|
It is possible that sinners can become holy. God will not command us to be
holy if holy living
is impossible. God is holy and righteous.
God commands his people to be holy. Holy living is
not only our capability but it is also our conduct of morality.
God, the creator of the universe, is holy. He is perfectly righteous, pure
and faultless. He is impartial towards people. We are all born as sinners.
But God says that we have to become holy because he is holy. Holiness is not our
physical capability but it is the conduct of morality which is the fruit of our
godly purpose. So, holy life is possible if our purpose in life is godly. We
will discuss it in this study.
God
has many unique godly attributes. He is Omnipotent. That is, He is
all-powerful to create as many universes with details, as the one in which we
live. He is Omnipresent. That is, He is present everywhere at the
same time. He can be at thousands of places on earth, on the moon, on the
sun, on the stars, in heaven, in hell, anywhere and everywhere at a single time.
He is Omniscient. That is, He knows everything. He knows all
knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, mystery and the thoughts of everyone in the
world at all ages. These are God’s awesome and unique attributes.
Because of these attributes we know that He is God. These attributes are
in His Spirit. God is a Spirit.
God is also a Person with Character attributes. He has emotions
because He is a Person. But His emotions are with His perfect holiness.
God created man in His own image which is the image of His Person, the soul, but
not in the image of His Spirit. Man can possess the attributes of
the Person of God, because man is a person, the soul. But man cannot
posses the attributes of the Spirit of God, because man is not a spirit.
God expects man to have his emotions under the attribute of perfect
holiness.
"Isa 6:1
In the
year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and
lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with
twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he
did fly. 3
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy,
holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Rev 4:8
--- the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were
full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy,
holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
If
God’s angels are praising him for one of the power attributes of his Spirit,
then it will be very appropriate since no one else have these attributes.
Instead, they are shouting praises to him saying ‘holy, holy, holy, is the Lord
God Almighty’. However, it pleased God for them to do so. By
allowing the angels to praise him for his holiness, he is encouraging His people
to become holy, as he is holy.
"Gen 1:26 And God
said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:"
God made man in the image of His person to reflect
His likeness. The purpose of God is to select a body of people who will
live like Him. God require of them to live a holy life.
Every
society has an acceptable standard for living, which is their moral standard.
How well an individual lives, within the perimeter of the standard, becomes his
character. God himself set His character as perfect
righteousness and total purity, which is holiness. God created man and
woman in the image of His own Person so that they also can have His
character. God commands them, and also helps them to be holy as He is
holy.
"Gen 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; ---"
God
is commanding his people to be holy as he is holy.
"Lev 11:45
For I am the LORD that bringeth
you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy,
for I am holy.
Lev 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation
of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the
LORD your God am holy."
But with our desires of life, it is impossible for us to be holy. But if
God is giving us his Holy Spirit and power in order to attain it, then why don’t
we go for it? So let us obey God and become holy.
"1 Pet 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the
grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation;
16 Because it is written,
Be ye holy; for I am holy." The
people of God were delivered from the bondage of Egypt. When they were
free, God asked them to become holy on their free will. The same call of
God is extended to his people even now. We can live a holy life by
accepting the grace of God in our lives, which is given to us through the
revelation of Jesus Christ. Then holiness shall become the way of life to
us.
"2 Cor 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God."
Our Lord God asks us to be holy. Most of us think that nobody could live
or have lived a holy life. Some of us even challenge the idea of a man
becoming holy without even realizing that God is the one asking us to be holy.
They even challenge that nobody was recorded to have lived a holy life in the
Bible. Having accepted that everybody was born as sinners except Jesus
Christ, the following references are given to show that some people has lived
and some people are now living holy lives according to the Bible.
'God the Word' became flesh and lived as a man. He lived a holy life and
challenged the hypocrites. "John
8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I
say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47
He that is of God heareth God's word: Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are
not of God."
God has brought the scriptures to us through holy men. They were very ordinary
men anointed of God. "Acts
3:21
---, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his
holy prophets since the world began. 2 Pet 1:21
--- holy men of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost."
The apostles were holy. Ordinary fishermen, tax
collector, etc, became true disciples and then apostles.
"Eph 3:5 ---
, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit;
Rev 18:20
---
, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and
prophets; for God hath avenged you on her."
Apostle Paul, some workers, even ordinary believers
in the churches were also living a holy life.
"1 Thes
2:10
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we
behaved ourselves among you that believe:
1 Thes
5:27
I charge
you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren."
Jesus
Christ is coming again to receive a group of people who are holy. So if
the second coming of Jesus Christ is sure then it is sure that there are holy
people on earth waiting for his coming.
"Rev 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such
the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,
and shall reign with him a thousand years."
The Spiritual Church is the body of Christ. The people of God become the
part of the body of Christ through the process of salvation. God knows who
'such as should be saved' are.
"Acts 2:47 Praising
God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved." He joins them in
the Church so that they may continue in the Word, become disciples, know the
truth and be converted into a new person, who will follow Jesus Christ.
"John 8:31 Then said
Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then
are ye my disciples indeed; 32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
God
gives ministers as gifts to be used in the church for the growth of His Body.
God gives gifts of ministry even to the rebellious people, who are disobedient
to the word of God, so that God may dwell among his people. So, all those
who are used as gifts in the church are not necessarily godly people.
"Psalm 68:18 Thou hast
ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for
men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among
them." However, there are truthful godly
men feed the church to spiritual growth, even to the fullness of Christ.
"Eph 4:8 Wherefore he
saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men. 11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of
the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ."
However His Body grows to maturity through the operation of the gifts of
the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the church, to be
operated in the church, to edify the Body of Christ and to establish the
believer. "1 Cor 12:4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations,
but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities
of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to
every man to profit withal.
8
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another
the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning
of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh
that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." The
purpose of God's ministry is to make the saints perfect, as Jesus Christ is
perfect. Ignorant and unstable people challenge God by saying that nobody
can become holy, whereas God says that we can grow unto the measure of Jesus
Christ himself, unto a perfect man.
God
is preparing for Himself the True Church, cleansing her with the Word, not to
have spot, or wrinkle, or blemish, or any such impurity.
"Eph 5:25 -- Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word, 27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
The Church is the workmanship of God. When God completes his work,
the Church will look like him and in the end she will have the glory of God
with her own righteousness. "Rev
19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to
him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed
in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is
the righteousness of saints." Almost all the
evangelical Christians claim that they will be a part in the rapture. But
only the "bride of Christ", who kept themselves holy for God, will have
part in the rapture. "Rev
21:9 --- Come hither, I will shew thee
the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and
high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of
God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a
jasper stone, clear as crystal;"
(For additional points please click and read this
article : "Be
ye perfect as God is perfect").
Without holiness nobody can see God.
"Heb 12:14
Follow
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
False preachers promise eternal life to people with
swelling words. But even they are sinners. God says that the true
believers will escape from them.
"2 Pet 2:18
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the
lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped
from them who live in error.
19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of
corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in
bondage." Obedience to the gospel is holy living.
Satan and his ministers preach a false (twisted) gospel, which requires no
obedience.
"2 Cor 11:13
For such are false apostles,
deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light. 15
Therefore
it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness;"
We are all born as sinners. We must become holy in order to meet Jesus Christ at
his second coming. The Bible requires that we should attain holiness.
But it is through a process. Depending on the dedication and determination
of individuals the duration of the process may be short or long. False
believers, who are antichrists, will not continue in the process and will
discourage the true believers. But the true believers will grow in God
so that they cannot sin. Let us see how this can be done step by step
through the Word of God.
We acknowledge the fact that we are sinners. This is just the beginning of
our spiritual journey. As we are being delivered from the bondage of sin,
we will still remember our past in which we were doing the biding of the devil.
God’s purpose for us at this point is to redeem us from the bondage of sin
completely.
"1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 3:8 He that
committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. ---
2:1
My little children, these things write
I unto you, that ye sin not."
We should repent of our sins; confess our sins to God for forgiveness, with a
broken heart and a contrite spirit. Then God will forgive all our sins
that were done in the past.
"Psa 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of
a contrite spirit.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and ---
Rom 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;"
The purpose of God in our forgiveness is to purchase us for himself.
"1 Cor 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, --." He removes all our
unrighteousness from our heart. "1 John
1:9 --- and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Eph 5:25
--- Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for
it;
26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word,
27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish."
If we surrender our body to him as a vessel for his
dwelling God will abide in us and protect us. "1 Cor
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of
God is holy, which temple ye are." Then we will not do
unrighteousness and will serve him in holiness all of our
life. "Luke 1:74
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In
holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life."
There is a difference in the acknowledgement of sin between verses 8 and 10. In
verse 8 sin was present tense, as we were doing sin. But in verse 10 it
was past tense, as we have done it before. Verse 10 is only the
remembrance of verse 8, the life before conversion. It is very important to
notice the difference.
"1 John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is
not in us."
The purpose of writing this epistle is that the believer should not sin. It is
not to lead him to the state of repetitious sins and belief of forgiveness.
"1 John 2:1
My little children, these
things write I unto you, that ye sin not.---"
Jesus bought his people with his own blood with the intention that the Holy
Ghost may live in the person, as we are buying a house to live in the house.
"1 Cor 6:19
What? know ye not that your
body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and
ye are not your own?
20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
If the Holy Spirit lives in our body
then we will not sin. However, if any man sin forgiveness
is available as it is available to any other sinner. "1 John
2:1
--- And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
But he starts all over from step one. "1 John
2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the
sins of the whole world."
The term 'if any man
sin' indicates that just a few of them may sin and the rest of them do not sin.
And the Word of God says that if we live after the Spirit we will not commit
sin.
"Rom 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye
shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye
shall live.14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
The true believers will love God and obey his commandments. Those
who do not obey also say that they love the Lord and know the Lord. But God says
that they are liars.
"John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my
commandments.
21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
24
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:
1 John 2:3 And hereby we do
know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:
hereby know we that we are in him."
Perfect obedience will lead them to the abiding of the Holy
Spirit, the Father and the Son. Then they live, yet not they, but God live
in them. They will overcome the devil. If someone committing sin
then he is neither overcoming the devil nor having the abiding of God in him.
"John
14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him
not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall
be in you. 21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and
he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him... 23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with
him. 1 John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he
walked. 13 -young
men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.
--14-
I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God
abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one."
Our success in living a holy life is the direct result of our
striving to enter through the narrow gate of holiness.
"Matt 7:13
Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide is the gate, ---
14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it.
Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the
strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be
able." Striving is hard work. We have to bring our body into
the subjection of the Holy Spirit.
"1 Cor 9:27
But I keep under my body,
and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
Then we will become the workmanship of God.
"Eph 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk
in them."
If we are subject to God, he will give himself to us and make
us holy, as he is holy.
"Eph 5:24
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ,-
25 -- , even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it;
26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word,
27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy
and without blemish."
The sons of God will purify themselves, as Jesus Christ is
pure.
"1 John 3:2
--- we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is. 3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as
he is pure." If God abides (lives) in a man, then he cannot commit sin. So
this believer will be holy.
"1 John
3:6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath
not seen him, neither known him. 9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his
seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
The very creator of men, God the Word, became flesh and died
on the cross with the supreme purpose to save his people from their sins and to
make them holy. If we are his people then he will make us holy.
"Mat 1:21 ---bring
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people
from their sins.
1 John 3:5
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." God will never call an unholy person as holy.
Those who commit sin are sinners and they are not saved.
"John 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth
sin is the servant of sin.
1 John 3:8 He that
committeth sin is of the devil; "
There are many people, even the so called ministers of the gospel, got
themselves stuck in step one. They will be repeating the verse,
"1John
1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
If we refer
1John 3:2-9 to them, they will try to twist the
scripture even with the aid of different translations. The true reason is
that they are not the followers of Jesus Christ, but they follow religious
Christianity. As Jesus Christ has said, they are blind leaders of the
blind. "Matt
15:14 they be blind leaders of the blind.
And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
Some others want to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. People may
have different reasons for not following Christ. At the same time, the
devil deceives most Christians to believe that God follows them where
ever they go and blesses them.
"1John
2:18
Little children, it is the last
time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many
antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were
not of us; for if they had been of us,
they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out,"
God says that they did not to continue in the Word, because they are
antichrists.
"John
8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews
which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free."
Following Jesus Christ is hard for an ordinary man. But if we
follow Him there is a reward of great value for our striving.
The carnal mind is against godliness. If we renew our mind after the mind
of Christ, then holiness will be the result of it. If we try to become
holy in the human effort it will be very hard. But there is a supernatural
element to it. God says that his commandments are easy.
"1 John 5:3 this
is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born
of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh--" The
key is that if we love him enough to follow him, then Jesus will do the rest.
God will give us the Holy Spirit and then holiness will become our nature.
Then, to walk in holiness will be as easy as it was to do sin.
"Matt 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls. 30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
If we love him enough, then it is easy to obey him. If we love Him enough
to receive favors and to show our religiosity, then we will not obey Him.
The purpose of God in giving the commandment “be holy as I am holy” is to choose
his true people and to give them His kingdom. So He chose a requirement,
which is easy enough for his people to do it with his help. All those
people who followed the steps of Jesus Christ with the leading of the Holy
Spirit will become the sons of God, as Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
They will be made co-heirs with Christ and they will live with him in glory
forever.
"Luke 12:32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you
the kingdom.
1 Cor 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that
love him.
Rev 22:12
I come quickly; and my reward
is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Rom 8:17
And if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with
him, that we may be also glorified together."
Please click here to
get to the list of Bible Study topics and links
|
