Page 5 - September 2023 - Truth & Tidings

That is our standing. But how, then, do of us to develop this holy character in
we explain numerous Scriptures which each one of us.
exhort us to a life of progressive holiness Paul prayed in 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
or “sanctification”? that the believers would increase in love
For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:3 in- with a view to their being established in
forms us that the will of God is for our holiness before God in a coming day. Love
sanctification or holiness. This is obvious- contains within it a hatred of evil, of sin,
ly something other than the conferred holy and of all that grieves God. Thus, love is
standing we were given at conversion. the pathway to holiness and fulfilling the
Peter adds his exhortation by reminding state of holiness.
us that in light of the future day of God,
“what manner of persons ought ye to be You Will Become What You
in all holy conversation” (2Pe 3:11). And Became
again, he adds in verse 14, “Be diligent Allow imagination to run amok for a
that ye may be found of him … without moment – not that what I am about to
spot, and blameless” (or Christ-like, cf. write is imaginary; it is very real. Yet in
1Pe 1:19). And Peter adds in 1 Peter 1:16 an a future day, when we are transformed
imperative, not a mere option, “Be ye holy; and morally like the Lord Jesus, our state
for I am holy.” We are exhorted to perfect will finally conform to our standing. That
“holiness in the fear of God” (2Co 7:1). means that we will not only have a holy
There are several words that, while standing before God, but that we will be
sounding different in our English lan- holy, essentially and totally! The flesh
guage, and translated differently in our gone forever is a thought that thrills my
A.V., actually all have the same root: heart. No more struggles with mixed mo-
saint, sanctified, purify and holy. Some tives, impure thoughts and cold hearts. No
linguists may find shades of difference, longer will we struggle with wandering
but they all come from the same Greek minds at the Breaking of Bread, minds that
root word, hagios. should be focused on Him. We will not
All of this serves to remind us that we need the emblems, and our minds will not
are to become in our lives what we be- need the discipline which we now need.
came at our conversion. The progress in We will be completely at home in the
holiness or “saintliness” is the responsibil- presence of God who is holy. There will
ity of each believer. John 15, the chapter be no disconnect; all will be in perfect
about fruit-bearing, is a compendium on harmony. Unlike Isaiah (6:5), we will not
Christ-like growth. As the Word of God cry out and confess our uncleanness. Nor
abides in me, shaping my values and vi- will we, like Job (42:6), have to confess that
sion, I become more fruitful as a believer. we “abhor ourselves and repent” in dust
Galatians 5 takes the same end result and and ashes. The remembrance that we were
reminds me that I need the power of the sinners in need of redemption will always
indwelling Spirit of God to produce this be with us (Rev 1:5-6), but it will only serve
fruit. Romans 6 stresses my responsibility to amplify our worship and adoration of
to yield myself to God to produce the fruit the Lamb. We will be with a Holy God, in
of “righteousness unto holiness.” Thus, the Holy City, and we will be “at home” in
the entire Godhead is working with each every sense of the word.

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