How Holy?

Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)



Eternity-Inspiration for Tuesday 10th February 1998


How Holy?

(Heb 12:14 NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
It is clear from this verse that Christians are to pursue holiness and that without holiness one cannot see the Lord. This naturally leads to the question "How much holiness do we need before we can see God?" . I don't know - but I do know that we must pursue it diligently. In the context of the book of Hebrews I think holiness has the meanings of separation from the world, being set aside for God, and ethical purity.

The rest of the New Testament offers us a few clues. For Paul holiness came at conversion but was outworked throughout the Christian life and gross sin disqualified Christians from inheriting the Kingdom of God. Writing to the Christians in Corinth he rebukes them: (1 Cor 6:9,10 NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. Inheriting the kingdom of God is different from entering it. Earlier in this epistle Paul made it clear that some would arrive in heaven without any inheritance "as one who is saved through fire". Christians who practice gross sin will certainly lose their heavenly reward.

The things of the kingdom can only be entrusted to those worthy of them, who have kept themselves holy, who love righteousness and hate sin. God does not want His kingdom rewards given to the wrong people. Therefore if you and I desire the things of the Kingdom and greater intimacy with God we must pursue holiness. The pursuit of holiness involves the study and application of Christ's commandments to every area of everyday life. It is the rendering of all parts of life as separated to God and free from sin. From the chequebook to the tongue everything must be brought into alignment with God's will. This is however a very individual thing and what is holiness for one person may not be holiness for another - hence the Jewish/Gentile disputes and controversies about the Sabbath and eating meat that raged in the early church. Holiness is not the supreme guilt trip - rather it is the solemn hope-filled offering of all one's life to God, free from condemnation and full of love, joy and peace.
Prayer:
Lord cause me to be holy. I offer myself to you once more, freely, take me up and into Yourself, cause me to obey Your commands freely and love You fully. Amen.

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John Edmiston ([email protected])
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