Tuesday 22 July 2014

Called in holiness

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. – 1 Thessalonians 4.7-8

Paul wants to make a couple of things very clear. One of those is the importance of love. Another is the importance of holiness.

We are all called to holiness. It is not man’s idea but God’s idea.

It can be hard to preach or teach on holy living. It can sound so out of date and so picky and even so legalistic when we preach that men ought to live holy lives. When we talk about holy living people may think that we are being harsh or judgemental or unloving.

We God called us and sanctified us and set us apart for His use He did not call us to continue a life of unclean living. There is no room for uncleanness in the life of the believer. When we are truly in Christ 'old things are passed away and all things have been made new.'

Holiness is not something the preacher came up with.  To reject the teaching and application of holiness is not to reject man – it is rejecting God.

J.C. Ryle wrote a marvellous book on holiness about 150 years ago. He clearly addresses how impossible it is for holiness to exist with worldly living -

‘it is sickening and disgusting to hear the cool and flippant language which many pour out about "conversion--the Saviour--the Gospel--finding peace--free grace," and the like, while they are notoriously serving sin or living for the world. Can we doubt that such talk is abominable in God's sight, and is little better than cursing, swearing, and taking God's name in vain? The tongue is not the only member that Christ bids us give to His service. God does not want His people to be mere empty tubs, sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. We must be sanctified, not only "in word and in tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John iii. 18.)’







No comments: