"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)
"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)
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Cor 7:1 NIV)
**See also 1 Cor 10:1-24, 11:23-32; Phil 2:1-8; Acts 5:1-9
Seven Characteristics of a Holy Church
By studying the seven churches of Asia Minor in the Book of Revelation and doing the OPPOSITE of what they were rebuked for, we learn how to quantify becoming a HOLY church. Each church had a clearly defined need for improvement and Jesus gave a specific promise to those who overcome.
The Church in Ephesus. (Rev 2:1-7)
A respectable church with very distinguished leadership, it was commended for its hard work. Their moral integrity was beyond reproach. Doctrinally they were intolerant of sin. But in His audit, Jesus identified a glaring defect: "You have forsaken your first love" (2:4).
The Need: A love relationship with Jesus.
The Promise if they overcome: Eat from the tree of life
The Church in Smyrna. (Rev 2:8-11)
A poor and afflicted church. They were slandered, attacked by satan and suffered persecution yet Jesus said they were rich and, because of their faith, promised them the Crown of Life for overcoming.
The Need: Faith-filled
The Promise if they overcome: Not be hurt in the second death,
The Church in Pergamum. (Rev 2:12-17)
Although they lived "where Satan has his throne," they were affirmed for their uncompromising witness (2:13). Yet, in spite of their strong and steady witness Jesus rebuked them for being nearsightedness and condoning heresy, i.e., the seductive teaching of Balaam and the eating of things sacrificed as taught by the Nicolaitans, both of which had led them into idolatry and immorality.
The Need: Sound Doctrine and Morally purity
The Promise if they overcome: Eat the hidden manna found in heaven
The Church in Thyatira. (Rev 2:18-29)
This church is commended for the essentials of love, faith, service and perseverance (v2:19), in which they continued to grow: " . . . doing more than you did at first" (v2:19). But they allowed the teaching of unsound doctrine which promoted immorality (v2:20-23). Jesus warned them that He is the one who searches every man’s heart and will repay them according to their deeds (v2:23). The second statement confirms the fact that He will judge individually, member by member, not just the corporate whole.
The Need: Personal accountability
The Promise if they overcome: Have authority over all the nations
The Church in Sardis. (Rev 3:1-6)
Although the the church was commended for "a few people ... who [had] not soiled their clothes" (v3:4), Jesus fingered their major flaw: "You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead" (v3:1). Apparently hypocrisy, meaning "to play a part on the stage," was totally unacceptable.
The Need: Integrity
The Promise if they overcome: Name will remain in the Book of Life
The Church in Philadelphia. (Rev 3:7-13)
Here was a church that was under the pressure of daily persecution and many obstacles to doing good and avoiding temptation, yet they remained faithful. "I know your deeds" Jesus says, "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut," "I know that you have little strength" (v8) Jesus is telling them that no matter how small or weak they may feel (or be) He will give them spiritual energy to continue and provide opportunities to be used by Him. They had endured patiently and held steadfastly to the faith, relying on Jesus and their only source of life.
The Need: Patient Endurance
The Promise if they overcome: Have a new name
The Church in Laodicea: (Rev 3:14-22)
For this church, located among the rich and famous, and renowned for its medical expertise, Christ has no words of commendation. With cutting words, He bites through the veneer of affluence and spiritual apathy. They are "lukewarm," then He adds, "I wish you were either one or the other," either hot or cold (v3:15). But that isn’t all. He rebukes their "self-righteousness" v(3:17). This is the only church where Jesus positions Himself as an outsider: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (v3:20).
The Need: Zealous and enthusiastic devotion to Jesus
The Promise if they overcome: Sit with Jesus on His throne.
The Secret to Becoming An Overcomer
"and they did overcome him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life -- unto death." (Rev 12:11 YLT)
All of the promises given to the Church are contingent on becoming an overcomer. We overcome sin, the world and the enemy by the Blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and our willingness to die to self.
Becoming a Holy Church starts with the people becoming Holy in practice by living a life of daily sacrifice, picking up our cross daily, laying down our lives and esteeming others more highly than ourselves. The benefits are significant! It is all based on appropriating the Blood of Jesus in our life and through our testimony. We prove that Jesus exists and that His promises are true when we are seen loving others more than ourselves. Dying to self is the truest and purest testimony.
Conclusion
If we want to be a true Holy Church that is filled daily with the HOLY Spirit then we must each be outwardly holy and offer our "bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Rom 12:1-2 NIV).
Remember that holiness is less about what we do and all about what Jesus has already done. When the focus is always upon Him, He will put to death those things that are keeping us from growing in deeper intimacy with Him.
One day soon the Lord will come like a thief in the night. We must teach others to "live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:10-13 NIV).
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Rev 22:12-13 NIV)
