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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.
"1Pet 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.
"2Cor 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.
2Pet
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.
"1Thes
2:10
Ye
are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved
ourselves among you that believe:
1Thes
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.
"1Cor 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. "2Pet 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. "2Cor 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.
"1John 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.
1John 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.
"1Cor
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. "1John
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. "1Cor
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.
"1John 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.
"1John 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.
"1Cor 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. "1John 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. "1John
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. 1John
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.
"1Cor 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. "1John 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.
"1John
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.
1John
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.
1John 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
For 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. 1Cor 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.
1John 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."
God Bless You
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