Why Christians Must be Holy
It is very clear in the teachings of the Scripture that no
Christian is sinless (1 John 1:8-10), but it is also clear that God expects the
true believer to not sin habitually. “No one who is born of God practices sin,
because His seed abides in Him, and he cannot practice sin because he is born of
God” (3:9).
To “practice” sin is to sin as a way of life. An unsaved
person lives a life of habitual sin. The sin of unbelief is a normal thing for
the lost person. A true believer does not live in habitual sin. He may commit
occasional sins but he will not make it a habitual practice.
The word “holy,” “holiness,” “saint” and “sanctify” comes
from a Greek root meaning, “to set apart to God.” The believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ is set apart for God by the Holy Spirit. The “saint” is a person set
apart for God, enjoying a holy standing before God in Christ Jesus, with the
obligation of living a holy life (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
The evidence of the new birth is righteous behavior in the
life of the believer. Sanctification is evident in a changed life. God changes
us from the inside out (2 Cor. 5:17).
J. C. Ryle in his book on holiness gave eight reasons why
holiness is necessary in the Christian’s life (Holiness, pp.
40-44).
1. God commands that the Christian be holy (1 Peter
1:14-16; Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7). God said, “You shall be holy, for I am
holy.” Be holy, and not conforming to evil desire. God’s holiness expresses His
divine perfection. His innermost nature is holy, and a holy God calls for a holy
people (1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Cor. 1:2).
Holy living demands determination (Rom. 12:1). The
Christian is responsible for his inner life and outward walk. All areas of our
life should be in the process of being conformed to the likeness of Jesus
Christ. Sin is abnormal and unnatural for the believer. The Christian does not
experience the sinless life perfectly on this earth (1 John 1:8, 10), however we
do overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16-21).
Holiness or sanctification can be perfected, i.e.,
completed or matured (Phi. 3:8-16). A maturing, or growing holiness, is an
increased Christ-likeness (2 Cor. 3:18). It is a progressive sanctification, not
sinless perfection.
We will receive glorification when we see Jesus in
heaven, and not before then. Until then, we are to grow in His likeness (1 John
3:3). Our responsibility is to yield ourselves to the inner working of the Holy
Spirit and keep on growing in His likeness (James 4:8).
2. The eternal purpose of God in Christ is for
us to be holy. God has saved you by the Holy Spirit to make you His holy
people (2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 5:25-27).
Jesus Christ died to make us holy. The purpose of
God in the atoning death of His Son for our sins is to save us from the penalty
of sin, and to set us apart to God to become like His Son (Rom. 8:29). Our
eternal destiny is to be conformed to the image of God in Christ Jesus (1 Jn.
3:3).
God loved us while we were His enemies and sent His
Son to die for us, and we are now His children who are to be like their Father.
A Christian who sins is a child sinning against His Father.
3. The only safe evidence that we have a saving
faith in Jesus Christ is a holy life (Heb. 12:14; Jas. 2:26; 1 Jn 2:6; 3:9).
No one can see the Lord God without holiness.
“God does not call us to live in immorality, but in
holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7, GNT). “God wants you to be holy . . .” (v. 4, GNT).
Sanctification is God’s stated purpose for the believer.
The Christian has been set apart to God and is
therefore “holy” unto the Lord. Because we have been declared to be “perfecting
holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).
The person who sets his hope by faith on the Son of
God experiences an inward purification that is as complete as a Christ’s own
purity. We become like Christ as we focus our faith on His saving grace.
4. The only proof that we sincerely love the
Lord Jesus Christ is a holy life.
John 14:15 reads, “If you love Me, you will obey
what I command.” “Whoever has My commandments and obeys them, he is the one who
loves Me” (v. 21). “If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching” (v. 23). The
answer to the obedience problem is love. If you love Him, you will obey Him.
“You are My friends if you do what I command” (v. 14).
If you love Jesus, you will be holy. If you love
Him, you will become like Him.
If you do not obey Him, you do not love Him. If you
love Him, you will obey Him. You do not love Him if you do not do what He
teaches.
Because the Christian knows God, he lives a life of
obedience and does not practice sin.
5. The only sound evidence that we are true
children of God is a holy lifestyle.
“Everyone who lives in union with Christ does not
continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen Him or known Him”
(1 John 3:6, GNT). The child of God does not have the habit of sin because He
has God’s divine principle of life dwelling in him. We cannot go on continuing
to sin because we now have God’s very nature in us. A person who “abides” in a
sinless Person must himself be sinless because he has a sinless regenerate
nature.
God’s children act like their Father. “Those who
are led by the Holy Spirit of God are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). The Spirit
of God leads to holiness because He will not lead you into sin and disobedience.
If the Spirit leads you, you will live a holy life.
“Everyone who lives in union with Christ does not
continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen Him or known Him”
(1 John 3:15, GNT). “None of those who are children of God continue to sin, for
God’s very nature is in them; and because God is their Father, they cannot
continue to sin” (v. 9, GNT). “The new birth involves a perfect purification
from sin.”
6. People who live holy lives are a blessing to
others (Galatians 5:13).
Consistent holy behavior is a powerful testimony to
God’s saving grace.
God blesses the service of people who are holy.
People who live holy lives are not selfish; they are a blessing to other people
(1 Pet. 1:22).
7. Our present comfort depends upon living a
holy lifestyle.
You cannot walk with the Lord and the world at the
same time. God will chastise the sinning saint (Heb. 12:6, 9-10).
Our sanctification is not a personal attainment,
but is a state or position into which God in grace has called us (2 Tim. 1:9).
It is our responsibility, moreover to “sanctify” ourselves (1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Pet.
3:11). If we are going to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him, we must keep
our lives from all known sin. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).
8. “Without holiness on earth we shall never be
prepared to enjoy heaven.”
“Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb.
12:14). “And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appear, we may
have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John
2:28). The physical changes of our redemption will take place when Christ
returns and our bodies are glorified. “We know that when He appears, we shall be
like Him” (1 Jn. 3:3; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:52-54). We will have new
glorified bodies made for living in heaven. Because Jesus Christ shall return,
we can and should keep our lives pure.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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