In Pursuit of Holiness
Holiness is defined as; “A unique
quality of divinity; consecration to God; spiritual purity.” But the question
is; 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).
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 by which it
could be attained.
We are 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 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” (Colossians 1:21-22)
Holiness is an integral component
of our new nature and so we have been duly instructed saying; “Pursue peace
with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” but as
He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is
written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (Hebrews 12:14 1
Peter1:15-16).
But how does one sustain his/her
holiness? Is there a formula for holiness? According to the Old Testament
rituals which were a copy and shadow of the reality there is definitely a
formula for holiness which is stated as follows: “Then Aaron and his sons shall
eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of
the tabernacle of meeting. They shall eat those things with which the atonement
was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them; but an outsider shall not eat
them, because they are holy. And if any of the flesh of the consecration
offerings, or of the bread, remains until the morning, then you shall burn the
remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten, because it is holy” (Exodus
29; 32-34).
In like manner, in our New
Testament dispensation it is by eating of the things by which the atonement was
made which is the sacrificial body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ does one becomes holy which is also the new and living way by which we
can draw near to God in a holy, blameless and irreproachable state. (Hebrews
10:19-20).
Hence 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).
Unfortunately, not everyone has the
knowledge of who we are as the new creation and according to the Prophet Hosea;
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected
knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have
forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea
4:6).
We should also take into
consideration the fact that, as a chosen generation and a royal priesthood our
main responsibility is to offer to the Lord the food for His offerings at the
appointed time and so the admonition is;; “Coming to Him as to a living stone,
rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living
stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter
2:4-5).
However, God has overlooked this
time of ignorance and now commands all men everywhere to repent. The question
is. Will you?
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
