Monday: The Nature of Holiness
“The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This is evidence that Satan’s delusions have lost their power; that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you.” – Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, pp. 64, 65.
Read Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 5:25-27, and Hebrews 12:14. What is God’s purpose for all His people and for the church?
Image © Phil McKay from GoodSalt.com
Holiness is both God’s gift and His command. Hence we should pray for it and seek to manifest it daily. Holiness is the fruit of the Spirit displayed in our lives as we walk by the Spirit with Christ every day (Gal. 5:16, Gal. 5:22, Gal. 5:25). Holiness, in one word, is Christlikeness. It means belonging to Jesus and living as His child in loving obedience and commitment, being more and more conformed into His likeness. The basic meaning associated with the concept of holiness signifies a state of being separated, being set aside for a special service for God. On the other hand, holiness also signifies an intrinsic moral and spiritual quality, namely that of being righteous and pure before God. Both aspects need to be kept together.
In the New Testament, believers are called holy because of their unique relationship to Jesus that sets them apart for a special purpose. Being holy does not make them ethically perfect and sinless, but changes them so that they can start to live a pure and holy lifestyle (compare with 1 Corinthians 1:2 where Paul calls the Corinthians holy ones or saints, even though they are not sinless and perfect). Believers are admonished to pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). God’s acceptance of each believer is perfect from the beginning, yet our growth in sanctification is a lifelong process and always needs to be extended further so that we become more and more transformed into the unblemished image of Him who has saved us.
| There is a tension between being holy and yet having to pursue holiness. How will our pursuit of holiness be different if we know that we already belong to God, and that we are accepted in Him because of the sacrifice of Jesus in our behalf? |
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Who has the answer to the question about pursuing Holines?I was almost sure that Jesus said it was a gift.I must have been mistaken. Or there may have been something else missing.
Pursuing holiness in d aspect of it been a command. The only way I understand to pursue holiness is actually to fix our eyes on Jesus the author nd finisher of our faith. The perfection we r craving is thru his word and faith. Holiness is a fruit that manifests after repentance nd baptism and is a lifelong process of renewal in spirit
Paul, concerning your question, how do you understand passages such as "Fight the Good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life...." or "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
Jesus taught "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all it's righteousness..." and through Zephaniah tells us "Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger."
Jesus also pronounced a blessing for those "who hunger and thirst after righteousness.." didn't He?
Is not all this counsel the act of "pursuing (the gift of) Holiness"?
Saw an advert in the paper today, a house up for sale but it requires extensive repairs and maintenance, however when it has been fixed up then you will be able to rent it out for a very good amount.
The LORD loves us and accepts us as we are, but because He loves us He knows we will only be truly happy when we develop a character like His - Holy, Holy, Holy! - Mind, Heart and Body!
Holiness to me is like Justification and Sanctification, both gifts from God to man,but man must accept and live daily to be saved.
I would go a little further to liken the fixer upper analogy here to a place one buys that needs fixing up but one can still live in it and fix it up as one goes until it is ready to be sold for a good amount but in the meantime we lived in it and the money we paid for the mortgage and also for repairs was like living rent free because when it was ready to be sold it brought in a good profit and we bought another fixer upper and another until we no longer had to pay for a mortgage because now we paid cash for the fixer upper and truly lived rent free and only paid for repairs and went on living rent free and making a bigger and larger profit margin on selling restored fixer uppers.
Justification is our "title to heaven" and happens instantaneously when we first accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Sanctification is our "fitness for heaven" and is the "work of a lifetime" but it never becomes our title to heaven. So while we do have to experience justification to be saved because it is our "title to heaven," sanctification is an ongoing process we experience because we are saved and not to be saved and it never takes the place of our "title to heaven."
Good thought, I found that justification his what we call the gospel, amassing gift we never merrited. Now sanctification, is the second half of 1John 1:9 which is titled in Revelation 14:6 as the everlasting gospel. For it will ever be lasting. What king of good news is that? Glory
Gal. 5:16 hits the nail on the head, for me. When I truly walk in the Spirit, I find that the selfish things of the flesh lose their appeal.
The last question; how can we claim Holinest while we have yet to pursue Holiness, or sanctification? Your child is your child though he has not matured into your adulthood likeness, But because of your love and guidance, he is constantly getting more and more like your clone. What makes one holy is the one they completely seek to resemble.
9:20 am and I have found myself sinning already. But I know I am forgiven, for I have asked. Jesus was the only one who was completely blameless and without sin, yet to be like Him, to chose to walk with Him and to be guided into His Holiness is a lifelong pursuit that not only is of benefit to me, for I do so want to see God, but primarily my pursuit of His Holiness is of benefit to everyone around me, for they will see His love in me. What an amazing way to grow. I like all the "fixer upper" examples, and want to add that although we are able to see the amazing transformation of our remodeling, those who come after are also benefitting from the beautification and well working condition of that which is in our wake.
Remember forgiveness us accompanied with repentance. Jesus coming as a man with a fallen nature overcame the temptation to sin and indeed never sinned because He depended on and was filled with the Holy Spirit as we can be. This is the same power He gives us to fight the battle over sin, the great controversy. If we believe this, it is truly 'righteousness by faith' in believing God's promise to be able to overcome with the power He has afforded us. With this power given to us we have no excuse for sinning. Yes, sanctification is a work of a lifetime because more and more defects will be shown to us but we cannot practice known sin thinking we have a Gospel in which justification will override sanctification.Remember we are told in the SOP that the cross never comes into the judgement. It's what we do with the cross and the power God affords us.
Perhaps the difference is that, knowing our gracious acceptance in our holy Lord, our pursuit is from a heart of gratitude and love, not out of fear or works. This is how the question strikes me.
We need to know who we are in christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21-God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us,so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Christ did it all for me. 1peter 2:9-When we move from darkness and choose light,we become a holy nation. Set apart by our maker. Only God has the power to set apart,rather,make holy. When we know christ we will set our hope on the grace to be given us. We will be obedient children.1 peter 1:13-15. God bless.
I am having a really hard time understanding, from the lesson, how Holiness and Love are separated when I read that God is Love. It is reminding me of the misconception: He is love BUT he is just.
Larry, some actually think of justice as the opposite of love. The problem is the concept of love, many thinking of love as indulgence, which is actually the opposite of love when the big picture is not lost sight of. For all the holy beings in God's whole creation, His justice IS love, as it ensures that "affliction shall not rise the 2nd time", and that perfect peace and untainted joy will be unending.
Paul writes to us and he says we must be holy,blameless,truthful and be at peace with each other or else we will not see the Lord and at the same time in Hebrews 12:14 he encourages us strive for Holiness.I am encouraged to start praying for it and seeking to manifest it daily.Do pray for me and with me as I seek to fulfill His purpose for my life.
i can say that Holy Spirit is a gift for those who accept him. A gift can be use or throw away. Accepting the gift and allowing yourself to be used by this gift help you to be feet for eternity, He is the quantifier of those who accept Him.