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