God’s Commitment to Holiness
When we consider holiness, it is so common to think about a set of rules one needs to perform or actions that one should avoid. To many, holiness is seen as perfection; thus being a worthy goal, but impossible to reach. With such a mindset, guilt, condemnation and regret are one’s constant companions. Every believer wants to be holy as God is Holy, but is daily confronted by his own human frailty and carnality. To deal rationally with this inner struggle of wanting to be holy yet falling short, many divide up the One, Holy God into three distinct and independent persons. They see God the Father as relating to man out of his righteousness and severity. The Son, Jesus, relates to man out of grace, compassion and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit is our helper and constant companion; ready to pick us up every time we fall.
Reasoning in this way only makes God into our own image. When we are upset with the failings and sins of others, we apply the severity and discipline of our idea of God the Father. But, when it comes to our own sins and shortcomings, then we side with the forgiveness and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit comes readily to our rescue, but not to others. This paradigm only leads to hypocrisy and frustration. We must remember that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not only One is essence, but also in deeds. None act independent of the other.
In Genesis 1.26, God said: “Let us make man in our own image, after our own likeness…” Our creation, as our salvation is a joint venture of the Trinity. In Ephesians 2.10, we read: “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” If God the Father has an interest in our sanctification, so does Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at three verses that show this oneness in purpose and deeds.
Jude begins with this salutation: “…to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ.” Paul begins his first letter to the Corinthians by saying: “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…” And Peter begins his first letter in this way: “To those who are elect exiles….according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ…” Do you see the high value that God has placed on our holiness? The three Persons of the Trinity are involved in producing a church, as well as each believer, without “spot” or “wrinkle”.
God’s holiness has been imparted to us, just as His love, righteousness and faith are ours in Christ Jesus. We have been made holy, made righteous and His love and faith have been given to us. It is a result of being washed clean by the blood of Jesus. Our sanctification has to do with the Lord’s presence in our lives. It is a free gift, but with responsibility. Love has been poured into our lives, but we must walk in that love. Each one has been given a measure of faith, but we must exercise and live by this faith. We have been made holy and righteous, but we must live our lives in that holiness. Grace is free, but not cheap, so let us value holiness as God values it. Let us manifest in our daily lives the work of the Triune God in us.
Scriptures to meditate on:
I Cor. 1.2; Jude 1; I Peter 1.2; Eph. 5.25-27; I Peter 1.16; Col. 1.21-22