One of the primary characteristics of the people of God is that they will be holy as the Lord is holy (Lev 20:26; 1 Pet 1:16). But this identification is something affirmed, something declared by God to define His chosen people. God places the badge of holiness upon His people, holiness. But it is essential to recognize that this distinction is not earned or attained by the chosen people; it is given by God's grace.
This is important. There has always been a large swatch of the Christian experience that has thought of personal piety as a status, some state of being to be attained through personal discipline or strength of will. But this does not conform to the narrative of Scripture. Holiness is an attribute that only God possesses and the only way for a human being to possess holiness is for God to bestow it.
The key is this: no man can achieve holiness, God gives it by virtue of His choosing. There is no effort to exert aside from obedience to the covenant obligations, but God, because of who He is, bestows the status of holiness to whomever He pleases as expressing His love and faithfulness. Only in Christ are we made holy. This cannot be stated any more firmly. What it means, though, needs to be carried throughout its ripples in the pool of theology.
Showing posts with label holy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holy. Show all posts
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Friday, October 5, 2012
We Have Been Made Holy in Christ
Holiness has a two-fold definition encompassing, in the very least, the concepts of moral purity and utter uniqueness. In the latter, which will be under examination today, this uniqueness is not to be thought of as a uniqueness of a different degree, as in, one is holy when they do something more, better, etc. Instead, holiness in this sense is best thought of a difference in kind, akin to, say the difference between water and sand.
It is this form of holiness that has particular importance for believers, for we are called to be holy as He is holy. And, while it is certainly true that this exhortation refers to moral purity, it simultaneously speaks to the fact that believers are to be set apart and of a different kind of human from unbelievers.
This is in no way to seem elitist or arrogant, instead it is a reality. Much like a dead person is different from a live person, due to his/her absence of life, so is the unbeliever different in kind from the Christian due to his/her lack of life in Christ, who is the One who is and gives life. In this sense, holiness is not something that needs to be sought out, but claimed and accepted as an already-evident truth: the Christian, by confession, repentance, and belief in Christ Jesus, is made alive from death, reborn into holiness that sets them apart from who they were before. This is what is meant by the idiom, in the world but not of the world.
Scripture speaks substantially to this effect. One such passage that struck me today was Psalm 4:3, "But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself." Or consider the words of Paul, who writes about his calling, "But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace (Gal. 1:15)." Although these are two seemingly dissimilar verses, they both point out that it is, in fact, God who sets apart those whom He has been pleased to love and bestow His grace upon and make holy by the washing of His Word, which is the blood of His Son, Christ Jesus. This is, among many exclaiming adjectives, amazing. Let us then claim the holiness that God has given us in His Son! Praise God!
It is this form of holiness that has particular importance for believers, for we are called to be holy as He is holy. And, while it is certainly true that this exhortation refers to moral purity, it simultaneously speaks to the fact that believers are to be set apart and of a different kind of human from unbelievers.
This is in no way to seem elitist or arrogant, instead it is a reality. Much like a dead person is different from a live person, due to his/her absence of life, so is the unbeliever different in kind from the Christian due to his/her lack of life in Christ, who is the One who is and gives life. In this sense, holiness is not something that needs to be sought out, but claimed and accepted as an already-evident truth: the Christian, by confession, repentance, and belief in Christ Jesus, is made alive from death, reborn into holiness that sets them apart from who they were before. This is what is meant by the idiom, in the world but not of the world.
Scripture speaks substantially to this effect. One such passage that struck me today was Psalm 4:3, "But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself." Or consider the words of Paul, who writes about his calling, "But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace (Gal. 1:15)." Although these are two seemingly dissimilar verses, they both point out that it is, in fact, God who sets apart those whom He has been pleased to love and bestow His grace upon and make holy by the washing of His Word, which is the blood of His Son, Christ Jesus. This is, among many exclaiming adjectives, amazing. Let us then claim the holiness that God has given us in His Son! Praise God!
Friday, September 28, 2012
A Treatise on Holiness
In an ever-secularizing world, holiness seems to be a forgotten thing, or an unknown thing altogher. However, more than any other attribute or characteristic of God, He is described as holy. Additionally, this holiness is something that, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the personal application of the Word of God, Christians are to exhibit as well.
Metaphorically, it can be thought of in this way: if a liquid is, in its purest form, the color red, then everything that the liquid comes into contact with will have the attribute of red. Similarly, God in His very essence and being is holy. He cannot be separated from His holiness because holiness, in its basest form, derives from the holiness of the Lord God Almighty. Therefore, it stands to reason that a believer who, by confession and faith, has received God's grace and the Holy Spirit is now living within him or her, then the holiness of God will be present.
Thus, an understanding of holiness and what it is to be holy is in order for, as stated explicitly by the apostle Peter, "But just as He who called you is holy, be holy in all you do; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16).'" So, in reality, holiness and being holy is not merely a suggestion but it is a necessity for the believer.
To be sure, only a believer in Christ Jesus who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit is capable of being truly holy, for only a believer will have access to He who is holy. This is like saying that the only people who can have toes are those that have feet. If you have no feet (are not a believer), then you will not be able in any sense to have toes (be holy).
Becuase holiness is such a fundamental part of God, a basic two-part definition is in order and should serve as both the rubric and the barameter of holiness in our own lives. First off, to be holy is to be set-apart, separate, not only of degree but primarily of kind. That is to say that God's holiness, and by extension believers' holiness, means that we are of a different kind, separate from that which is not holy. This is what is meant by the phrase, "in the world but not of it."
Secondly, holiness refers to moral purity. Think of two glasses of water. One glass is full of sediment and impurities, while the other is absolutely pure H2O. The pure glass, lacking any literal impurity is holy in that it is absolutely and utterly pure. The other would be akin to unholiness, full of impurities and, thus, lacking holiness.
The second sense of holiness often rubs people wrong, believers and unbelievers alike, because to understand holiness in this, quite literal sense, means that believers are to be holy as God is holy, an outright impossible acheivement, correct? No. The essential component here is to separate what God has made holy and what God is/will make holy.
In the former, God has made us holy in our souls and in our economical (sin) standing before His justice. In this sense, we are already holy. Redemption, salvation, justification, these are areas of already holy. In the latter, God is and will make us holy. The is refers to the process of sanctification by which the Holy Spirit applies the Word to us directly in our lifelong transformation.
In this sense, we are being made holy. The will here refers to the glorified state that believers will find themselves on the otherside (post-mortem) of eternity. When this occurs, we will be made perfectly holy because we will be blessed definitively with the utter presence of the Holy Lord. This is beautiful! So, when we use the language of holiness, now we may have a better understanding both of its vital significance as well as what it means for us today. And praise be to God who has seen fit in His pleasure to bless us with His presence so as to make us holy as He is holy!
Metaphorically, it can be thought of in this way: if a liquid is, in its purest form, the color red, then everything that the liquid comes into contact with will have the attribute of red. Similarly, God in His very essence and being is holy. He cannot be separated from His holiness because holiness, in its basest form, derives from the holiness of the Lord God Almighty. Therefore, it stands to reason that a believer who, by confession and faith, has received God's grace and the Holy Spirit is now living within him or her, then the holiness of God will be present.
Thus, an understanding of holiness and what it is to be holy is in order for, as stated explicitly by the apostle Peter, "But just as He who called you is holy, be holy in all you do; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16).'" So, in reality, holiness and being holy is not merely a suggestion but it is a necessity for the believer.
To be sure, only a believer in Christ Jesus who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit is capable of being truly holy, for only a believer will have access to He who is holy. This is like saying that the only people who can have toes are those that have feet. If you have no feet (are not a believer), then you will not be able in any sense to have toes (be holy).
Becuase holiness is such a fundamental part of God, a basic two-part definition is in order and should serve as both the rubric and the barameter of holiness in our own lives. First off, to be holy is to be set-apart, separate, not only of degree but primarily of kind. That is to say that God's holiness, and by extension believers' holiness, means that we are of a different kind, separate from that which is not holy. This is what is meant by the phrase, "in the world but not of it."
Secondly, holiness refers to moral purity. Think of two glasses of water. One glass is full of sediment and impurities, while the other is absolutely pure H2O. The pure glass, lacking any literal impurity is holy in that it is absolutely and utterly pure. The other would be akin to unholiness, full of impurities and, thus, lacking holiness.
The second sense of holiness often rubs people wrong, believers and unbelievers alike, because to understand holiness in this, quite literal sense, means that believers are to be holy as God is holy, an outright impossible acheivement, correct? No. The essential component here is to separate what God has made holy and what God is/will make holy.
In the former, God has made us holy in our souls and in our economical (sin) standing before His justice. In this sense, we are already holy. Redemption, salvation, justification, these are areas of already holy. In the latter, God is and will make us holy. The is refers to the process of sanctification by which the Holy Spirit applies the Word to us directly in our lifelong transformation.
In this sense, we are being made holy. The will here refers to the glorified state that believers will find themselves on the otherside (post-mortem) of eternity. When this occurs, we will be made perfectly holy because we will be blessed definitively with the utter presence of the Holy Lord. This is beautiful! So, when we use the language of holiness, now we may have a better understanding both of its vital significance as well as what it means for us today. And praise be to God who has seen fit in His pleasure to bless us with His presence so as to make us holy as He is holy!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Praise God Who is Near
During the so-called Age of Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries, a great many thinkers and philosophers began to exalt the limits and capacities of human, especially reason and empiricism. As reason and the perfectibility of man were heralded, a new stream of pseudo-Christianity arose that had a huge affect on how the world, particularly the leaders of a certain fledgling North American nation, thought about God. This ideal has been called Deism and while their are very few who would still call themselves Deists, the philosophies of this heresy are still in play today.
Deism, very simply, is the idea that God the Father created creation and then left it alone. A common word-picture used to describe Deism is to think that God wound the clock of creation and then closed it within a glass case ne'er to be touched or interrupted or tinkered with. In its essence, Deism would say that God is transcendent over creation in that He is the creator but He is not imminent in that He has never and will never become involved with creation. It can quickly be seen that this type of spiritual philosophy is still widespread today in the vast numbers of people who think of God as some far away being who is either too busy or too disinterested to become involved in our petty human affairs.
To be sure, this is blatantly false and grossly heretical. For starters, Christ, the Son of God sent by the Father God to atone for the sin of mankind, is clear evidence of God's intimate involvement with and in the world. Moreover, God is immensely near. In fact, the Bible is direct and unified in expressing how ever-present God always is, particularly to those who call on Him and the brokenhearted (Deut. 31:6; Psa. 16:8, 34:18, 46:1, 145:18). This should always be on our minds and be the reliable source of our constant comfort, security, and hope. For God is always near. His omnipresence deems that He is always everywhere. Wherever we are, there He is. This should be more than comforting, it should be overwhelming. To consider that the Holy Lord, who is infinite and without need, is here with us for us should rock us with love to our very cores. Let us praise the Lord for who He is and for being near us to love us! Praise God!
Friday, February 3, 2012
To be Humble before Him
In chapter 18 of the Gospel Luke, Luke recounts one of Jesus' parables in which Christ talks about the importance of humility in reference to true righteousness (Luke 18:9-14). In this parable, two men go to the temple to pray. The first, a Pharisee, stands up proudly and thanks the Lord that he is not like other men but is righteous and good to keep all of God's commandments and that he is better than other men. Next to the Pharisee is another man, a tax collecter, who can't even stand or look to heaven but simply beats his breast and cries out, "God have mercy to me, a sinner!" Jesus concludes the parable with a simple but serious statement: for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
This is a major theme of the Kingdom of God that is strikingly antithetical to the kingdoms of the world. Penitence and humility before the awesomeness of God is the only appropriate response to His presence. Think of Isaiah's call, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Isa. 6:5)."
To further this point, think of John's vision of the Lord in Revelation, who, having seen Jesus in His glory, fell down weeping as if dead (Rev. 1:17). When we come face to face with the Lord, we have the opportunity for the truest and most sincere worship that is grounded in an attitude of penitence and humility before the heavenly Father.
Worship, entering into the very presence of the holy Lord, is the most sobering reality there is. The Lord is the light that reveals everything that is hidden, especially those parts of our inner selves that have been buried in the depths of our beings. When we step into His heavenly presence, He illuminates our truest nature and we are forced to confront ourselves in light of who He is. This can be devastating.
However, when we humble ourselves in prayer to the Lord, He is sure to comfort and to keep us in His love. As Jesus says multiple times throughout the Gospels, whoever exalts himself will be humbled but whoever humbles himself will be exalted before the Lord. This is not just a single expression but is a principle of the Kingdom of God.
Although humbling ourselves can be painful because we are forced to honestly examine our sinning fleshly self in light of God's holiness. However painful this may be, it doesn't come close to the wrath of humility that we are faced with if God is forced to humble our haughtiness. Instead, the best way to meet the Lord is bowing before Him in humbleness so that we aren't crushed beneath Him as judge. Let us then strive for humility before the heavenly Lord!
This is a major theme of the Kingdom of God that is strikingly antithetical to the kingdoms of the world. Penitence and humility before the awesomeness of God is the only appropriate response to His presence. Think of Isaiah's call, "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Isa. 6:5)."
To further this point, think of John's vision of the Lord in Revelation, who, having seen Jesus in His glory, fell down weeping as if dead (Rev. 1:17). When we come face to face with the Lord, we have the opportunity for the truest and most sincere worship that is grounded in an attitude of penitence and humility before the heavenly Father.
Worship, entering into the very presence of the holy Lord, is the most sobering reality there is. The Lord is the light that reveals everything that is hidden, especially those parts of our inner selves that have been buried in the depths of our beings. When we step into His heavenly presence, He illuminates our truest nature and we are forced to confront ourselves in light of who He is. This can be devastating.
However, when we humble ourselves in prayer to the Lord, He is sure to comfort and to keep us in His love. As Jesus says multiple times throughout the Gospels, whoever exalts himself will be humbled but whoever humbles himself will be exalted before the Lord. This is not just a single expression but is a principle of the Kingdom of God.
Although humbling ourselves can be painful because we are forced to honestly examine our sinning fleshly self in light of God's holiness. However painful this may be, it doesn't come close to the wrath of humility that we are faced with if God is forced to humble our haughtiness. Instead, the best way to meet the Lord is bowing before Him in humbleness so that we aren't crushed beneath Him as judge. Let us then strive for humility before the heavenly Lord!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
A Call to Holiness
All throughout Scripture, the most used adjective to describe the character and nature of God is holy. God is, above all else, holy. It is His holiness that truly defines Him. The Lord, in all His majesty, is holy. Holiness is defined in two basic ways: (1) purity in reference to morality and cleanliness, and (2) the state of being set apart.
The Word of the Lord is clear to state that we should seek earnestly and strive to be holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Not only are we to endeavor for holiness, but more so, we are holy in Christ. When we live lives of holiness, we are receiving and claiming the redeemed lives that He has given and desires for each of us. It is this acceptance of our holy and blameless self that is difficult to understand but is quite simple when we recognize that our holiness is only in the Lord and never arises from within ourselves.
In regards to the holiness of morality and cleanliness, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. By the very blood that Christ Himself shed on the cross, which He baptizes us with, we are cleansed from all sin. This is a pure and true gift. Moreover, by the power of the Holy Spirit we are given the ability to live out God's moral code. The Holy Spirit infuses and imputes us with His perfect justice and faultless morality.
God, through the work of Jesus, has freed us from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:22). Because this is the case, the Lord has imputed us with His holiness. As a result, we may live holy. Not only is this remarkable, it is a miracle. Only through the Lord are we able to be holy. This is a primary gift that we receive because of confession and belief in the Lord, Jesus. Praise God.
Additionally, when we confess the Lord Jesus He sets us apart as His very own. Not only that but we who have been given the Holy Spirit and who persevere in Him are elect, chosen by God to be His holy people before the foundations of the earth (Eph. 1:4-6). Although this can be challenging theology, the point of this dialogue is simple: we, because of Christ's work in us, have been made and are being made holy as He is holy.
There is an element of passive reception of the imputed holiness of Christ, however, it is also an active pursuit. More accurately, we play an active role in not hindering the work of the Holy Spirit's work of holy sanctification if our hearts and lives. So let us pursue the holiness that is held and found only in the sovereign holy Lord!
The Word of the Lord is clear to state that we should seek earnestly and strive to be holy as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Not only are we to endeavor for holiness, but more so, we are holy in Christ. When we live lives of holiness, we are receiving and claiming the redeemed lives that He has given and desires for each of us. It is this acceptance of our holy and blameless self that is difficult to understand but is quite simple when we recognize that our holiness is only in the Lord and never arises from within ourselves.
In regards to the holiness of morality and cleanliness, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. By the very blood that Christ Himself shed on the cross, which He baptizes us with, we are cleansed from all sin. This is a pure and true gift. Moreover, by the power of the Holy Spirit we are given the ability to live out God's moral code. The Holy Spirit infuses and imputes us with His perfect justice and faultless morality.
God, through the work of Jesus, has freed us from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:22). Because this is the case, the Lord has imputed us with His holiness. As a result, we may live holy. Not only is this remarkable, it is a miracle. Only through the Lord are we able to be holy. This is a primary gift that we receive because of confession and belief in the Lord, Jesus. Praise God.
Additionally, when we confess the Lord Jesus He sets us apart as His very own. Not only that but we who have been given the Holy Spirit and who persevere in Him are elect, chosen by God to be His holy people before the foundations of the earth (Eph. 1:4-6). Although this can be challenging theology, the point of this dialogue is simple: we, because of Christ's work in us, have been made and are being made holy as He is holy.
There is an element of passive reception of the imputed holiness of Christ, however, it is also an active pursuit. More accurately, we play an active role in not hindering the work of the Holy Spirit's work of holy sanctification if our hearts and lives. So let us pursue the holiness that is held and found only in the sovereign holy Lord!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Practicing Righteousness
Practice. Life is all about practice. Practice is the action of repeating/rehearsing any activity while improving at doing it, whatever "it" may be. Nearly everything in life is a practice of some sort or another. From waking up in the morning, brushing teeth, putting on clothes, driving, or working: everything is a practice. The odd thing is that we do not always recognize everything that we practice.
In music, perfect practice has two basic features: (1) consistency, and (2) a good teacher. This is the same for the Christian life. Consistency means that we read the Word regularly, we are in prayer often, and we seek opportunities to serve. The second part, having a good teacher, points to the necessity of being tied to a local church.
Local churches, especially the elders/spiritually mature thereof, are responsible for discipling believers and helping them to grow into mature believers. Getting involved and being committed to local churches is essential for Christian growth. Remember, practicing, though not always desirable, is both rewarding and challenging but it is required when it comes to righteousness and living out the Christian life.
John talks about practice in reference to sin and righteousness (1 John 3:4-10). John is clear that those that practice sinning are lawless and unfaithful. Additionally, those that make a practice of sinning do not belong to the Father. Because God is holy, those that practice sin prove that the Father is not in him/her.
This should not be so. As John says, the evidence that the Father is in people is the measure of righteousness by which they live their lives. If we are in Him, we will live and desire to live by His holy standards of righteousness. This means that we will make an intentional practice of pursuing His righteousness.
There is an old adage: practice makes perfect. This is not correct. In truth, only perfect practice makes perfect. In spiritual terms, this means that the manner and method by which we practice righteousness must be righteous in order for it to be right practice. This means that we will be aware not just of the "what" of practicing righteousness, but also the "how" of practicing righteousness.
In music, perfect practice has two basic features: (1) consistency, and (2) a good teacher. This is the same for the Christian life. Consistency means that we read the Word regularly, we are in prayer often, and we seek opportunities to serve. The second part, having a good teacher, points to the necessity of being tied to a local church.
Local churches, especially the elders/spiritually mature thereof, are responsible for discipling believers and helping them to grow into mature believers. Getting involved and being committed to local churches is essential for Christian growth. Remember, practicing, though not always desirable, is both rewarding and challenging but it is required when it comes to righteousness and living out the Christian life.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Unshakable Sons & Daughters
This world tosses and turns like waves in a tempest. Much of life is unsure and instable because of sin and its effects in the world. There are hidden traps set to trip and ensnare believers and to keep them from goals, purposes, and obedience to the Lord. Sometime the snares are visible and clear, such as lust or greed or pride. Other traps are less so, like coveting, envy, or general distractions. The point is that, although this world is full of waves that can break us, our stability is sure; our stability is Christ.
When we are in Christ, we are set, made secure in Him. This means that as the tides of this life rise or recede we will be unmoved because our stability is the surest of footings: God. With God as our rock and stability, no matter what we may encounter, we will not falter, fade, or break away from our course.
Moreover, the Lord is our fortress. Because our strength is rooted, grounded in Him, nothing in the world can shake us. There are so many instances and occurrences that happen that can be wholly devastating: divorce, death, disease, etc. However, when the source of our strength, the very root of our stability is found in God alone, then nothing will be able to rattle us beyond His compassionate care.
There is so much to be said about stability and its importance for believers. Seizing and claiming the stability is essential in the Christian life. It affects everything from the joy, peace, and hope that believers are required to live within. For instance, earthly happiness depends on what happens. Therefore, what happens can have dramatic effects on people when people's happiness is not grounded in the Lord. Instead, Christians that are deeply rooted in the Word and in the Lord can be affected by what happens but their happiness and joy is not dependent on what happens; it depends solely and wholly on the Holy Lord.
God is our security. He is the fortress that we depend upon for our strength and for our stability. Because He is the rock and the source of our stability, we can be totally assured and secure. So, when this world throws curve balls we will be able to handle every pitch with ease. Praise be to the Lord Almighty that He is who He is and that we can utterly depend on Him!
When we are in Christ, we are set, made secure in Him. This means that as the tides of this life rise or recede we will be unmoved because our stability is the surest of footings: God. With God as our rock and stability, no matter what we may encounter, we will not falter, fade, or break away from our course.
Moreover, the Lord is our fortress. Because our strength is rooted, grounded in Him, nothing in the world can shake us. There are so many instances and occurrences that happen that can be wholly devastating: divorce, death, disease, etc. However, when the source of our strength, the very root of our stability is found in God alone, then nothing will be able to rattle us beyond His compassionate care.
There is so much to be said about stability and its importance for believers. Seizing and claiming the stability is essential in the Christian life. It affects everything from the joy, peace, and hope that believers are required to live within. For instance, earthly happiness depends on what happens. Therefore, what happens can have dramatic effects on people when people's happiness is not grounded in the Lord. Instead, Christians that are deeply rooted in the Word and in the Lord can be affected by what happens but their happiness and joy is not dependent on what happens; it depends solely and wholly on the Holy Lord.
God is our security. He is the fortress that we depend upon for our strength and for our stability. Because He is the rock and the source of our stability, we can be totally assured and secure. So, when this world throws curve balls we will be able to handle every pitch with ease. Praise be to the Lord Almighty that He is who He is and that we can utterly depend on Him!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
New Law Theology
Shortly following the Exodus from Egypt, Yahweh established a new covenant: the Mosaic covenant. The Mosaic covenant was established in the wilderness at Sinai. At that moment, the covenant was given by the Lord to Israel through Moses. The Mosaic covenant was God's desire to make a holy nation for Himself, a chosen and priestly nation.
There were two major parts of this covenant that distinguished and sealed it: the Law, and the Sabbath. The Sabbath served as a sign of the covenant, sealing it much like circumcision sealed the Abrahamic covenant. More significant than the establishment of the Sabbath though was God's deliverance of the Law. The Law was God's most significant revelation of His character in all of history up to that point and it came to dominate and define Israel.
A general synopsis and simplification of Mosaic Law would be that it is a revelation of God's holiness. Mosaic Law is the majority content of the Pentateuch, especially Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. It is often oversimplified to just the Ten Commandments but it entails much more. The major theological thrust and purpose of the Law was to reveal God's character, particularly His holiness.
Holiness is defined in two ways: to be set apart and to be pure. The Mosaic Law was a set of regulations for cleanliness and sacrifice, offerings that covered the sinfulness of man in order for man to come near the holy presence of God. The problem with this was that the blood of bulls and goats is unable to cleanse sin or truly forgive iniquity; therefore, a holy offering had to be made. Enter Christ.
Jesus became the perfect, sinless, spotless sacrificial lamb. In a real sense, He was the final sacrifice under the Mosaic law. He in fact abolished the law and made it obsolete by His death and resurrection (Col. 2:13-14; Heb 8; 10). Now man can become holy by the blood of the holy lamb that is Christ. Whereas the Mosaic covenant exposed the sinfulness of man but was unable to truly atone for sin, the New covenant, made in Jesus, atones for man's iniquity and restores the right relationship with the Lord that sin had broken.
The point is that the Mosaic law, its regulations and requirements, has been made obsolete in that it is no longer necessary to sacrifice bulls and goats to obtain the holiness of God. Now, holiness is attained through confession and belief in Jesus as God. The Law does serve a purpose though. It still reveals who God is as holy and perfect, pure and set apart.
Although, thankfully, believers do not need to hold to the regulations of the Mosaic law as Israel did, the law still serves to expose sin. The difference is that while the Mosaic system was unable to atone for the iniquity that it exposed, Christ, through His death and resurrection, has perfectly atoned for the sin that the law reveals. Praise be to God that He would condescend into the world in order that we would be able to draw to Him by His righteousness!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Holy Intercessor
Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a helper, a comforter, and an advocate who will come and abide within us, aiding us to traverse the pitfalls and obstacles of this life as well as interceding on our behalf throughout this life (John 14). In reality, the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of God into the lives (heart, body, mind, soul) of His children.
The Holy Spirit is the perfect guide and voice of wisdom to believers that helps us to discern right paths, make right choices, and follow through when the time is right. But, much like the Holy Spirit seals guarantees believers (Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:21-22), the Holy Spirit has a number of specific tasks in the lives of Christians.
One of the tasks that the Holy Spirit performs is interceding in prayer at the behest of believers. Only rarely do we, as finite and fallible creatures, truly understand and know what we need or what is best for us, particularly when we are weak under the weight of life. It is in this that we rely on the Holy Sprit to intercede for us, praying for us that which, for whatever reason, we are incapable of (Rom. 8:26-27, 34-35).
The issue here is a matter of recognition and reliance. When we recognize our inabilities and shortcomings, it should prompt us to rely on the Lord. Under strain and in duress, when our discernment can be clouded or our vision hazy, the Holy Spirit not only keeps our paths true, but also intercedes for us. This causes believers to more fully rely on the Lord to comfort, heal, strengthen, etc.
Intercession, in this sense, could be referred to as a direct conduit that channels our specific needs to God, who fulfills. Often times we do not realize or know that this communication is happening because so rarely our we truly in tune with the depths of ourselves. But God is. He, through the Holy Spirit, is thoroughly entrenched in the mire that sloshes in our deepest parts. He communicates our most dire and desperate needs to God because He is God. Remember: One God, three distinct persons.
That God would so love and care for us that He would indwell within us is a marvelous propositional truth. When we become believers, the Paraclete, enters into us and advocates before the Father and for our growth and devotion. This is a beautiful and mysterious thing and we should rejoice that the Almighty Lord Himself would not only save us on the cross through Jesus, but would walk within us and care for us directly through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the perfect guide and voice of wisdom to believers that helps us to discern right paths, make right choices, and follow through when the time is right. But, much like the Holy Spirit seals guarantees believers (Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:21-22), the Holy Spirit has a number of specific tasks in the lives of Christians.
One of the tasks that the Holy Spirit performs is interceding in prayer at the behest of believers. Only rarely do we, as finite and fallible creatures, truly understand and know what we need or what is best for us, particularly when we are weak under the weight of life. It is in this that we rely on the Holy Sprit to intercede for us, praying for us that which, for whatever reason, we are incapable of (Rom. 8:26-27, 34-35).
The issue here is a matter of recognition and reliance. When we recognize our inabilities and shortcomings, it should prompt us to rely on the Lord. Under strain and in duress, when our discernment can be clouded or our vision hazy, the Holy Spirit not only keeps our paths true, but also intercedes for us. This causes believers to more fully rely on the Lord to comfort, heal, strengthen, etc.
Intercession, in this sense, could be referred to as a direct conduit that channels our specific needs to God, who fulfills. Often times we do not realize or know that this communication is happening because so rarely our we truly in tune with the depths of ourselves. But God is. He, through the Holy Spirit, is thoroughly entrenched in the mire that sloshes in our deepest parts. He communicates our most dire and desperate needs to God because He is God. Remember: One God, three distinct persons.
That God would so love and care for us that He would indwell within us is a marvelous propositional truth. When we become believers, the Paraclete, enters into us and advocates before the Father and for our growth and devotion. This is a beautiful and mysterious thing and we should rejoice that the Almighty Lord Himself would not only save us on the cross through Jesus, but would walk within us and care for us directly through the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Sacraments
We, believers, are to be living sacraments. A Sacrament is
an instrument that points to the sacred, a symbol of the divine reality.
In the Catholic church, the 7 sacraments are human devices meant to serve
as sort of holy determinants. Because of this, the concept of sacraments
can seem somewhat divisive if not even tendentious. The purpose of this
dialogue is not to discuss the merits of the Catholic Holy Sacraments, rather,
the content of this discourse is to understand the reality of sacraments.
Sacraments are symbols that point to the sacred. They are not holy in and of themselves. Instead, the sacrament’s holiness is determined by its aim, which is God. In this sense, we, our very lives, are the ultimate of sacraments. We are sacraments.
Paul exhorts believers to live lives that are examples of Christ (Rom 6; 12:1-2). Any and everything we do is to point to Him, to His holiness and grace, but also His justice and faithfulness. Our lives, the very way we live is to be a sacrament that acts as a testament to Him.
Under the Mosaic covenant, everything was a sacrament. The tabernacle, the ark, the altar, the priestly garb, all of it was made in such a way as to direct the hearts of the people to a holy and faithful God. The end of Exodus and all of Leviticus speak to God’s holiness. He, God, wants us to know Him. Even under the Mosaic covenant, He revealed His character. In this sense, Sacraments serve to reveal who God is.
Under the new covenant, which is delivered and sealed in Christ, believers perform all of the sacramental functions of the tabernacle, the ark, the veils, the altar, the priest, etc. This is how sacraments should be understood, not separated from the original sacraments which were described in great detail in the Pentateuch.
This should shed light into how believers should live. We are holy because He is holy. We are faithful because He is faithful. We are wise because He is wise. We are righteous because He is righteous. All of these things, divine character traits, we are not able to hold to or exhibit outside of His Holy Word and Spirit working in us.
We are Jesus’ agents on the earth. We are to be living sacraments that point to His nature and to His character. This is an incredible responsibility that should prompt us to sincere devotion to Him and His Word. But praise be to God that He would use imperfect vessels to transmit His perfect nature to the world!
Sacraments are symbols that point to the sacred. They are not holy in and of themselves. Instead, the sacrament’s holiness is determined by its aim, which is God. In this sense, we, our very lives, are the ultimate of sacraments. We are sacraments.
Paul exhorts believers to live lives that are examples of Christ (Rom 6; 12:1-2). Any and everything we do is to point to Him, to His holiness and grace, but also His justice and faithfulness. Our lives, the very way we live is to be a sacrament that acts as a testament to Him.
Under the Mosaic covenant, everything was a sacrament. The tabernacle, the ark, the altar, the priestly garb, all of it was made in such a way as to direct the hearts of the people to a holy and faithful God. The end of Exodus and all of Leviticus speak to God’s holiness. He, God, wants us to know Him. Even under the Mosaic covenant, He revealed His character. In this sense, Sacraments serve to reveal who God is.
Under the new covenant, which is delivered and sealed in Christ, believers perform all of the sacramental functions of the tabernacle, the ark, the veils, the altar, the priest, etc. This is how sacraments should be understood, not separated from the original sacraments which were described in great detail in the Pentateuch.
This should shed light into how believers should live. We are holy because He is holy. We are faithful because He is faithful. We are wise because He is wise. We are righteous because He is righteous. All of these things, divine character traits, we are not able to hold to or exhibit outside of His Holy Word and Spirit working in us.
We are Jesus’ agents on the earth. We are to be living sacraments that point to His nature and to His character. This is an incredible responsibility that should prompt us to sincere devotion to Him and His Word. But praise be to God that He would use imperfect vessels to transmit His perfect nature to the world!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Holiness
God is holy. More than any other trait, His holiness is espoused and confirmed in the Bible. Jesus, as the second member of the trinity, is holy. Man is, because of sin, not holy. In truth, the flesh of man is opposed to holiness. Jesus, in His perfectly sinless life and atoning death, makes the unholy holy. Our holiness is found solely and only in Christ.
Moreover, believers are called to holiness, commanded to be holy (2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 1:3-4; 5:27; 1 Thes. 4:7; 1 Pet 1:15-16). Holiness is not to be taken lightly. As God's people, He calls us, "be holy, for I am holy." This immediately begs the questions: "what is holiness? and, what does it mean to be holy? and, how do we become holy like God"
In a very real sense, because He is holy and we are His, we are to be holy. We are the representation of God's character on the earth, therefore, we are required to be holy. This is daunting. To simplify, we should remember that apart from Him we cannot be holy. The awesomeness of this reality is that if we are in Him, we will be holy. But what is holiness?
Holiness is a trait of God, a divine characteristic. Only God is holy. Above all other descriptions of God, none carries with it as much theological import as holiness. God is wholly and outright different from us. He is transcendant and sovereign. To say that God is Holy is to speak of His supremacy, His sovereignty, and His righteousness.
When Christians strive for and pursue holiness, we are tapping into the character of the divine. Because holiness is God's alone, any pursuit of holiness must first seek after Him. Therefore, when God commands that we be holy as He is holy, He is asking us to draw close to Him as He is the sole source of any and all holiness.
Jesus is the source of our holiness. Once we convert through confession and belief (Rom. 10:9), we are made holy due to the work of Christ. The story of holiness doesn't end there, though. Our holiness is a steady and constant process of (re)fixing our gaze on He that is holy and who is the origin of all holiness. Only in and through Jesus are we able to be holy in any regard. Ergo, we should live in a constant pursuit, not of holiness, but of the One who makes us holy: Jesus.
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