HOLINESS 1 Peter 1:13-16
If you are a child of God, you are Holy. It is a position you hold before God. He sees you as Holy because He sees you through the blood of Jesus.
Heb 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. NIV
In reality of course you do not immediately appear Holy or feel Holy because although God sees you as Holy and accepts you as Holy, you yourself are far from experiencing true holiness. You hopefully are striving for the goal of experiential holiness. Day by day God is working in you even if you don't feel it. You are being made holy through God*s word, His work, and the work of the Holy Spirit that dwells in you.
Heb 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. NIV
So, although God sees us as us holy because we have the Holy Spirit in us there is much work for the Holy Spirit to do in us to complete us. And yes, we must become willing participants in His work to accomplish and experience personal holiness. Are you willing?
To know what personal holiness looks like we must look at Jesus, the author and founder of our faith. What did Jesus look like and how did he treat others?
**He chose not to sin or disobey the Father.
**He used God*s word to fight evil.
**He was full of grace toward others ie, patient, and nurturing.
**He saw potential in everyone.
**He was willing to put himself out for others.
**His love was not based on the behavior of those around Him.
**He showed everyone God*s love and He was the light that dispelled darkness.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. NIV This is what Jesus lived; He was our example.
Truly this is the struggle, and this is the challenge. Every believer makes the choice of being a willing participant in God*s plan or not. I challenge you to ask God to help you become active in achieving your own personal holiness. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.
1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 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." NIV
God*s meets you where you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there. Are you making progress? The test:: Is your behavior improving? Everyone has things they struggle with, bad language, bad attitude, anger, fear, alcohol, vanity, gluttony, pride, lack of self-discipline, laziness, and anything that does not look like Jesus. He knows what it is you struggle with, and He wants to help you grow closer to being a reflection of Him and sounding like Him. Let holiness reign in you. Keep moving forward that is all that is required; keep setting your sights on holiness.
In Him, MJ Gillespie
YOU ARE LOVED!
