The word Holiness for years has struck a chord of fear, of impossibilities in many Christians. To some the word Holiness is unattainable, and some see it as legalism based on their experience.
I am always challenged by scripture and what it represents. Therefore, based on scripture, I do not see Holiness as anything other than what God is calling the Church to. He who has called us is able to complete what He began.
Hebrews 12:14
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
I believe that all believing Christians have all been called to a lifestyle of Holiness. Not just called to Holiness but to PURSUE HOLINESS. To strive towards Holiness. This is a call to the Church, to push towards peace with all men AND to live a life of Holiness without which no one can see God.
Paul puts it this way in 1 Thessalonians 4:7
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
In Ephesians 1:4
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
He tells us that God chose us, He handpicked us, long before the earth was created that we should be Holy and without blame before Him. It is important that we note the statement says “…BEFORE HIM IN LOVE” This is very important in our Christian walk, to live blameless before Him.
In the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks about the blessed believer, He speaks about being the salt and light of the earth, He speaks about adultery, He speaks about murder, He speaks about the sacredness of marriage, and He also spoke about loving your enemies. Finally, He ends part of His sermon with this statement in
Matthew 5 verse 48.
Therefore, you shall be perfect, Just as your father in heaven is
perfect.
In reading this verse, I realised that this is an invitation from Jesus to every believer to be blameless, complete and whole, just as God is. Our call to Holiness is to live according to God’s standard, to be blameless, whole and complete.
In pondering on this invitation to be like Him, I realised that it is a matter of the heart.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 15: 16-20
16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
When we were yet unsaved, we were completely ignorant of the call to Holiness. However now that we are Christian believers, we are to allow the Holy spirit to do the diagnosis of our hearts and reveal to us the characters and actions that are not of God.
When we allow Him, He will recreate in us the same spirit that was in Christ. He will reveal to us those characters and attitudes that once was a barrier to living a Holy life and help us reshape our thinking.
Hebrews 12:14-15
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
The pursuit of holiness is choosing to submit to God and aligning our daily actions, thoughts and intentions to God’s will. The Apostle Paul says without it we cannot see God.
This lifestyle is a life of forgiveness, loving our neighbours as ourselves, living righteously, making God number one in everything we do.
We must realise that God’s call to Holiness is to completely separate ourselves unto Him and Him alone.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Before we were redeemed by God, we lived our lives fulfilling our own desires, but we are now a new creation, washed by the blood, sanctified (set apart), and justified. Hence, we are expected to live our lives bringing God glory because we are His temple.
God counsels His Church, to live differently from the world even though we are in the world.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them. And walk among them. I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore “Come out from among them. And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”
THE BENEFITS OF A HOLY LIFESTYLE:
Fosters intimacy with God and builds spiritual strength and stability
Psalm 15:1-5
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart.
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbour, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honours those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change.
5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Makes us useful and effective for God’s purposes
2 Timothy 2:20-22
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
It causes people around us to glorify God
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
It builds peace with God
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
Finally, we increase and abound in love
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
In conclusion, I want to encourage each and every one that the pursuit of Holiness is a lifelong journey. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit our helper to navigate the journey, and we will come out triumphant on the day of reckoning.
