A New Series
“Let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Phil. 3:16-17). In this new Growth series, I want those words to become a firm and lasting reality. In the previous series, the who, what, where, when, and why of spiritual growth was laid out. Now, my goal is for us to see the attributes that make up what it is to put on Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 13:14). He is our standard and it is by faith in Him and because of Him that we can, “Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph. 4:24). To put on Christ is to put on the new self, for it is Christ’s righteousness and holiness that we have attained. It is with this in mind that I hope and pray God will transform us to walk by His standard. Starting with this article, we will dive into a Biblical understanding of the standard, Jesus Christ, and then in future weeks study the pieces or attributes that are representative of Him.
Holiness: A Separation
If we are going to begin talking about this standard, and Jesus Christ being that standard, then we must talk about holiness. To some, that word, holy, can be in some ways repulsive. Above all, I think that is because of our lack of holiness that is unholiness. Holiness, relative to the standard to which we are addressing is most of all to be a word representing something that is separate and completely different from what is immoral, unclean, impure, unrighteous, or plainly – not good. Inherent, then, is what holiness is positively and can be attributed to whatever is good, moral, clean, pure, and righteous. In all of that, God is perfect. Hence, the revulsion for some because we are not perfect in our original nature. The holiness of God sheds light on our unholiness. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:20). “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” (Prov. 10:9).
Yet, there is something great for us. We can walk securely. There is reason that in most New Testament letters, the introduction or greeting often addresses the Christian churches as either saints, being sanctified, or being called to godliness, all of which are an extension of holiness. And, so, there is a great hope and excitement to understand where this standard of holiness leads us. If we are Christian, following after Jesus Christ, we are rightly addressed the same; saint, sanctified, godly, and holy. Hold on to that as you read.
The Standard
Jesus gives us a command in Matthew 5:48. He says, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Wow, talk about an imperative. We receive many commands throughout the Bible, but if there were one they all point and sum up to, it is this one – be perfect. There is not a higher ceiling nor calling given to us; there can’t be. Perfection cannot be eclipsed.
Consider the context this verse falls within, Jesus’ “sermon on the mount”. The call to be perfect is a cap on the order to, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (v.44). All of God’s laws boil down to love and yet even if you love your ally perfectly, you are far from perfection, perfect love, if you do not love your enemy as well. How much less will we be perfect if we do not love God, the one who made all (John 14:21-24)? Therefore, love God and love your neighbor (Mat. 22:36-40), perfectly.
This is the requirement, and it is something to actually possess. It must be possessed. The call has not changed, either. It was the requirement of God’s chosen people, Israel. “You shall be blameless before the Lord your God” (Deut. 18:13). Meaning the same, he says in Leviticus 19:2, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” There is that word, “Holy,” again. God’s people must be separate from what is unholy to be considered God’s people, capable of dwelling in his presence. He says in Ezekiel 39:7, “My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel.”
And this is nothing to be repulsed at. God’s holiness, according to the standard we are discussing, equates to God’s love. It is rare, I think, for someone to be repulsed at something such as love. We have already seen that the law, commands, and requirements of God find their aim in love for God and neighbor. It is said somewhere (hint: 1 John 4:8) that, “God is love.” That is not to say “love” is in some way its own entity but that all of God’s attributes and workings find their place in his great love. I think love is the culmination of his character. And all of God’s attributes, workings, and character find their place in Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9). So, again, hold on to your calling as a saint in Christ.
In Jesus Christ you are separated from this world. You are no longer unholy, but holy. This is the standard and you are called by that standard; you are called, “Saint,” and that in Jesus Christ. Then, ultimately, because you are called a saint in Jesus Christ, you are called, “Christian.” You are a Christian because of your faith in Christ and you are holy, a saint, because you are a Christian. This mystery is great (Eph. 5:32) and it will be the object of the next article in this series.
Holiness: Love, Not Fear; Salvation, Not Judgement
To send us off into the next article, I want to sum up what we have begun here. There is a standard to which we have been called. Actually, the entire world is held to a standard and that standard is the holiness of God, perfect love. The world, we know, has failed to meet that standard and is full of hatred, instead, and that comes in many forms such as greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, insolence, arrogance, boasting, disobedience to parents, etc. (Rom. 1:29-31). Though, God’s perfect love and our standard to meet is extended even to those that hate us.
Consider Jesus’ words to his disciples and us: He said, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19). And before this, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Why does the world hate Jesus? Remember John 3:19-20, mentioned earlier, that Jesus is the light of truth that has come into the world and men are repulsed because the evil they do in darkness is exposed by the light which brings judgement and fear thereof. Yet, what God has done is show his perfect love towards those who hate him. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God has not only set the standard, but he has exemplified the standard. The world that has hated him, he has loved. Therefore, for those that believe in Jesus Christ, God’s son, there is no more fear of judgement.
When you think of holiness and the holiness of God, think of perfect love. That is the standard to which we must strive for and in the following articles we will see how this standard is already alive in us but must be walked out. Embrace the holiness of God, do not fear. I am going to close with 1 John 4:14-21, what I trust will be all the more clear now:
We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
-Pastor Ben