Chapter 1 |
Chapter 4 |
Chapter 5 |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 2 |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 5 |
Chapter 4 |
Today, because of who we are in Christ, we can be something we in ourselves could never be-holy by identity and sanctified by grace. This lack of understanding or revelation of holiness in Christ, or trying to attain holiness by works, has caused much heartache in the body of Christ. Because of peer pressure, legalism and religion. People soon realize they can not live this so-called works holiness or by works performance. In their dilemma, they soon excuse their action through a self-righteous attitude or just plain quit. Sadly, many in the church are forever at work trying to find acceptance and holiness through their deeds, church attendance, tithes, prayers or serving some so called man of God. This is called legalism! Simply stated, we are trying to find favor by our good works. Man seems to have an incurable slant towards legalism. No matter how good Father God is or how He has placed us in Christ, we have this tendency to always want to sneak back to legalism or the Law. Now, the reason is simple! It lies in the flesh that is rebelliousness towards God. The flesh do not like to be told it can not do anything to merit Father God's approval. In turn, it designs works that will give it some credit for our actions. This is called self-righteousness, which leads to plain old legalism! Holiness; Not In Ourselves By realizing that our holiness is based in Christ's finished work on the cross, we will understand our good deeds is only a by-product of the holiness in Him. It is impossible to find it in us by the flesh. Hebrews 10:10 says, "And in accordance with this will [of God], we have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ." Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy." Friend, we are made holy in our position, but yet we are living out that outward holiness daily temporal by walking by the spirit. To present holiness should be the heart's desire of every child of God. We should desire it because it is our nature. Yet you will never be holy enough in your own efforts but you are holy through Him. Presented and Accepted Ephesians 1:4 says, "Even as He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love." Colossians, 1:22 says, "Yet now has Christ the Messiah reconciled you to God in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His presence." Friend, I have no problem standing before God's people and proclaiming-we are holy and without blame in His sight. It may sound like a paradox to proclaim. I mean, God sees the intent of my heart, my thoughts, my personality and actions, but it is through Him that His people are holy. It is through Him they are made perfect and it is through Him they are accepted. So it is only by Him they will be able to walk by the spirit! Holiness; Not By Performance How many have grown up in an environment where acceptance was based on performance? This attitude causes most people to feel they will never measure up to people's expectations. Sadly, many in the church have fallen into this perfection-excellence attitude. This mentality can make a children of God feel inadequate in their relationship with God. Soon they begin to question, "Is God happy with me? Is He pleased with me? Do I have favor with God? Am I saved? Does God really love me and accept me for who I am?" The results are, they lose their zeal and effectiveness in their walk with God. Their trust is slowly eroded. Their hope is stolen, and depression will sets its ugly claws into their soul. But when we understand our position of identity in Christ, the answer is simple! He is happy and finds favor in us. He really does love us as we are! Why? Because of His Son and who we are in Him! Our relationship with God is not based on our performance. It is based on our Jesus! God is not asking us to measure up to His expectations. He just wants us to believe in His Son and what He has accomplished for us through the cross. Let Us Go On Child of God, we in ourselves can never wash our flesh clean enough to be accepted. By trying to do it our way, we will never enter God's presence guiltless but by the judgement of the Law. But by knowing who we are in Christ, we can walk into God's presence, as a King's kid holy and acceptable in His sight. It is time that we move to the next realm of maturity, and realize that it is only through Him that we will find our life. For too long, we have tried to walk our life as a believer with a mentality of self-works, trying to appease God, trying to find His favor. We will work ourselves into the grave if we think it is our goodness that will do it. My friend, real rest will come when we see our identity through the finished work of the cross. When we are secure with our marvelous salvation, then and only then will the good works be truly produced. In other words, it won't be some artificial, legalistic, self-righteous facade. It will be genuine, heart of God people being, and doing naturally who they are in Christ. I believe it is critical for each child of God to understand their position in Him and to know what was accomplished through His death and resurrection. For too long, we have been living below our inheritance. We have received condemnation and guilt instead of freedom and victory. Let us meet our Savior with the attitude of the Spirit, which is, "We are completely holy in Him! As He is so are we!" |
Copyright Roxy J Nolin 1997 |
Holy, As He Is So Are We By Roxy J Nolin Chapter 5 Free to be Holy |
The Book Holy, As He Is So Are We |
Chapter 1 |
