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07: Living Holy Lives – Thought Starters — 5 Comments

  1. The question of Holiness touches sanctification. The apostel Paul gave instrucions to the Thessalonians through the Lord Jesus regarding santification (1. Thessalonians 4:2). The apostels delivered to the church what they had received from Christ by eyewitness-account (1. John 4:1-4), oral tratidion (1. Corinthians 15:1-4) or even revelation (Galatians 1:12). In his instruction as to sanctification Paul points back to Christ as the author of sanctification. In His prayer to His Father Christ said: "Sancify them in the truth; thy word is truth." (John 17:17)

    God is the agent of sanctification. His word is the instrument of sanctification. The manner of sanctification consists in an intimate communication with that sanctifying agent through His instrument of sanctification-- the word of the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). In this living communication with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we shall be aware as to what is pleasing to God and what is not (1 Thessalonians 4:1). We shall love what God loves and hate what He hates -- whatever that may be. Much more than a mere theory, sanctification is a living experience in every day life.

    Winfried Stolpmann

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    • This so true that God wants the best for us only if we accept his plea for our hearts. God has given us eternal life through his son Jesus Christ. All we have to do is live the way that is pleasing in God's sight.

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  2. "To be honest, how many of us live perfect, holy lives every wakeful minute?" This question is inappropriate. The Bible clearly teaches in Job 9:20,21, if man were perfect or holy he would not know it. God is the only One that can read hearts, but holy living is something God has always bid His people to - Ex 19:6, 1 Pet 2:9, etc....

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    • God's command to us has always been, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Mat 5:48 NKJV). The problem is that there are other texts that tell us that we are not and won't be so in this life (1 Jn 1:8; Phil 3:12-13; Isa 64:6, etc.). That is the reason why we need sanctification as a work of a lifetime and at the end of it we like Paul will declare that we are still imperfect.

      As for people like Job, he was justified by God, therefore considered perfect because of God's declaration. In spite of that he still received a rebuke from God because he was like you and I, a sinner in need of Christ.

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