WALK IN HOLINESS

“Pursue peace with all people, and HOLINESS, without which no one will see the Lord” – Hebrews 12:14

To walk in perfection is to WALK IN HOLINESS: “Pursue peace with all people, and HOLINESS, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb.12:14). Holiness is the nature of God that makes Him perfect, also causing Him to hate sin and impurity. It is the attribute that differentiates Him from Man. Verse 10 says: “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of HIS HOLINESS.” God’s Divine Disciplines are meant to make us partakers of His Holiness. In certain circles, holiness is portrayed as a huge unattainable feat that can hardly ever refer to us “mere humans”! But regardless of our feelings, Believers in Christ are referred to as holy.

Therefore, holiness is a divine gift whose perfection we must pursue: “…HOLY BRETHREN, partakers of the heavenly calling…” (Heb.3:1a); “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY and without blame before Him in love” (Eph.1:4); “Therefore, as the elect of God, HOLY and beloved…” (Col.3:12a). Holiness is ‘separation unto God.’ While sanctification sets us apart for God’s special use; holiness involves walking with God, allowing Him total access to all areas of our lives, and daily yielding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to align our attitudes, behaviour and responses with His Living Word. Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the SPIRIT of HOLINESS by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom.1:4). The same “Spirit of Holiness” validates our Sonship!

Holiness is imputed to us by God because of Jesus. We are now to respond by walking in holiness through His grace. We are both declared holy (positionally) and also called to live a lifestyle of holiness, which reflects our relationship to God: “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in HOLINESS” (1The.4:7). He saved and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before time began (2Tim.1:9). We are saved to serve God “in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life” (Lk.1:75). In Christ, we “put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and HOLINESS” (Eph.4:24).

Holiness refers to both who we are and what we do! Holiness is the imitation of God: “Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children” (Eph.5:1). God commands that we be holy, live holy lives, and walk in holiness: “…Be holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet.1:15-16). As we obey His commands, our fellowship with Him is strengthened, resulting in a deeper walk as He progressively manifests Himself to us. We must rely on Him daily because our holiness comes from Him, not from our own strength. God makes us positionally holy at the new birth, having been made His righteousness in Christ (2 Cor.5:21). We are then enabled to walk in holiness through His grace and by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God made us holy and gave us the ability to walk in holiness. But this will manifest when we make concrete decisions to walk with Him based on His finished work. Holiness is putting God first and obeying Him even when we do not feel like it; casting off the flesh and its deceitful desires. Knowing the vanity of temporal existence and reality of eternity are great motivations for holy living: “Therefore, seeing all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Pet.3:11). Beloved, holiness attracts and exudes God’s Presence and Power (2Cor.6:16).

Every child of God will ultimately be perfected and presented in holiness (Col.1:22). Now, your responsibility is to perfect holiness as you daily yield to God as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God “ (2 Cor. 7:1).