We have considered
how there are a lot of perverse selfish things in this world and when we entertain
them they sinfully stain us deeply. But those stains can be cleansed
from our system. How might this happen? The answer is, “perfecting holiness.”
The word “perfecting” comes from a Greek Present
Tense of the verb epiteleo which
conveys an ongoing process. It’s going to take a lifetime to complete the holy
work God has planned for us. Epiteleo
means, “to fulfill
further or completely.” It
means to execute a task. It means to finish something. It means to work until
something is terminated. And it means performing until the end. In other words, we are to press on and
persevere in the process set before us.. And what is that endeavor we are to
press on to complete? We are to press on to the end of holiness.
There is a sense in which God’s righteousness and holiness
is imputed to a believer (2 Corinthians 5:21 ).
This is the standing of all believers
(John 1:12 -13; Romans
8:1). This is why all believers are referred to as “saints” or literally holy ones (2 Corinthians 1:1). But there
is a sense in which holiness is imparted in a very practical way to believers.
This is the state of believers (1
John 2:1-2; Hebrews 10:14 ).
There is a process of sanctification or making one holy in life and conduct
that God starts and continues in the person who is saved from their sin and
born again spiritually. It is this later work of God in the believer that Paul
is speaking about in these chapters. Remember,
when a person is born again, they are regenerated by the Holy Spirit who indwells them (John 3:5; Rom. 8:9-11). Once within
the Holy Spirit starts and will bring to completion the holy work of God in us.
The word “holiness”
comes from the Greek term hagiosune which
means, “sacredness.” It refers
to the property or quality of holiness. Something that is sacred is
“dedicated or set apart for the service or worship . . . .” That which is
sacred is “devoted exclusively to one service or use.” The road to God’s cleansing
involves the process of becoming completely set apart for His use. The Spirit
within enables us to fully surrender to God. The Spirit within helps us offer
and present our lives to God as a holy sacrifice. Holiness in is essence is
worship of God.
God calls all
those who follow Him to live a holy life (1 Peter 1:15-16). It is God’s will
that we live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). Without holiness we will not
see the Lord; we won’t experience Him the way we should (Hebrews 12:14-15).
Holiness involves a choice on our part to present ourselves to God for holy
purposes (Romans 6:19a). How about you? Are you even interested in living a
holy life? God calls every believer to holiness. Will you commit your life to
God for this purpose, now?
Holiness is God’s
work in us. It involves being freed from sin (Romans 6:20-22; 8:26; Philippians
2:13). The Bible says God disciplines us so that we can partake of His holiness
(Hebrews 10:14). Biblical holiness is something to be learned (Ephesians 4:20-21a).
It is based on the truth of Jesus (Ephesians 4:21b).The scalpel which God uses
to perform His holy surgery is the word of God (Heb. 4:12).
There is
something about the word of God that cleanses. Jesus told His disciples, “You
are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).
Jesus sanctifies and cleanses His bride the church with the “washing of water
by the word” (Eph. 5:26). As we take in and heed the word of God and in the power
of the Spirit apply it to our lives, the result in cleansing. The Spirit washes
away the old and renews us (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Biblical holiness
is God’s love overflowing us. Holiness is loving the Lord your God with all
your heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-31). This was
an object of prayer by Paul on behalf of other believers (Romans 5:5; Eph.
3:14-21; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13). Paul said in the last days people would be
lovers of self and the things of this world. He said some would have a “form of
godliness” but would deny its power” (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Isn’t that what a
self-centered, self-loving, preoccupied Christian is? Who do you love
supremely, yourself or God? Really, is there evidence for your claim in the way
you live? “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23).
There is a holy perspective we are to have in this ongoing
process of the holy life. That perspective is “in the fear of God.” The fear of God refers to a reverential awe toward God. The closer we draw to God
the more clearly we will see our sin (e.g. Isaiah 6). The closer we draw to
God, to Jesus, the more able to turn from sin we will be (John 15). We are to
have a consciousness of God and who He is. God is holy and calls those who
follow Him to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). He holds our eternal destinies in His
hand. We are to work out our pursuit of holiness in reverence and awe of our
Holy God (Philippians 2:12).
But there is
another way of looking at the fear of the Lord. Let me illustrate. I love my
wife very much. And because I love my wife so much, I would never intentionally
do anything that would bring her sadness or pain. In fact, I am so in love with
my wife and so serious about not doing anything that would bring her sorrow or
pain that I fear doing so. In other
words, I love my wife so much that I fear doing anything that would grieve her.
In the same way we should love God so much that we fear doing anything that would bring Him pain over our actions. In
this sense the fear of the Lord is closely connected to that holy love relationship
with Him. Holiness is loving God so much that you fear doing anything that
would pain Him.
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