Holiness is
the fruit of becoming a slave to God: “But now having been set free from sin,
and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Saints, we are, one and
all, born enslaved to sin. Our redemption frees us from sins slavery allowing
us to choose our master. When we choose Christ as our Lord we willfully embark
on the process of “becoming” slaves of God. A slave must totally submit to the
lordship of his Lord, divesting himself of all Self interest, giving deference
to the will, wishes, and ways of his Master. It is in this “deference” process
that God’s holiness – the nature of Christ -- emerges as the fruit of our new
life (slave) in Him. Notice holiness has an end, a purpose… eternal life with
our holy God.
Holiness is
not an entitlement, rather the results of obedience – the lifestyle of a good
slave, and is perfected -- brought to completeness -- in the fear of God: “Beloved,
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear
of God.” Jesus taught the “Fear of God”: “Fear Him (God) who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell …
Fear Him … who has the power to cast into hell.” There is much wisdom and
respect in a healthy fear of God. He is, after all, God, and fear is a strong
motivator as we grow into love’s perfection.
Holiness is
the expectation of a holy God. Saints our
body, specifically our heart, is the dwelling place of God here on planet
earth. Our heart is His Holy of Holies. So holiness is not only reasonable,
rational, and intelligent service to God, but spiritual worship of the highest order:
“For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are … You also, as living stones, are being built up
a spiritual house, a holy
priesthood … I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Notice we “are being built up” into holiness… holiness is not a singular instantaneous
event, rather a lifelong process of change into the nature of Christ. The road
to holiness begins when we make a decisive dedication of ourselves, body, soul
and spirit, as a living sacrifice to God, submitting to the Lordship of Christ.
Holiness is
part of our calling from God who does not spare the rod of discipline; He rebukes,
chastens, and scourges to encourage us to partake of His holiness: “For God did
not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness
… He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become
sharers in His own holiness.” Notice God invented progressive discipline: Rebuke
– To express sharp disapproval or criticism. Chasten –
To restrain, subdue, humble. Scourge – To inflict great trouble, affliction, adversity.
God loves us too much to leave us the way we are, and has at His disposal all
the things of life to encourage our participation in His holiness.
Holiness is a
prerequisite to seeing God… experiencing the presence of God, and should,
therefore, be diligently pursued:
“Pursue peace with all people,
and holiness, without which no
one will see the Lord.”
The Apostle
Peter spoke of the end times when the heavens and earth would be dissolved by
fire, the elements melting with the fervent heat of God’s judgment, and posed a
chilling question to us: “Therefore,
since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God’?
“FOR
THE LORD OUR GOD IS HOLY”
(Rom. 6:22, 12:1; 2 Cor.
7:1; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Cor. 3:17; 1 Thess. 4:7; Heb. 12:5-11, Heb.12:10 Amp.
Bible; Heb. 12:14; 2 Peter 3:7-13; Ps. 99:9; Matt. 10:28; Lk. 12:4-5)
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