HOLINESS is something we can relate to, identify with, and yet, remains elusive to our humanness; we have a hard time putting it into exact context, that we may adhere to it, but the SUPERNATURAL *GOD*, HIS SON, and HIS SPIRIT, THROUGH THE WORD, have alleviated this to a large degree, IF one studies, devours, and digests IN sincerity of receiving, and acceptance of HIS WILL that we become as sanctified, and set apart as is feasible! HE HAS PROVIDED, exceedingly, THE WAY TO HOLINESS, THROUGH CHRIST, HIS TEACHINGS, and HIS EXAMPLE, AIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT...
Understanding HIM, and HIS WILL is primary to gaining in HOLINESS, for it IS HIM we aspire to be as, to think as, to act as, and to react as! Again, this is accomplished by diligent, and deliberate studying OF HIM, through HIS WORD, that we can gather what is HIS WILL, and recognize THE WAY!!!
The holy takes on profound personal and spiritual realities in the New Testament text through its 230 instances.
Everything in the Old Testament begins and ends with the holiness of God. That emphasis is not lost but expanded in the New Testament. One inadequately interprets the New Testament if the Holy One of Israel is not presupposed in everything that is written. Holiness as the moral excellence of Yahweh is the same principle and standard for the life and ministry of Jesus. The radical discontinuity of Israel's monotheistic God is deepened in the appearance of the Holy One in incarnate flesh. Jesus is holy as his Father is ( John 6:69 ). Apart from angelic proclamation ( Luke 1:35 ), the only ones who recognize his unique essence at first are demons ( Luke 4:34 ).
Where the Holy One is, all that realize his presence are altered. Holiness as glory, power, and majesty are revealed in real ways tinged with mystery ( John 18:6 ). Jesus' miracles attest his nature ( Mark 4:35-5:43 ). Various uncleannesses are confronted and removed. The awareness of his purity brings immediate conviction ( Luke 5:8 ; Rev 1:17 ). Every element of holiness in the Old Testament is rehearsed and particularized in the person and work of Jesus.
The outward associations of the holy in Old Testament, postexilic, and rabbinic literature are radically internalized in the New Testament believer. Priestly rituals, prophetic descriptions of a holy social order, and the individual appropriation of holiness in the wisdom literature pointed to the people God was calling to himself. Jesus verifies this in the only usage of holiness attributed to him that is not a reference to divinity in John 17:17: "Sanctify them by the truth." This statement may be seen as the summation and purpose of the atoning work of Christ. He is not speaking about the endtimes but of a desire for the church to take on the likeness of the essential nature of God ( Heb 12:10 ). It is no surprise, then, that the common description for those who believe on the Triune God and relate to that God is "holy ones" (hagioiover sixty times in the New Testament). They are to be separated unto God as living sacrifices. ( Rom 12:1 ) evidencing purity ( 1 Cor 6:9-20 ; 2 Col 7:1 ), righteousness ( Eph 4:24 ), and love ( 1 Thess 4:7 ; 1 John 2:5-6 1 John 2:20 ; 4:13-21 ). What was foretold and experienced by only a few in the Old Testament becomes the very nature of what it means to be a Christian through the plan of the Father, the work of Christ, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
The moral and ethical results of this new realization of the consecrated will are radical indeed. Sexual purity within and without marriage, real and submissive lifestyle commitments that cause unbelievers to reflect on the nature of the Christian God, blamelessness of heart, good works, contentment, and constant praise are but a few of the results of the new nature God both imputes and imparts to the New Testament believer. There is no area left untouched by the holiness of God, not as an external standard alone but as the impartation of the divine nature in all of its fullness ( 2 Col 5:21 ; Heb 12:10 ; 2 Peter 1:4 ). There is an inheritance for the people of God that includes not just eternal glories but the possibility of living a life that is good, one that is what God intended. Sobering is the thought that the final distinction recorded in Scripture in the judgment at the end of human history will be whether one is holy or not ( Rev 22:11-15 ).
It is important to note that no one is ever called to be or can become holy alone. The saints comprise the church as a holy community. It is in the middle of normal life that the central factors of holiness are worked out. In ways similar to the transmission of the covenant in the Old Testament, there is a mutual accountability and encouragement inherent in the call to reflect the character of God (cf. 1 Thess 2:10-12 ; Heb 10:25 ; Hebrews 13:7 Hebrews 13:17 ).
The God who revealed himself to Israel and the church does so in an instructive manner. Progressive revelation is evident in the methodical way in which God shows himself to be both Holy and Love. Those ideas, though never exhausted by the human mind, become the essential terms for biblical faith. All else about God is comprised in and issues from his holiness. The believer is invited to live in his holy presence but only if that includes living with others who desire nothing less than God's holiness ( Heb 10:19-26 ). Once a person begins to comprehend the heart of holy love, then there is no response other than an outward orientation, in worship and service ( Hebrews 12:10 Hebrews 12:14 ).
Both Testaments attest that nothing less than holiness will fully satisfy the nature of God. Thus, redemption is not complete in deliverance alone. The believer is set free in order to become like the One who redeems. It is his will that his own would be like him in every respect.
This HOLY season, is a perfect time to dig deeper into understanding, and take on increased knowledge, while FOLLOWING in HIS footsteps, out of our LOVE for HIM, and the desire to share, FULLY, in HIM! Let us BLESS HIM in our ways, PRAISE HIM ALWAYS, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, REJOICE IN HIS LOVE, and CARE for us, THANK HIM, BE GRATEFUL, and content, and HONOUR HIM BY abiding IN HIS WILL, WAYS, and WORD, thereby increasing HIS work in us, HIS HOLY ONES!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLCIAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
1 comment:
There is great division about HOLINESS...
I know more than a few people who say that they are 'made' HOLY IN CHRIST, and this they say just before they head out to cheat on their spouse yet again, hit up, snort, or smoke some drugs, manipulate people for money, and so forth!!! The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so far from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it.
Yes, we ARE being transformed, but it is a process of WHICH we ARE partners, and HAVE responsibility TO REPRESENTING HIM WHOLESOMELY!!
A TRUE awareness of being transformed into HIS WILL is the END of the desire to act as in the past, and this is HOLINESS shaping, forming, and refining us!!!
LOVE INCLINES us to become WHOM we were CREATED to be, which is spirit, and what is spirit, is NOT inclined by what is flesh...
One or two BIBLE messages are not sufficient without the WHOLE WORD, for ALL within, IS integrated for the purpose of RETAINING, and MAINTAINING ALL WHICH IS HIS WILL, that which is JUST, RIGHT, and GOOD...
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