Holiness ~ By Karen Twombly
Holiness ~
By Karen Twombly
“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
In another article I wrote that people “in step with the Spirit” trust God through all the ups and downs of life understanding that He is our Good Shepherd. We can trust Him to lead us. What I would like to share now is that as we keep “in step with the Spirit of God” we learn to pursue holiness. As He is holy so we seek to be like Him and to be holy. We approve of what God approves and disapprove of what God disapproves.
Peter tells us that when we come to Christ, we are given a new life or a new birth (1 Peter 1: 3). Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are “new creatures” or new creations in Christ. The old life is passed away and a new way of life has come. Holiness is Christians practicing their new way of life. Our new birth compels us to live a new way. Our old conduct is no longer appealing. Our old habits are horrifying. Our past makes us even ashamed to speak of what we once did. This is not because other Christians tell us to do so. It is something that happens to every believer when they accept Christ. Our new birth gives us a new opinion of ourselves and our former way of life. David Brainard, who was a missionary to the American Indians in New England, said that as his Indian friends received Christ he had no need to tell them to live a moral life. They themselves understood and began to change their ways without his advice or preaching.
There are many reality shows on television today that show people receiving a whole new life. They are given a new home, a life changing surgery, extensive cosmetic changes to their appearance. These all give a promise of a new life to the one receiving it. There is no desire from the recipient to go back to the “old ways, the old life.” The future is looked upon with excitement and anticipation.
Our inner change of heart and devotion to God produces an outward change that others can see in our actions, decisions, and treatment of others. As James said, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Belief produces change. As Paul said, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10). Belief produces change, change that God had planned in advance. He works out what He has planted within. As a seed planted produces roots, shoots, and flowers so also God’s new life planted within our hearts produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
We strive to be like Christ. We are being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The New Testament says more than once we are to be holy as God is holy. Holiness is a basic part of God’s nature and those who belong to Him are becoming more like Him as He works in their life and they respond in faith.
Holiness is also understood as being separated from the unholy. It means to be set apart for the special purpose of being used by God. Holy ones of God are His possession. We are exclusively His. Our relationship to Him affects our choices of music, books, magazines, TV, hobbies, friendships and much, much more. We become more sensitive to evil.
This can all seem overwhelming. But we need to remember that we are not alone. This is a process that God Himself is bringing about in us. It is really God who makes us holy. He is the one changing us. We respond with obedience of heart and action. But He, through His Spirit, is empowering us to become holy. Will we still sin? Yes, but we are becoming more and more like Jesus as we grow in Him. Then, one day, we will see Him face to face and be with Him for eternity. “But we know that when He appears we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.“ 1 Jn. 3:2 At that time this process will be complete and we will be completely conformed to His image. Then we will be absolutely holy in every way and without sin! What a day!
Each day we can choose to listen and obey the Spirit. We have been given a whole new life more valuable than a new house, a healing surgery, a cosmetic change to our appearance. This is an new life that stretches out into eternity. It is a relationship with the God of creation. It is the happy ending of all happy endings!
