathies and affinities must be replaced with Christ’s equitable assessment of individuals.

Unforgiveness, bitterness, rancor must be replaced with the forgiveness and mercy of Christ.

A spirit of complaining is unclean and must be replaced with the thankfulness and faith of Christ.

The spirit of hatred must be replaced with mercy, forgiveness, and Christ’s love.

Impatience must be replaced with the patience of Christ.

An impulsive spirit must be replaced with the calm, reasoned judgment of Christ.

A compulsive, driving spirit is not found in Christ or in those whom Christ is perfecting.

Harshness must be replaced with the gentleness of Christ.

A usurping spirit is unclean and must be replaced with the strict honesty of the Lord Jesus.

Changeableness, capriciousness, fickleness, flightiness, behaving whimsically, are not of the image of God. God does not change and always behaves straightforwardly.

A finicky, fussy attitude is not characteristic of the Kingdom God.

A coy manner is not the way of the Lord.

A spirit of gambling must be replaced with Christ’s trust in God for resources and directions.

Recklessness, rashness, presumption must be replaced with Christ’s willingness to wait and listen to His Father.

Brash, impetuous, tactless, shameless behavior must be replaced with that of the Lord Jesus, which always is prayerful, thoughtful, full of mercy, peace, and good will.

Boasting and bragging must be replaced with Christ’s modesty.

Exaggerating is an unclean spirit. Exaggerating must be replaced with a Christ’s Spirit of truthfulness.

Stubbornness, perversity are unclean spirits and must be replaced with Christ’s teachableness.

Filthy speech must be replaced with Christ’s purity of speech.

Avarice must be replaced with Christ’s trust in God.

Whatever we are clinging to must be replaced with Christ’s practice of giving everything to the Father.

A spirit of physical lust including an addiction to pornography must be replaced with the natural affection of Christ.

Homosexual behavior, lust toward children, and other sexual perversions must be replaced with the self-control and natural affection of Jesus Christ.

Frigidity, the inability to love or be loved, must be replaced with the Divine love of the Lord Jesus.

An inability to recognize and cope with evil; naiveté, is unclean. When the Lord Jesus return to earth He will be accompanied by an army of saints, of judges. They will establish the Kingdom of God on the earth by violence. In order to do this they must be able to recognize both good and evil, and able also to reward the righteous and punish the wicked, as they are directed by Christ.

A sentimental, overly sympathetic, maudlin spirit must be replaced with the pure Divine love of Christ.

Romantic thoughts must be replaced with Christ’s practice of praying and seeking the ways of Heaven. Romantic thoughts are a substitute for genuine love.

Nostalgia, romanticizing the past, must be replaced with our awareness of the Presence of Christ now and our vision of being with Christ in the future.

Our lack of self-control must be replaced with the management of Christ over our thoughts, words and deeds. Such management is accomplished through constant prayer and looking to Christ for every decision we make.

A man-hating, woman-hating spirit must be replaced with the normal affection of Christ.

A spirit of cruelty, meanness, abusiveness must be replaced with the kindness of Christ.

A spirit of silliness and foolishness is unclean and must be replaced with the sobriety of Christ.

Behaving in an affected manner in order to create an impression is unclean. The Lord Jesus Christ always reveals in Himself the speaking and actions of the Father. If we will ask Him to, He will replace all that is unnatural in our behavior with His simplicity and sincerity.

A desire to be seen as rough, tough, violent must be replaced with the gentleness and peaceableness of Christ.

Threatening and bluffing must be replaced with the sincerity of Jesus Christ, whose every word is weightier than all the sand on the seashores of the world.

Stealing and dishonesty must be replaced with the honesty of Christ.

Selfishness must be replaced with the goodness and generosity of Christ.

Brawling must be replaced with the peacemaking of Christ.

Wickedness, badness, vileness have no place whatever in the Kingdom of God. Christ’s pure Nature within us will replace all of our wicked, bad, vile compulsions and attitudes.

Malice and spite are unclean spirits and must be replaced with the kindness and good will of Christ.

An unmerciful spirit must be replaced with the love, forgiveness, and the mercy of Christ.

Greed is an unclean spirit. It must be replaced with the contentment of Christ.

Sudden, repeated, or prolonged anger is an unclean spirit. Christ is slow to anger, is not frequently angry, and is quick to forgive. We also are to be slow to anger, to seldom be angry, and quick to forgive. Sudden or prolonged anger must be replaced with the peaceable Nature of Christ.

Taunting and mocking are unclean spirits. These should be replaced in us with the gentleness and thoughtfulness of Christ, although there are times in the Bible when God mocks His enemies.

Unbelief and doubt are unclean spirits. When Christ is formed in us we will be able to believe the promises of God.

Fear of a lack of money or of material provisions. The Lord Jesus will help us as his trust in God for the necessities of life is expressed in us.

A scornful attitude is not becoming to a Christian. When Christ is dwelling in us we will have faith that with God all things are possible. This spirit must be replaced with Christ, who always believes the Word of God.

Judging, criticizing, faultfinding, and accusing ordinarily are unclean spirits. When Christ is working in us our judgment will not be based on what we see and hear but on what the Lord reveals to us.

Disdainful of others. When Christ formed in us we will not look down on other people.

The spirit of revenge, of vindictiveness is unclean. Vengeance belongs to God alone. Christ will help us overcome the spirit of revenge with compassion and mercy.

The spirit of blasphemy, showing contempt toward God, is unclean. The Lord Jesus Christ always worships and obeys the Father, and will express in us His reverence toward God.

A supplanting, defrauding spirit is unclean. Jesus will help us avoid defrauding people of what rightfully is theirs. We must replace this spirit with the uprightness of Christ.

All forms of self-abuse, masochism, suicide, self-destruction, self punishment. The Lord Jesus never punishes Himself and will enable us to take a proper attitude toward our own body.

Gluttony, including a desire for sweets is an unclean spirit. Christ will give us a normal appetite if we ask Him so we can overcome the American tendency to eat more than we need.

Substance abuse, drugs, alcohol are used to lessen the pain of life. Christ can give us joy and peace, and the blessings of Christ are not accompanied by undesirable consequences and side effects.

Laziness, sluggishness, carelessness; habitual lateness and forgetfulness are unclean spirits. They result in severe punishment. The Lord Jesus will share His diligence with us. We understand that forgetfulness sometimes is the result of age or illness. These are exceptions.

Quarreling, arguing, debating, dissension, discord, contention are unclean spirits. They are not found in Christ. The Lord Jesus will make us a peacemaker if we ask Him to.

An irritable, cranky attitude is an unclean spirit. The Lord Jesus will impart to us His calm, peaceable nature.

Meddling, busybody. A meddling spirit is unclean. Jesus does not interfere in areas where He has not been sent. When He has been formed in us, we will think, speak, and act according to the directions given us by the Father.

An officious, know-it-all attitude is unclean. If we will ask Him to, the Lord will replace an officious spirit with the Spirit of Christ.

Demons love to reason and debate. Divine truth is found only in the Life which Christ is.

Divisiveness, factionalism must be replaced with the harmony and peace found in the Person of Christ. The peacemakers are sons of God.

A religious spirit, loving doctrinal correctness and rituals rather than Christ. We note that the Lord Jesus never stressed doctrine or religious rituals, only that we believe in Him and live righteously.

An inflexible, doctrinaire attitude characterized the Pharisees. The Lord Jesus said they tithed herbs and ignored judgment, mercy, and faith. The Lord Jesus will make us like Himself if we will ask Him to.

A proselyting spirit pervades Evangelical Christianity. It must be replaced with the true Spirit of evangelism, which always looks to Christ for direction.

Bombast, pompousness, pretentiousness, are unclean spirits. God is not bombastic or pretentious in His words or deeds. Jesus will help us to be simple and plain when we speak, having in us the humility of Christ.

Affectedly dainty, precious, overrefined behavior is unclean. It has no place in the Kingdom of God.

Perfectionism is an unclean spirit. This spirit cripples some people. It is well that we do the best we can, and then leave the imperfect areas to the Lord. Christ will help us do this.

Sarcasm, teasing, quipping, joking are darkness. Jesus will help us avoid all traces of these. Jesus speaks in a kindly, constructive manner, and the kindliness of Christ will replace our sarcasm, teasing, quipping, and joking.

An insolent, insulting, disrespectful, rude spirit is unclean. The Lord Jesus never behaves this way and His Life in us will keep us from being unkind and disrespectful.

A surly, churlish spirit, a bad disposition, is unclean. The Lord Jesus always has a happy, uplifting attitude toward people and life.

A double-minded, weak-minded, unstable, indecisive spirit is unclean, and sometimes is the product of passivity or even of a spirit of perfectionism. It can be destructive. To be a victorious saint we must be able to keep choosing the serve the Lord, even in the face of difficulties. The Lord Jesus helps us to be single-minded and decisive in our behavior.

Deceit is an unclean spirit. It is not holy. The Lord Jesus will replace our deceit with His sincerity and honesty in all we do and say.

Hypocrisy, pretending to be something we are not, is unclean. The Life of Christ in us will cause us to be straightforward and honest when dealing with people.

The spirit of vandalism, of destruction with no constructive purpose in mind, is unclean. Christ will give us the authority and power to tear down the forces of wickedness, and then to restore in righteousness what has been destroyed. If we have the unclean spirit of vandalism in us it must be replaced with the uprightness, truth, and honorable Nature of Christ.

Love for and trust in the spirit of the world must be replaced with the love for the Father that Christ has.

Reasoning must be replaced with the mind of Christ and the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.

Being angry with God must be replaced with Christ’s love for the Father and trust in Him.

A sullen disposition must be replaced with Christ’s happy, confident Nature.

Moodiness is not characteristic of Jesus Christ. His Presence in us will enable us to remain constant in joy regardless of the circumstances. We recognize that on some occasions we are under great pressure and have to proceed cautiously, trusting God for each step; also that depression sometimes requires medical attention and medications.

Physically dirty, unkempt, disorderly, slovenly, boorish, coarse, loutish. Sometimes circumstances prevent our being as clean and neat as we would wish. However, when Christ is formed in us we will take advantage of every opportunity given us to be a clean, neat, orderly, gracious person.

Forgetting our spiritual lessons; unteachableness, is not part of the image of God. We are in the Lord’s school, and it is important we learn and remember what we are being taught.

Notice again:

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:22)

(“Holiness”, 3565-1)

HOLINESS (EXCERPT OF THE THEOLOGY OF ROBERT B. THOMPSON)

Table of Contents

The Baptism With Fire

Holiness