In pursuit of holiness

Before embarking on the other critical choices we as believers have to make let us look t the subject of holiness because the rational for becoming slaves of righteousness it is to produce holiness which ultimately culminates to everlasting or the immortality of the body.

Holiness is defined as; “A unique quality of divinity; consecration to God; spiritual purity.” But can mortal man whose heart is said to be sinful above all things, and desperately wicked, and whose mind is enmity or hostile towards God, not subject to His law, and can never be in subjection, be holy?

Despite how gloomy and rather impossible that transformation may seems to be, the irony of truth is, God has chosen man in His Son Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world in order that, “he should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1: 4)

But the question is how feasible it is for sinful mortal man to be holy and blameless before God? One thing is certain, God would not require anything from us if He knows that it could not be fulfilled, neither would He require anything from us and not providing the provisions and resources by which it could be accomplished.

We are therefore admonished saying, “Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1Peter 1:13-16).

The feasibility of being holy and blameless before God is through God Himself who, has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ , and gave us the Ministry of reconciliation”: that is, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

God has now, “Reconciled us by Christ’s physical body through death to present us holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Christ’s sacrificial body is the new and living way by which we can draw near to God in a holy and blameless state. (Colossians .1:21-22’Hebrews 10:19-20).

Hence the reason the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And such confidence he said, “Is ours through Christ before God– Not that we are competent or sufficient in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves,  but our competence or sufficiency comes from God” (Philippians 4:13; 2Corinthians 3:4-5).

The Apostle Peter assured us by saying, “God’s divine nature has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness (2Peter 1:3).

Holiness and righteousness were imputed upon man at the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At His death, He bore our sins and paid the price of sin in our stead. For, we judge thus: “That if one died for all, then all die. And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2Corinthians 5: 14-15).

At the resurrection of Jesus Christ, mankind became a new creation: he was created in righteousness and true holiness. For it is written: “Blessed be, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (2Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24;1Peter 1:3).

Mankind inherited righteousness and true holiness from Jesus Christ at His resurrection. For, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” We are the offspring of both the first and the last Adam. Christ is the vine and we are the branches (Acts. 17 28) John.15:5).

Because of God’s great love with which He loved us, ”Even when we (mankind) were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Jesus Christ the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true—even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1John. 5:20).

But the most important question for us is how are we able to sustain the righteousness and holiness of the new man which was created in us according to God?

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To be continued

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph