March 22nd

"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."

 (1 Peter 1:15-16)
 

Many believers when they hear about holiness seem to be reluctant, or not caring, as if it was something for someone else and not to them. They tend to think "Oh how nice! Amazing! But that's not for me! This is for the levites, the pastors… This is for anyone who is a step above! Who am I? "And then, they rest in this miserable excuse. In addition, we have news of Christian churches where believers are deceived by false doctrines, heresies and scandals that want to sanctify only a few within the church - creating leaders who consider themselves gods.

 

These believers are sure that it would be great to be a better person, and they do hope to avoid the really big sins. But they figure, since they’re saved by grace, holiness is not required from them, and frankly, life seems fine without it. The pursuit of holiness feels like one more thing to worry about in their impossible things to do list

And thinking this way they open a hole, a gap, in their spiritual wall.  When they don´t care about holiness they forget that this was one grand end and purpose for which Jesus came. 

 

There are people forgetting to observe the simplest ordinances. For example, dedicate one day a week to the Lord. With some frequency I hear people say "I have come to the service this morning to enjoy the rest of the sunday". Put yourself in the place of God by hearing it. It's like saying to your best  friend: “- I appreciate your company but for real I prefer other things!”

 

There is something missing in the contemporary church scene.

 

How valuable is  holiness for you? Follow the next steps and help yourself to find a diagnosis.

 

1.Is Your Obedience Known to All?

In most of Paul’s letters he gives his churches a lot of encouragement. He usually begins by saying something like, “I’m so thankful for you. You guys are awesome." He is very proud! And he didn´t had to wear a t-shirt or affix an sticker on his car to announce it. In Romans 16:19, for example, Paul says, “your obedience is known to all.”  Is obedience what your church is known for? Is it what other Christians think of when they look at your life? Is this even what you would want to be known for? The passion and prayer of the first Christians was for holiness. Can we honestly say our lives and our churches are marked by the same pursuit?

 

2. Is Your Heaven a Holy Place?

In Revelation 21 we see that the new Jerusalem is glorious—it shines with the radiance of God’s presence. The new Jerusalem is safe—there is no more suffering, no more chaos, no more enemies, and it is holy! 

Revelation 21:8 goes on to say, “as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” No matter what you profess, if you show disregard for Christ by giving yourself over to sin—impenitently and habitually— then heaven is not your home.

It’s hard to imagine how we could enjoy heaven without holiness: if everything there is holy and nothing unholy can enter, even if you could enter heaven without holiness, what would you do? What joy would you feel there? What holy man or woman of God would you sit down with to have fellowship? Their pleasures are not your pleasures.  If worship does not capture your attention at present, what makes you think it will do it there? 

 

  “Sooner could a fish live upon a tree than the wicked in Paradise.”

Charles Spurgeon

 

3. Are You a Great Commission Christian?

Think about the Great Comisson! Now check the text  in Mattew 28:19–20. These verses are not just about making disciples but is also commands us to help each other to grow in obedience. 

 

We need to be Christians who will say with Paul, “Look carefully then how you walk” (Eph. 5:15).

 

If you think being a Christian is nothing more than saying a prayer or joining a church, then you’ve confused real grace with cheap grace. We are commanded to be holy, saved to be holy, and, in fact, we must be holy if we are to inherit eternal life.

 Shared by Ana