Holiness

Holiness is another huge biblical theme and it doesn’t allow for ongoing sin. The proper response to God’s goodness in forgiving us is complete surrender and sacrifice. Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is true worship. The image of placing ourselves on an altar is graphic. We voluntarily die. Our life comes to an end. We give up everything. True worship – the worship offered by those who have received God’s mercy – is complete surrender and sacrifice. Holiness means being set apart for God; being utterly dedicated (given) to God. It is linked to other images Paul has used in Romans, such as dying to sin and living for God; not offering any part of ourselves to sin as instruments of wickedness but offering every part of ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness (6:8-14) Very clearly, the complete offering of our ourselves to God has huge moral implications. We are to be agents of righteousness, serving the cause of righteousness, not helping the cause of evil. Sin is to be no longer our master. The Romans 12 passage continues… Romans 12:2 Do not conform 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. In the homosexuality debate, so many Christians are feeling pressured to conform to the attitudes of society, rather than stand firmly on the word of God. Paul commands us to take the other approach. We are to allow our minds to be renewed. We are to think God’s way, not the world’s way. We are to have the mind of Christ. That happens as we allow God to teach us – primarily through the scriptures – and to transform us so that we become more like Jesus. The result of a transformed mind is the ability to know God’s will. Holiness is not optional. It is essential to our salvation. Hebrews 12:14-17 14  Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15   See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16  See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17  Afterwards, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

Related pages

A Christian’s Guide To Homosexuality