In order to address this question we must first understand
what holy means.
In order to heal our minds of all the moral confusions about
holiness we need to recover the idea of
biblical holiness. What does the Bible say about holiness? Holiness is not
just about private moral purity but so much more – it’s the very life of God in
us. Holiness is not just for advanced Christians but stands at the beginning
and center of God’s call on all of our lives. God commands us to be holy, he
said, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7; 1 Peter 1:14-16).
God’s holiness expresses His divine perfection. His innermost nature is holy,
and a holy God calls for a holy people (1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Pet. 2:9, 1 Cor. 1:2).
To be sure, biblical terms translated “holy” or “holiness”
carry a strong secondary thought of moral purity. But moral purity is not,
first and foremost, what Scripture is talking about. Instead, the most basic meaning of the word is to be
“set apart” or “dedicated” to God – to belong to God. God calls us to be
holy just as He is, but it is vital to understand that apart from God this is
impossible. We must have the Holy Ghost indwelling in us and filling us with
His holiness. We can only live a holy life through the power of God’s Spirit;
thus, the first step to living a holy life is to accept Jesus as Savior and
follow His plan of salvation (see Plan
of Salvation on this blog). When we take that first step toward salvation we receive
power to be witnesses of God (Acts 1:8). The evidence of the “new birth” is righteous behavior in the
life of the believer. Sanctification is evident in a changed life. God changes
us from the inside out (2 Cor. 5:17).
However, the pursuit of holiness does not end when we come
to Jesus and receive His Spirit. In fact, it just begins! There is a positional
holiness that we inherit when we are filled with God’s Spirit which we must
actively pursue. To practice “sin” is a way of life for an unsaved person. When
we become a child of God we must not practice to “sin” any longer, and God
gives you the power to do this through the Holy Ghost. God expects us to
“cleanse ourselves of all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Bringing holiness to “perfection”
means we should increase in spiritual fruitfulness everyday. We are to consider
ourselves “dead to sin” (Romans 6:11), refusing to revert back to our former
lifestyles. In this way we “cleanse ourselves from what is dishonorable,”
becoming vessels for “honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master…
for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).
What does it look
like to be actually righteous – to live a holy life?
Remember, we are not
trying to live a holy life in order to earn salvation; living a holy life
is a natural outgrowth of being saved by God’s grace and filled with His
Spirit.
We can live a holy
life by being obedient to God in all areas of our life (1 Peter 1:14-16)
Knowing and obeying God’s Word is key (John 17:17). Hiding God’s Word in our
hearts keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11). When we live in obedience to God, we
are staying separate from evil. We are offering our bodies as “a living
sacrifice” to God (Romans 12:1-2). The purpose of living a holy life is to
glorify God and display His nature to those around us (Matthew 5:16). The
apostle Peter said, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him
who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Holiness
is the mark of every true child of God (1 John 3:9-10).
as children of god,
what about us should be holy?
Our bodies should be holy (Romans 12:1)
Our hair should be holy (1 Corinthians 11:7)
Our eyes should be holy (Job 31:1)
Our mouth should be holy (Matthew 12:37)
Our lips should be holy (Hosea 14:2)
Our tongues should be holy (Acts 2:11)
Our speech should be holy (Colossians 4:6)
Our hands should be holy (1 Timothy 2:8)
Our hearts should be holy (Romans 5:5)
Our minds should be holy (Hebrews 10:16)
Our thoughts should be holy (Psalms 139:23-24)
Our feet should be holy (Hebrews 12:13)
Our dress should be holy (1 Timothy 2:9)
Our deeds should be holy (Romans 2:6)
Our spirit should be holy (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Our time should be holy (Ephesians 5:16)
Our worship should be holy (1 Chronicles 16:29)
Our faith should be most holy (Jude 20)
I offer many Bible studies on my site www.womanofgodinlouisiana.blogspot.com and/or from your home or mine. If interested please contact me anytime :). Text or call (318)450-2148, or email kimlovesjesus@icloud.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment