How To Become A Holy Church

"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." (1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV)

God has called His sanctified Bride, the Church, to be holy (1 Cor 1:2). He has commanded that we "consecrate" or keep ourselves apart from the standards and ways of the world, focused totally and exclusively on His will and ways. This begins by keeping His laws or "decrees" and following them. It is the "LORD, who makes you holy" (Lev 20:7-8 NIV).

Becoming holy is less about do’s and don’ts and more about who you are in Christ. God says that "You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own" (Lev 20:25-26 NIV). He is the one who has set us apart from the world. But we are to "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb 12:14-15 NIV).

The moment a person is converted and becomes Born-Again, they are declared righteous, become justified, sanctified, and made holy by God.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom 5:

"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Pet 2:9 ESV)

"And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Heb 10:10 NIV)

So where do we start? How do we become progressive "holy" in our daily walk? We start with the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often we make the mistake of looking at God’s Word from our perspective, but the Bible was written from His perspective to us. It’s more about God looking down upon us that we looking up to Him.

Christ the Head

Jesus made some very significant references to the Church.

1. The Church’s foundation is the confession that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt 16:16 NIV).

2. The Church is indestructible.

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matt 16:18).

3. The Church is the discipline of the Born-Again Christian.

"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector" (Matt 18:17 NIV).

Two principles emerge in this verse.

1. The Church is the final court of appeal, after individual confrontations have failed.

2. Failure to pay attention to the admonition of the Church leads to excommunication from the Church.

By deduction, we learn that the church gathered has a high level of authority over the lives of each member. The Church must display genuine holiness in their thoughts, words, and deeds.

God’s Standards for Church Members

Matthew 5:1-12 identifies personal characteristics of those who are part of Christ’s body. These verses move the focus from the corporate church to individual members.

What are their qualities to be?

· Poor in spirit (5:3)

· Those who mourn (deplore) sin (5:4)

· Meek (5:5)

· Hunger and thirst for righteousness (5:6)

· Merciful (5:7)

· Pure in heart (5:8)

· Peacemakers (5:9)

· Persecuted because of righteousness (5: 10)

· Insulted and falsely accused of evil (5:11 )

Note the counterculture nature in each of the characteristics. None of these are truly sought after traits in the world system. Jesus repeatedly reminds us of the fact that we are not of the world. (see John 15:18-19).

God’s Expectations

God demands that we:

1. Live lives counter culture to this world systems (Rom 12:2).

2. Live as light and salt in this present world (Matt 5:13-14).

3. Live consecrated lives and walk in holiness (Lev 20:7-8).

"To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours." (1 Cor 1:2 NIV)

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Eph 1:4 NIV)

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Heb 12:14 NIV)

"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; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV)