Monday, February 21, 2011
Maintaining Holiness
When we read Leviticus (IF we actually read Leviticus), we don't really appreciate God's dietary restrictions on edibles and inedibles. I mean, Red Lobster would be out of business, right? But we must understand this: God was setting the Israelites apart. His call was to holiness - literally, being set apart for divine use.
Look again at God's admonition to Israel: "For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy" (Lev. 11:45). Now read Peter's instructions in his letter to believers living in a pagan culture: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16, NASB).
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter is quoting from this same passage in Leviticus. So, this call from God, the call to the higher standard of holiness, doesn't just involve Old Testament prohibitions; it is part of the new covenant for every follower of Christ!
It is important to note that, according to Peter's instructions, holiness begins by preparing your mind for action. This implies that there will be constant warfare (action) to stay holy in an ungodly world. You don't have to be internet or media savvy in order to know that we are under a constant barrage of unholy thoughts, philosophies and images. The internet alone is representative of the battle. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4), but that is not true for the follower of Christ and remaining holy means winning the battle for the mind. I like the way the New Living translates Peter's instruction: "think clearly." This is the challenge for every believer in a world that is emphatically anti-Christ in it's orientation.
Secondly, Peter instructs us to "keep sober in spirit." Another translation simply says, "exercise self-control" (NLT). This is where the battle is often won or lost. I'm not a big fan of self-control. Probably because it means...well, controlling my "self." We can be driven by our selfish desires and impulses, but God doesn't leave us at the mercy of every selfish whim. Check out Paul's instruction to Timothy: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV). God's Word makes it clear that this is an essential out-growth of the believer's life. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23). Yep, there it is - self-control - anchoring those other eight fruit of the Spirit. Oh, and while we're there, let's not miss out on verse 24: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." 'Nuff said?
Lastly, God's Word reminds us of the grace that will come with Christ's return. Wait, not judgment? Look at it again: "...fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ". Whoa. I was worried because the more I think about this, the more I realize that there's no way I can always be holy. Wait! Let's be clear here: I'm not talking cheap grace - where I'm using God's grace as a doormat to wipe my dirty, unholy feet (as an opportunity to sin). The fact of the matter is that if I put my hope in my efforts to remain always holy, I'm in serious trouble and it can easily be reduced to the "outward" standards of holiness that mark those who follow that prescription. There is a dimension of grace here that should not be ignored! As a fallen man living in a fallen world, my struggle to remain "holy to the Lord" is often marked by epic failures. Without God's grace, holiness is a hopeless endeavor. Thank God for the vital, life-changing reminder of His grace!
Wow. I didn't intend to go this far into this subject of holiness; but as you can tell, it's HUGE and not easily addressed. Simply from a vocational perspective, there is ALWAYS tension here for the minister/pastor. Being holy and being human can feel mutually exclusive, but God doesn't call us to an impossible standard or an unrealistic lifestyle. This is not an exhaustive treatment, but simply drawing from one Scripture passage to give us further insight in what it means to be a holy people. So to put a bow on it: we are made holy, not just by our relationship to a holy God, but we remain holy by living a set-apart lifestyle - obedient to God's Word and resisting the constant current of our culture that tries to carry us away from Him.
"So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, 'I am holy; you be holy.'" (1 Peter 1:13-16, The Message)
Recommended reading for further study:
Look again at God's admonition to Israel: "For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy" (Lev. 11:45). Now read Peter's instructions in his letter to believers living in a pagan culture: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16, NASB).Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter is quoting from this same passage in Leviticus. So, this call from God, the call to the higher standard of holiness, doesn't just involve Old Testament prohibitions; it is part of the new covenant for every follower of Christ!
It is important to note that, according to Peter's instructions, holiness begins by preparing your mind for action. This implies that there will be constant warfare (action) to stay holy in an ungodly world. You don't have to be internet or media savvy in order to know that we are under a constant barrage of unholy thoughts, philosophies and images. The internet alone is representative of the battle. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4), but that is not true for the follower of Christ and remaining holy means winning the battle for the mind. I like the way the New Living translates Peter's instruction: "think clearly." This is the challenge for every believer in a world that is emphatically anti-Christ in it's orientation.
Secondly, Peter instructs us to "keep sober in spirit." Another translation simply says, "exercise self-control" (NLT). This is where the battle is often won or lost. I'm not a big fan of self-control. Probably because it means...well, controlling my "self." We can be driven by our selfish desires and impulses, but God doesn't leave us at the mercy of every selfish whim. Check out Paul's instruction to Timothy: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7, NIV). God's Word makes it clear that this is an essential out-growth of the believer's life. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23). Yep, there it is - self-control - anchoring those other eight fruit of the Spirit. Oh, and while we're there, let's not miss out on verse 24: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." 'Nuff said?
Lastly, God's Word reminds us of the grace that will come with Christ's return. Wait, not judgment? Look at it again: "...fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ". Whoa. I was worried because the more I think about this, the more I realize that there's no way I can always be holy. Wait! Let's be clear here: I'm not talking cheap grace - where I'm using God's grace as a doormat to wipe my dirty, unholy feet (as an opportunity to sin). The fact of the matter is that if I put my hope in my efforts to remain always holy, I'm in serious trouble and it can easily be reduced to the "outward" standards of holiness that mark those who follow that prescription. There is a dimension of grace here that should not be ignored! As a fallen man living in a fallen world, my struggle to remain "holy to the Lord" is often marked by epic failures. Without God's grace, holiness is a hopeless endeavor. Thank God for the vital, life-changing reminder of His grace!
Wow. I didn't intend to go this far into this subject of holiness; but as you can tell, it's HUGE and not easily addressed. Simply from a vocational perspective, there is ALWAYS tension here for the minister/pastor. Being holy and being human can feel mutually exclusive, but God doesn't call us to an impossible standard or an unrealistic lifestyle. This is not an exhaustive treatment, but simply drawing from one Scripture passage to give us further insight in what it means to be a holy people. So to put a bow on it: we are made holy, not just by our relationship to a holy God, but we remain holy by living a set-apart lifestyle - obedient to God's Word and resisting the constant current of our culture that tries to carry us away from Him.
"So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, 'I am holy; you be holy.'" (1 Peter 1:13-16, The Message)
Recommended reading for further study:
- The Pursuit of Holiness - Jerry Bridges
- Being Holy, Being Human - Jay Kesler
- Rediscovering Holiness - J. I. Packer
- The Holiness of God - R. C. Sproul
Labels: 1 Peter 1:13-16; self-control, holiness, holy
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