Article: A Holy Church

From my own personal observations of new evangelicals, predominantly, and of most evangelicals, true holiness is not being sought after. The weakness of the flesh is one excuse that is used, that is, because we are weak in flesh we cannot attain to the standards of holiness, which are required in scripture.

Holiness is not just something that Christians strived for in days gone by. Christ demands it of His church as a reflection of our Lord, our Saviour, and redeemer. 1 Peter 1: 15-16 says, “But as ye which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in that manner of conversation because it is written, BE YE HOLY; FOR I AM HOLY.” This is no vain fanciful statement. Holiness is commanded by God to a blood-bought Christian. Certainly, we have been made holy, positionally, through our saving faith is Christ. But there is another form of holiness that can also be referred to as personal sanctification. This is why we are asked to perfect holiness, in the fear of God. In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul says, Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” So perfecting that holiness which has given to us freely.

It is because of Jesus Christ a Christian strives for perfection. A true love for Jesus Christ ought to generate an earnest desire for holiness to be pure, undefiled, and acceptable member of the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9). Even as a true and pure virgin bride keeps herself pure for her husband, that is the marriage be pure and undefiled.

Paul said we are not debtors to the flesh to live after the flesh. Paul admonishes us in Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall died: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deed of the body, ye shall live.”
The scriptures give clear instruction that we are to sanctify ourselves. The Levitical priests kept themselves pure to perform their holy work in the tabernacle of Moses, where God dwelled in the Ark of the Covenant upon the mercy seat. This example also serves for the Christians for Christ says in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God him shall God destroy; for the temple of God in holy which temple ye are.” This is a solemn warning in which we ought to take heed. Christ is in us and the Christian is part of a holy nation, a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). The Isrealites had God’s word written in stone, but we have it upon the tables of our heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3). We really have no excuse for living carnal lives. We have the power of the Spirit of God dwelling in us. We have had our nature changed upon the true faith in Christ, that root of sin has been destroyed by Christ. We now have the resurrection life. Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of him dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

The Christian holiness is not, “I can’t do this” or “I can’t do that” kind of holiness. On the contrary, it is a “Because I love my Savior and Redeemer so much and He has accomplished and suffered so much to obtain my redemption.” It is a “Oh how I love Him. Oh, how I want to please Him, because he first loved me and shed his blood, and his body was broken to deliver me from hell. He has forgiven me all my sins and is preparing a place for me in the glories of heaven.”

This is why we desire to walk in holiness before Him. If it is not for this reason then it is pharisaical vanity, a hypocritical self righteousness.

We need to strive to be able to say as Paul said to the Romans by the Holy Ghost in Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” We may fail but this should be no hindrance to us for we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1John2:1)

Christ is seeking a church without spot or wrinkle, a holy church walking in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:27), a holy church that is without blemish. Then sinners will be converted when they see that Christ is real and active in his peoples lives. Only then can we be a light set on a hill that cannot be hid. “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7) Why should not Christ expect his church to be Holy? We are exhorted to set our affections on things above not on things on the earth. The modern day professor of the Faith watches the same movies the unbelievers watch, is wrapped up in sports and their “gods”, following after their philosophies and deceptions of this world. 1 John 1:6 says, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”

So let us go on unto perfection, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Judev.23). Let us examine ourselves and repent of our lack of holiness and from worldliness lest we be cursed as the Laodicean Church in Revelation 3:16, So than because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Sobering words indeed, but the Lord our God would desire to establish our hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13)