Help for Holiness
Rediscovering God’s Resources for Practical Sanctification in Galatians 5:16–25
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Since the works of the flesh, works that typify the control of the flesh, flow naturally from fallen human nature, it is not hard to understand that they are indicative of a moral flaw that is antithetical to the nature and requirements of God. However, the fruit of the Spirit, although they find their expression and native soil in the life and character of the believer, they in fact originate with God through the Spirit, and are imparted at first as seed into newly prepared ground, where sin has been forgiven (justification) and where the nature is transformed (regeneration, union with Christ – death and resurrection to new life) (Rom. 6:1-8; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:19-21; Eph. 4:22-24). It is through an impartation by the Spirit that new life begins, and becomes the foundation upon which God through the same Spirit continues his sanctifying work in the life of the believer, developing and nurturing the fruit of the Spirit in his surrendered people, thereby ensuring that the whole enterprise from initial salvation to mature righteousness and godliness in the saints has its origin and fulfillment in the grace of God, because it is wholly his work through Holy Spirit from first to last (cf. Rom. 1:17; Phil. 1:6, 2:11-12). It is grace that imparts new life, and by grace that it is developed and matured, through the Spirit. It is clear, however, that there is a divine-human cooperation involved in the enterprise as well, where those who belong to Christ have first surrendered the flesh to crucifixion, and themselves to the Spirit to perfect holiness as a process of growth into full, godly maturity.
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About the Book
At one time there was a great deal of interest in the topic of holiness—but not so much anymore. Theological wrangling and impossible legalism has left many in the church frustrated and confused, with part of that confusion arising from idealism in the pulpit that rang hollow in the lives and experiences of ordinary believers. But what if there was significant help from God in the enterprise of living a morally triumphant life, where habitual sinning was not inevitable, and where the development of godly character was possible and found through a maturing relationship with God and growth in the Christian life? The apostle Paul certainly thought so.
In Help for Holiness, author and senior pastor Paul F. Evans revisits the topic of holiness and explores Paul’s admonition that believers shouldn’t seek more rules (legalism) nor give in to moral pessimism that says we cannot help but sin every day in word, thought, and deed. Instead, through morally transformative justification and regeneration, followed by a commitment to the crucifixion of the old life in the death of Christ, we can be raised to new life, which, through ongoing surrender to the Spirit, can in fact produce the conduct and character God is looking for.
In this postmodern world, we do not need to abandon an emphasis on righteous and holy living—God really has made a provision for us to succeed morally. Holiness was started by grace, and God will complete it in us by grace through the Spirit!
About the Author
Paul F. Evans has been senior pastor of the Wilmington First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, for more than twenty years; he has been pastoring for thirty-four years and has a master of arts degree in New Testament studies from Global University. Paul was born in Weston-Super-Mare, England, and grew up in the nearby city of Bristol. He became a Christian in 1967 when he was ten years old, and he began preaching when he was just fourteen; in 1979, Paul moved to Greenville, South Carolina, to prepare for ministry at Holmes Bible College, where he met his wife, Loala. Today he and Loala live in Wilmington, and they have two children and one grandson.