Holiness

Easy

As I reflect on many, if not most, of the brethren that I have known in my life that seemed to exhibit genuine holiness and godliness, I am struck with how easy it seemed for them. I do not mean that their lives were easy, for each one faced many hardships just as faithful saints always have. But these blessed believers seemed to patiently move through life with a peace that was self-evidently beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7). They were filled with joy that you could see and even experience to some degree when in their presence, that was inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). 

Maybe the best way to describe these brothers and sisters is that their lives seemed graceful. These ones who had experientially received such grace from God were full of grace which overflowed into every part of their lives. Most of these folks were older and so their growth in Christian maturity is also clearly a factor in their godly lives. What knowing these saints has made tangible for me is that we as believers need to be holy people. 

Necessity

However, this realization of the need to be holy as believers is clear from reading the Scripture. If someone claims to read the Bible or know the Bible but does not believe in the necessity of striving for holiness then there are only a couple of explanations. The simplest one is that they really don't read or know the Bible as well as they claim. The other possibility is that they don’t really believe it.

In the book of Hebrews we are told that there is a “holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). If this is the first time that you have ever really considered this passage then maybe your sovereign grace loving heart begins to recoil because you know that we are accepted and welcomed into God’s family by grace not by our own personal holiness. This is true, but in the verse mentioned above we are also told to strive for this holiness. 

I believe that the instruction here is to those who are justified by faith to know that God promises to produce in them real holiness. Also there is here a warning for those who would use the message of free and sovereign grace as an excuse for sinful, luscious living. Believers must not use their freedom as an opportunity for the flesh (Galatians 5:13). Rather we are free to live in the Spirit!

Mandatory

In Dr. Donald Whitney’s book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life he says, “Holiness is not optional for those who claim to be children of the Holy One.” His point is taken from the Apostle Peter’s call to holiness in his first epistle (1 Peter 1:15-16). Peter is instructing us that our genuine and precious faith must result in real advancement in holy living. If we have been born of God then over time we should take on that family resemblance. This is not an option but a simple reality of saving faith. No true Christian can opt out of being transformed because the reason and purpose of our salvation is to conform us into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).

Logic

Peter later concludes his second epistle by calling us to consider the promises of God for our eternal future and His judgment of sin. Peter insists that the only logical way to live for those who truly have believed God and trusted in Jesus and received the Holy Spirit is in lives of holiness and godliness.(2 Peter 3:11-13) Given the fate of this world and the hope of eternal life it’s obvious and simple to conclude that Christians must be holy people!

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