You Shall Be Holy

We have a good God. He has promised us peace that passes understanding, love that we cannot comprehend, joy that isn't of this world. He is the definition of good. So it isn't too surprising when we begin to think that it is His primary goal. God wants us to be happy, to be whole.

That thought, however, is shortsighted. The Bible says something different. We are only visitors on this planet, just passing through. We are ambassadors from another kingdom. And we have a calling: "You shall be holy for I am holy" (Lev. 11:45). Jesus repeats the demand in Matthew: "You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). Funny thing, though ... as much as we are eager for comfort and wholeness, we don't seem too eager to pursue holiness.

In a passage (that we will need to examine more fully later) in Philippians, Paul speaks of perfection:

¹² Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect , but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; ¹⁶ however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained (Phil. 3:12-16).

Isn't it interesting? Paul says that he hadn't attained perfection, but goes on to say "as many as are perfect, have this attitude."

There is a sense in which we have not arrived at perfection, and there is another sense in which we are perfect already. The "already" is a positional perfection, a judicial perfection. We have been declared righteous by God. Now, we know that we aren't practically perfect yet, and this is the perfection Paul says he hasn't attained.

In verse 16, Paul says "Let us live up to what we've already attained." In other words, "You've been declared holy, partakers of the divine nature, perfect in Christ; now live it!"

There is a sense in American Christianity that we are to move away from "works". It is a reaction to works-based salvation. Unfortunately, works are a primary message of the Scriptures. Fortunately, the works -- the practical holiness -- to which we are called are a product of changed lives. So be sure to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure" (Phil. 1:12-13). Ask yourself, "Am I pursuing happiness ... or personal holiness?" If you're at all like me, I fear the answer will be convicting.