Holiness dress standards-salvation or consecration

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by consapente89

Holiness standards in and of themselves have no saving power. I know many who hold the same standards as the strongest Apostolic churches, yet have never been born again. Their standards will not save them. Standards of modesty and gender distinction are biblical commandments of God, therefore they are to do with consecration and necessary for the consecrated believer. Heaven is for people who have been converted and consecrated themselves to God. It is impossible to be consecrated while living in willful rebellion. Therefore, I do believe that standards of holiness are salvific in that they are necessary in order to live a life of holiness, and holiness and sanctification are essential aspects of salvation. I do not believe they are salvific in and of themselves, however.

Originally Posted by consapente89

Holiness standards will not save you by themselves, but you will be lost without them.

Is there anything consistent here?

[Amanah]

Holiness includes the following areas: purity in attitudes, thoughts, speech, the eye, appearance, not defiling your body, honesty, not being unequally yoked, abstaining from worldly activities

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Holiness includes the following areas: purity in attitudes, thoughts, speech, the eye, appearance, not defiling your body, honesty, not being unequally yoked, abstaining from worldly activities

And that's a wrap.

[berkeley]

Rap

[Michael The Disciple]

And NOW to the heart of the matter.

WHAT DRESS STANDARDS SPECIFICALLY are we talking about!

[consapente89]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Is there anything consistent here?

Let's say I'm a sinner and wear my hair long and smoke cigars.

I go to the Wesleyan Church and they tell me I need to get a hair cut and stop smoking cigars. I comply. I am still lost. My standards didn't save me.

I attend an Apostolic church. I go to the altar and speak in tongues. They baptize me in Jesus name. I continue to wear my hair long and smoke cigars. I am still lost. I continued my sinful lifestyle.

I go to the Apostolic Church. I get convicted of my sin and turn to God in repentance. I get baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. I cut my hair, quit smoking cigars, get rid of Hollywood and AFF. Now I'm saved because I was born again and began to walk in holiness.

[berkeley]

Since when is smoking a cigar a sin?

Get rid of AFF? ROFLOL! So you’re currently lost.

[Michael The Disciple]

I attend an Apostolic church. I go to the altar and speak in tongues. They baptize me in Jesus name. I continue to wear my hair long and smoke cigars. I am still lost. I continued my sinful lifestyle.

So whats the TIME FRAME here? If one gets born again (Acts 2:38) on Monday, are they still born again Tuesday if they still smoke and have not gotten a haircut?

[consapente89]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

So whats the TIME FRAME here? If one gets born again (Acts 2:38) on Monday, are they still born again Tuesday if they still smoke and have not gotten a haircut?

There may be a process of sanctification, but if these things are continued in spite of my enlightenment to their sinful nature, then I have not been converted. The New Birth is more than a 3 step check list. It is a transformation.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by TakingDominion

What is the difference between consecration and sanctification?

Really not much at all. It's just a slightly different focus on the same process.

Consecration, is more focused on being prepared for service. Sanctification, is more focused on becoming like Christ.

As with so many things, the two can be looked at from many angels. If one believes that one is consecrated for service as one seeks sanctification (Christ-likeness), then they are very much interchangeable. If one believes that consecration unto a sacred vocation (professional pastor) entails prayer, fasting, study, and perhaps even higher education, that is a distinct manner of consecration that is more in line with preparation, as opposed to aspiration to personal Christ-likeness, or sanctification. In this sense, the two might be rather distinct.

For the most part, I'd say it is typically safe to use the two interchangeably. I don't see any "dogmatic" manner of defining the terms.

The most important thing is... what do they mean to you? And are you seeking to consecrate your life and sanctify your self for God's use and purposes?