The Evidence of Holiness

In today's world, as well as throughout history, the Church often finds itself divided on a number of different issues; holiness is one of them. After all, when the Lord commands, "be holy as I am holy," how are we to understand and apply this imperative?

Paul likens the members of the Church to the human body (1 Corinthians 12:12-26); intimately connected and subordinate to the head who is Christ. In this discourse we find that we all experience the pains and pleasures associated with the entirety of the Church; our sufferings and victories, our joys and our shames. We are unified by the blood and benevolence of Christ.

That being said, God's standards are often drawn into question, debate and conflict among Church members, not to mention the world. Jesus, Peter, Paul, John and other apostles often fought through this reality among fallen humanity. Heresy has been at war with orthodoxy since the very beginning (Gen 3) and will continue to stand opposed to the Truth until the consummation of all things. 

How should the world come to know the Truth of God from a lie (Romans 1:25)? How should it know the misdeeds of darkness without the Light of God? How can the fellowship of God's people be sharpened by the Spirit of God without the sword o His Holy Word?

There is but One Truth in the midst of a world-wide network of lies. Many claim to know the truth of God and yet are decieved by the prince of lies because deception is often 99.99% truth. Paul tells us to "not conform to the patterns of this world, but rather be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." In other words, we must resist the worlds philosophies of morality no matter how good they may sound and rather allow the Holy Spirit to transform and renew us according to God's absolute standard of truth. Otherwise, as James says in his first chapter, if we doubt God's Word and rather succumb to doubt, we are tossed by the wind and waves of every kind of teaching; a double-minded man who is unstable in all his ways.

Holiness is simply this: that we recognize God is Holy, and that our obedience to His Word will ensure a life full of reward. Truth is often debated, but it is not divided. Interpretation and application of His Truth is either properly done or improperly done. This is why the body of Christ must be divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit. We cannot live in two kingdoms, we are either united with Christ, or united with the world.

In the end, Jesus tells us that God will gather all nations before Him and separate them as a shepherd separates sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). It is critical that we pursue Truth at all costs, because in the end we may find ourselves surprised by God's judgment. Life is too short and eternity is too permanent to assume God will not be just concerning His people and their responsibility to holiness.