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Holiness

Back to Wholeness

by TerryLema

Day before yesterday, I wrote about the command of God in both the Old and New Testament to “Be holy for I am holy.”  

Holiness has another meaning, not just “wholly other/wholly above” as God is, and “wholly set apart” as we are, but “wholeness.” It means to be completely healthy. We see this expressed by our Savior in Luke’s Gospel when Jesus met up with the ten lepers in Chapter 17. Luke tells as that as Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee, He was approached by ten men who had leprosy. They called out to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy (pity) on us!”

Jesus’ response was to tell them to do what the Scriptures outlined, go show themselves to the priests to have their leprosy evaluated. Along the way all were “cleansed” or “made clean.” When one of the lepers saw that he was healed, he did an about-face and headed back to Jesus. There he began to shout praises to God and threw himself at Jesus’ feet thanking Him.

This amazed Jesus, first because he was the only one who returned when all ten were healed, and secondly because he was a Samaritan, one considered an outcast by the Jews. Jesus’ response, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.”  [v 19 Christian Standard Bible]

The word Luke employed and often translated as “well” is sozo (sode’-zo), and the King James translates it as “whole.” It means to be or make whole. Wholeness. No longer broken apart or fragmented by sin and guilt. No long torn asunder by failure, addictions, bondages, perversions, or oppression. All our pieces are brought together and re-created into a whole, new, creation.

Jesus not only cleanses and heals, He brings holiness, “wholeness,” to those who come to Him by faith. Praise His Holy Name. Amen and Amen.

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Holiness

by TerryLema

There have been times when I was still pastoring that I would bring a message on holiness.  That subject is not an easy one – especially considering that to give it, you have it live it.  Preaching about holiness would usually wipe me out – probably wiped out my listeners also!

Holiness is not an easy message, but one that needs to be brought.  Holiness has been missing in our times.  It’s not something we preach or teach on very often.  It is so difficult to understand, if not impossible.  God is so far above us, so separate from us, His holiness cannot be grasped.  Yet it must be desired and pursued.  In fact, we are commanded to do so.

1 Peter 1:14-16:  “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”  

 There is not much room for argument in that passage.  We are to be holy, conformed now to the image of our God, no longer conformed to the evil desires we had when we lived as the world lives.

When I look at my life, I realize that so much of it is still operating like the world.  There is so much of my thinking I must still renew in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.  So many times, I let my feelings lead the way instead of my spirit.  So many times, I must return to my Savior and repent.  So many things remain for which to seek forgiveness.

I never want to trample on the grace of God.  I never want to get in that mode of taking God’s grace and forgiveness for granted, thinking I can live life according to the evil desires of the world and He’ll always be there with a load of grace and forgiveness to cover those things.  I want to draw and live as close to the holiness of God as I can.  Maybe that is where we all start?  With the awareness that we need to start?

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While We Wait

by TerryLema

Peter ends his second letter with a discourse on the Day of the LORD. If you have a chance, read 2 Peter 3.

In that chapter he speaks of the scoffers who do not believe Christ will return and instead live their lives according to their own sinful desires.

Peter insists, however, that history has proven that things can change in an instant and that when Christ returns heaven and earth as we know it now will be forever changed.

For those of us who wait for these things, Peter says … “It is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God.” [3:11b-12a HCSB]

Peter then becomes abundantly clear about what he means when he said we should be people of holy conduct and godliness. [3:14-18]

We should be people who “make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish.”

We should be people who “regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation.”

We should be people who are “on [our] guard so that [we] are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from [our] own stability.”

And we are to be people who “grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Seems to me that should keep us pretty busy while we are waiting.

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Freedom to be Holy Before God

by TerryLema

Living in liberty requires an attention to inherent dangers. It is far too easy to become unbalanced, leaning too far one direction or another.

There is a danger for those who forcefully demand liberty that they can fall into undisciplined living (licentiousness).  “As God’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.” [I Peter 2:16 HCSB]

I remember speaking to a man once who told me he was free to have an affair. After all, he said, he could just simply come back and ask forgiveness when it was over and maintain his Christian standing.

There is also a danger for those who forcefully limit liberty that they can fall into a legalistic lifestyle. “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?” [Galatians 3:3 HCSB]

These people become defined by what they are “against.” I remember visiting a gathering of churches where I was informed that I could not raise my hands during the singing because a certain member in the host church forbade such “emotional” worship.

The ultimate goal of freedom is to live a holy life that glorifies God, edifies our fellow believers, and maintains a good repute before unbelievers. Liberty neither hides iniquity (doing anything we want), nor does it restrict by rules or customs.

The only “rule” that we must submit to in exercising our Christian freedom is simple. Does what I am thinking, speaking, and doing, please my LORD and Master, Christ Jesus?

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He Will Not Be Thwarted!

by TerryLema

The fourth church that Jesus speaks to in Revelation 2 is the church at Thyatira. I love the opening description of Jesus, “Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze.”  [v18]

In some translations, Thyatira is labeled the corrupt church. This church had progressed beyond just compromising, they were tolerating idolatry and sexual immorality. They did not just turn “a blind eye,” they were abiding with the impure and perverse.

The image Jesus gives them of himself speaks volumes. He has “eyes like a fiery flame” and “feet like fine bronze.”

Fire speaks of refinement and holiness, purging out the dross and leaving only the pure. Bronze represents God’s judgment against sinners. The bronze altar was a key element of the tabernacle in the wilderness as well as in the temple.  It was the place where the Israelites sacrificed animals to atone for their sins. This was where the blood was shed, and the sinner was pardoned. No matter how good a person was, without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness.

When we assign to Jesus the title “Lamb of God” this is what we mean. No animal sacrifice could permanently take care of the sin and death issues, so God sent His Lamb, His Son, to die for us as our blood sacrifice. This same Jesus now has promised to present His Church without spot or wrinkle. He has promised that she will be a bride who is holy and blameless. [Ephesians 5:10]

He is not afraid to drive out the corruption and evil that threatens His bride. The picture of Him in the message to the church at Thyatira reminds us that “our God is a consuming fire!” He will not be thwarted. [Isaiah 33:14, Hebrews 12:29]

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HE WILL NOT BOW!

by TerryLema

When John saw Jesus on the Isle of Patmos, he was overwhelmed. He said, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” [Rev 1:17]

Does that remind you of anyone?  When Isaiah saw the LORD, high and lifted up, he cried out: “Woe to me! (Or cursed am I!) I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” [Isa 6:5]

That is the reaction of men and women when they meet the true God in all His glory. I have to wonder – is that the reaction we have when we think of God Almighty, when we worship our Savior, LORD and King Jesus.

I would say, “No, it’s not.” In fact, our generation has allowed a false image of our LORD to flourish. People think our God is too kind to send anyone to hell, too weak to enforce His holiness. They have made Jesus bland, have taken out the parts of him they like, “The Lamb,” but ignored the parts they do not like, “The Lion.”

They filter His words, seeking what best suits their agendas, while ignoring the words that reproach or demand repentance or change or holiness (or speak of damnation and hell).

That warped view of our LORD has even invaded the church. We no longer fall on our faces before Him. We do not acknowledge our unclean lips or sin-filled lives. We think we can do anything … and grace will just be our contingency.

Well, Church, our LORD is Almighty. He will not bow nor acquiesce to our jaded image of Him. No matter what we try to make Him, He is still God and has never and will never change! We had better get right with Him and do it soon.

I want the LORD of Revelation Chapter 1 in my church (and in my heart) – I want Him in all our churches. And if you have forgotten what that looks like, read Revelation 1:12-18 again. Bless His Glorious Name!

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