Pursuit of Personal Holiness
Eddie Snipes
Hebrews 12:14
Consider for a moment the implication of this passage. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. The weight of this passage is clear, we can't be with God without first being holy. If the Bible puts so much emphasis on personal holiness, why is this seldom taught in today's churches? If you ask the average Christian what it means to be holy, most could not answer. True holiness is a hard concept to fully grasp, but it is an essential part of the Christian life. Can someone claim to belong to Christ and never pursue holiness? Both the Old and New Testaments put a high priority on holiness; therefore we should take a closer look at holiness and seek to understand this crucial part of the Christian life.
What is holiness?
I stated earlier that most Christians would not be able to define holiness. In a sense, this is rightly so. The holiness of God is so far beyond our comprehension that we struggle to grasp it. If we could grasp a complete image of an infinite God with our finite mind, then we could fully grasp His holiness. Even a small glimpse of God drives men to their knees. Isaiah saw a vision of God and cried, "Woe to me for I am undone!" Job claimed that if he could see God he would ask God why all this trouble has come upon him. When God spoke to Job, he never asked God why, but instead cried out, "I am unworthy and I lay my hand over my mouth". When the prophet Ezekiel saw the same vision Isaiah saw, he fell on his face to the ground until God lifted him up.
Throughout the Bible you see the same response when men encounter God. No man has or can see God in all His glory. Moses begged God to reveal His glory. God said that no man shall see His face and live. Why? Because what does not measure up to the holiness of God cannot survive in His presence. Sin does not affect God, but the holiness of God will always consume sin. We are sinful by nature. There will be a day when we will be made pur ...
Eddie Snipes
Hebrews 12:14
Consider for a moment the implication of this passage. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. The weight of this passage is clear, we can't be with God without first being holy. If the Bible puts so much emphasis on personal holiness, why is this seldom taught in today's churches? If you ask the average Christian what it means to be holy, most could not answer. True holiness is a hard concept to fully grasp, but it is an essential part of the Christian life. Can someone claim to belong to Christ and never pursue holiness? Both the Old and New Testaments put a high priority on holiness; therefore we should take a closer look at holiness and seek to understand this crucial part of the Christian life.
What is holiness?
I stated earlier that most Christians would not be able to define holiness. In a sense, this is rightly so. The holiness of God is so far beyond our comprehension that we struggle to grasp it. If we could grasp a complete image of an infinite God with our finite mind, then we could fully grasp His holiness. Even a small glimpse of God drives men to their knees. Isaiah saw a vision of God and cried, "Woe to me for I am undone!" Job claimed that if he could see God he would ask God why all this trouble has come upon him. When God spoke to Job, he never asked God why, but instead cried out, "I am unworthy and I lay my hand over my mouth". When the prophet Ezekiel saw the same vision Isaiah saw, he fell on his face to the ground until God lifted him up.
Throughout the Bible you see the same response when men encounter God. No man has or can see God in all His glory. Moses begged God to reveal His glory. God said that no man shall see His face and live. Why? Because what does not measure up to the holiness of God cannot survive in His presence. Sin does not affect God, but the holiness of God will always consume sin. We are sinful by nature. There will be a day when we will be made pur ...
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