In His Image 4

Be Holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

What thoughts come across our minds when we hear these words?  Do we think we feel the importance of holiness as much as we should?   Do these words bring condemnation to our mind or bring joy and praise to our mind?

Whatever we may think, we must be holy, for that is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Where is our Christianity if we are not holy?  There must be more than just the name and knowledge of Christianity, we must have the character of Jesus the Christ being formed in us along our journey.

J. C. Ryle – Holiness – page 57 – “We must be saints on earth, if ever we mean to be saints in heaven.  God has said it, and he will not go back: “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” Let not men deceive themselves, says Owen, “sanctification is a qualification indispensably necessary unto those who will be under the conduct of the Lord Christ unto salvation.  He leads none to heaven but whom He sanctifies on earth.  This living Head will not admit dead members.”"

To be holy we must begin with Jesus the Christ.  He is the root and beginning of all holiness and the way to be holy is to come to him by faith and be joined to him.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29

What does this likeness of his Son look like?  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22,,23.

Holiness lets us relax, for there is now no condemnation in Jesus the Christ, which allows us the freedom of worship and praise along the journey, no matter where we find ourselves.  Enjoy his holiness, your life in Jesus the Christ is a new song of praise to him.