“Ok friends...Jesus is coming back for a church that is without any spot, stain or wrinkle; a bride that will be holy and blameless. Now as obedient children, you are to be holy in ALL your conduct for He who called you is holy, you also are to be holy. And having such promises, we should cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Because without holiness, no one...will see the Lord. Now...go out...and be holy, saints!” (Eph. 5:27; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12:14)
Then they fold up their piece of paper and exit the room. For some funny reason, I can imagine the looks on those who just heard this short message sitting there with expressions on their faces that would resemble a few cows staring at you beckoning them to come through a new gate.
Now let’s imagine what kind of conversation or questions would ensue amongst those sincere believers who just heard this short pep talk. There would most likely be questions similar to these:
“What does ‘holy’ even mean?” “What does a ‘holy person’ look like?” “How do we go out and ‘become holy’?” “I received the ‘Holy Ghost’ last week...does that count?”
Undoubtedly there would be that one lone voice that would inform everyone there that nobody can ever be ‘holy enough’ for God, so that is why we need to say we ‘believe in Jesus’. IF you say these words...God will look down on you as holy now because of your faith.’
Now…just in case that person who spoke up last with that gem of info is not entirely correct, then maybe we need to ask this next question: So… what...does a person who is deemed to be ‘holy’ even look like?
Well, that probably means different things to different people depending on how they were raised or taught. I was brought up in the Roman Catholic church...with lots of flowing robes and bells and smoking incense during mass. On occasion, the priest would walk the aisle and sprinkle ‘holy water’ on those of us sitting there. As a kid, I suspected it was to wake anyone up who had dozed off.
Maybe you were brought up thinking a ‘holy person’ was deemed ‘holy’ by their outward appearance...(the bulk of this obligation falling on the women)...you know...long, uncut hair, no make-up, no jewelry, long dresses and sleeves. For men, if there was an indentation of a snuff can in their back pocket or the hint of beer on their breath...well you knew automatically they could not be holy. And heaven forbid if anyone wore short pants.
I’ve heard where other groups added their own versions of what it meant to be ‘holy’. Some are interesting...like back in the day when you could get tires with ‘white walls’...a’ holy’ person would never be seen driving with those on their cars. Let’s face it...throughout the centuries...’holiness’ always had to do with ‘outward’ or ‘visible’ markers or signs. I mean...we certainly want to be seen as ‘holy’ if that is such an important thing to God. And if we really wanted to seal the deal, we would get busy doing...’holy things’...whatever that means.
Jesus had an interesting discussion with a group of Pharisees there in Jerusalem. You can read about it in Mark 7. They were a bit put off that some of those following Jesus ate some bread without going through a ceremonial washing of the hands that was important, according to their traditions of the elders. (2-3). They even asked Jesus...trying to discredit Him and His teachings...”why do your disciples dismiss the traditions of the elders?” (5)
Jesus comes back with a classic response basically asking...”Why do you dismiss the commandments of God?”
You can almost see Him shaking His head wearily...with a sigh as He goes on to say “Isaiah was right about you when he prophesied that these people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of me is in vain...they teach the doctrines and traditions of men and lay aside the commandments of God”. (6-8)
He does go on to try and explain the root problem. “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” (9). Now let’s just think about this a moment. We come across scripture all the time that just does not ‘fit’ with what we have been taught in our own ‘traditions or doctrines’. I mean...I’ve seen on multiple occasions...the simple reading of a verse will cause ‘things’ to rise up in people to refute what they just heard. It really is the oddest thing to witness...especially when it comes from professing believers who say they love the ‘word of God’.
Jesus goes on...pointing out how these people want to make ‘defilement’ about external matters. The way they ‘appear’ by what they do or wear or by what they eat. Just so you know...to be ‘defiled’ would be the opposite of being ‘holy’. He then gets to the point teaching them that it’s not what goes into a man that defiles him (talking about food or drink) as he explains that simply what goes into their stomachs is then disposed of. He specifies...it does not go in their...hearts’. (19).
Now take your time with vs. 20-23. He begins to explain that which makes a person ‘defiled’...or...’Un-holy’...are the things that come from men’s hearts. “What comes Out...of a man is what defiles a man.” (20). Then He offers up a short list saying...”For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts ...pride...foolishness...etc. ALL these EVIL things come from within and defile a man.”
Do you remember what God told Samuel when he was looking to replace Saul as king...and was not sure if this young lad, David, could actually be the one God had in mind? - “Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature...for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)
This really is a theme that remains constant throughout scripture. Men’s hearts are the problem. (Jer. 17:9-10; Heb. 3:10). We are incapable of fixing our hearts. We can sure try dressing up the outward part of man...but only God...can ‘create a clean heart within’. (Ps. 51:10). Here’s the catch...you have to give Him the WHOLE heart in order for this to happen. If you don’t...you fall right back into that rut of trying to improve the outward man while neglecting that which is the problem...a defiled...unholy...unclean...heart. It’s the heart. It’s the heart. It’s the heart.
Jesus taught “For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks....I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 15:34-37; 12:16-20)
Do you know why Jesus got so irritated with the religious leaders of His day? They were teaching the people the wrong thing about what makes a person ‘holy’. God demands...holiness from His people. And that will never happen outside of surrendering to Jesus. Don’t let anyone deceive you and tell you otherwise. When you get a few minutes, comb through Ezekiel 22. It really is an insightful and sobering chapter but pay close attention to vs. 23-26. The priest would not distinguish between what is holy and unholy. And we all know what happens when the ‘blind follow the blind’. (Matt. 15:10-14)
Where we have got tangled up with our ‘religious’ upbringings and teachings is instead of dealing with the heart (old man-sinful flesh nature) we have tried to camouflage it with ‘religious activity’. In other words...it would be akin to trying to cover up garlic breath with a breath mint or piece of minty-chewing gum.
Are you ready for a simplified definition of what holiness is? - It’s having a pure heart.
We are told that ‘without holiness, no man will see God’. (Hebrews 12:14)
Jesus taught: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matt. 5:8)
Paul taught that the purpose of the commandment was to produce ‘Love from a pure heart’. (1 Tim. 1:5) He also admonished us to ‘cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1)
John wrote in his first epistle: “everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (3:3)
“Holiness”...is having a heart that has been purified...or ‘perfected’ in His love. (1 John 4:12,17)
Holiness...is having a heart like Jesus. This is what He came to do...to make us a ‘new creation”.(2 Cor. 5:17). As in...’conformed. to HIS image and likeness’. (Rom. 8:29). And the only way this ‘process’ can take place...is you have to come to Him with your whole heart...make Him Lord of your life...take up your cross and follow Him as His spirit leads you to put to death ALL the deeds of the carnal nature that reside in our hearts (Rom. 8:13). And those deeds (or fruit) are evident. (Gal. 5:19-21). And why does Paul stress this so? Because anyone who continues to live like that...who continue to practice such things...will not...inherit the kingdom of God. He drives this point home again in Ephesians 5:5-6.
Ephesians. 1:4...it was God’s plan from the beginning...that “we should be holy and without blame before Him in love”. And...that we are to be presented ‘holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight...IF...IF...IF...indeed we continue in the faith. (Col. 1:21-23). “Not everyone who says...’Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of God...but those who do the will of the Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 7:23) What is the ‘will of God’? - Our sanctification or purifying of our hearts. (1 Thess. 4:3)
The Psalmist penned this: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart.” (Ps. 24:3-4) Which might have been what inspired James who admonished all to : “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.: (4:6)
Be. Holy! It’s Not an option for ‘super-saints’.
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