“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, ‘Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15,16
In the gospel of Matthew, we find the Lord Jesus teaching His disciples, “Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) Why is this matter of perfection and God’s holiness alike? Both have their origin and true manifestation in God. As Paul wrote to the Romans concerning “goodness,” he makes it very clear that there is only ONE that is good, and it is God. John, in his first epistle would write concerning “love” that God IS love. He alone is true love, power, goodness, and mercy. Every true expression, even the glimmer of that expression of these attributes, have their origin in God. Thus, God is to be worshipped as the essence of all these attributes, the One who gives Himself to men of faith, who are in a position and attitude to receive from Him all things good and holy. Therefore, not only is God in Christ the source, essence, and manifestation of true holiness, but He communicates to men that holiness to be embraced, and lived, by faith. What about this idea of perfection, even the perfection of God revealed in His holiness, and that which He would have the believer to be and to do?
One of the great characteristics of God’s commandments and promises, is that they are absolute. The Lord never tells us to be less than what God is. This does not mean that the sinner, though saved, is or can be perfect in his walk with God. But it does mean that he is to aim at perfection, that perfectness of fellowship with God in worship and service to Him, “on earth as it is in heaven.” Thus, when Peter writes that we are to be holy, the first and great reason is because our Father in heaven is holy, as is the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We are to be what we ARE in Christ, for God has declared it, Christ being the standard and the power of such a life. The key is faith, that gift and capacity given by God in answer to prayer, by which Christ is appropriated, received, partaken of. It is in the measure of faith, and its consistency, that we receive this holy life of God by the Spirit. For all shortcomings with regards to meeting this goal, there is the precious blood of Christ for cleansing, the renewing by the Spirit, and the restoration of the soul. The goal is absolute, as is the commandment. The limits are those imposed upon us by our lack of faith. But the possibilities are such as “exceed what we could ever ask or think, according to the power working in us.” How then are we to live such a life?
In John’s gospel, we read where Jesus came into the temple in Jerusalem on the “Jew’s Passover,” there to find, “…those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money.” They had, as Jesus declared, made the Father’s house to be an house of merchandise, a “den of thieves.” The meaning of the house had been replaced from being a house of prayer for all nations, to benefitting a group of merchants who used the temple as a place and means to do business. Jesus would drive them all out of the temple, in order to restore the temple to its proper purpose, for the glory of God, and the blessing of men. The first thing in becoming holy, and living a holy life is worship, true worship. It means coming to God in “the beauty of His holiness,” bowing down before Him, “His great love to proclaim.” Why is this so important? Faith is born out of worship, a faith the believes Christ IS our holiness. Faith then receives His holy life for all circumstances, and at all times. God’s response is God’s faithful giving.
Dear Father, Make us holy today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.