(Connecting Advent and Holiness)
Paul saw his mission to ready his churches for the second advent of Jesus by leading them into abounding love and holiness. “Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 NRSV). John Wesley believed that the mission of the Methodists was to spread scriptural holiness around the world. This also being a Pauline biblical mandate should be a part of every church’s mission. Jesus’ work for His bride is to get her ready for His second advent by making her holy.
“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25–27 NRSV).
