THE HOLY INCENTIVE OF GOD'S PROMISES Here we must distinguish between the holiness which God gives us, and that which we perfect. While they are related, they are not synonymous. The "new man" is "created in righteousness and TRUE HOLINESS" (Eph 4:24). We played no active role in this creation. The creation was wholly of God, for creating is beyond our ability. -- Tomorrow:
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation." (2 Cor 7:1-4)
HOLINESS
" . . . perfecting holiness in the fear of God . . . "
The "holiness" of this text has to do with bringing the "holiness" inherent in the new man to dominate all of our expressions. That is involved in the admonition to "put on the new man" (Eph 4:24). This "perfection" of holiness is referred to in the sixth chapter of Romans: " . . . as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness UNTO HOLINESS" (Rom 6:19). That is, this effort is to be characterized by the same willingness and initiative with which we devoted ourselves to sin.
Perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord is also expressed as a benefit we reap by serving the Lord. "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS, and the end everlasting life" (Rom 6:22). Holiness, in turn, results in eternal life – that is, eternal life in its fulness.
How essential is this perfection of holiness – i.e. through the Spirit, and in the energy of faith, bringing holiness to the point of maturity, where God intends that it should be? Is there any provision in God's "so great salvation" (Heb 2:3) for ignoring this word? Once God has created the "new man" in "righteousness and true holiness," has His "eternal purpose" really been fully served? Is the objective of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus to merely get us into Christ, with everything following that being nothing more than an option, or something special that is not really integral to the redemption itself? When Jesus said "I will BUILD My church" (Matt 16:18), was He only speaking of increasing its numbers? Are the spiritual caliber and attainments of the members of no consequence?
If all we have to consider is the professed church, one might be led to suppose such conclusions are the truth. However, that is not all that we have to consider! There is also this word: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14).
If, in God's "eternal purpose," He has chosen us in Christ to the end "that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Eph 1:4), how than can those who do not "perfect holiness" expect to be in that number? If the people of God are, by Divine design, growing into "a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph 2:21), precisely what place is there for a person who is not perfecting holiness? If the God of heaven has said, "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 Pet 1:15-16), what will be said to the person who ignores that word, quenches the Spirit, and refuses to "perfect holiness."
The answers to these questions are all obvious, and require no further elaboration. If God demands this from us, and has supplied everything required to do it, together with the personal involvement of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:13), and the tutelage of His own matchless grace (Tit 2:11-12), the failure to heed this word is a monumental act of stupidity, and confirms the dominance of unbelief. It negates any and all profession, and throws the whole matter of one's salvation into question.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for making known the place of holiness in salvation, and granting Your Spirit to assist us in perfecting that holiness in the fear of the Lord.