This matter of holiness has fallen upon hard times lately. The Charismatics have turned it into a sham of pretended perfection and the greater part of professed Christianity have abandoned it as though it was an unnecessary inconvenience. The truth is that the issue of holiness or righteous behavior is essential to true Christianity.
Any faithful reading of the Scripture will reveal it as a major part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Note with me the following verse of Scripture:
Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Nothing could be more clear than this! Apart from holiness no man shall see the Lord. Some have turned this into a “positional” matter that reflects only the substitutionary righteousness or holiness that we receive in our new birth. However the preceding statement of the necessity of “following peace” puts this in the context of our visible and common behavior. John makes it clear in his first letter that the overwhelming proof of our conversion is a visible change in behavior and a holiness of life. The point is that the visible proof of our conversion is a radically altered lifestyle that is now characterized by righteousness and holiness.
I ask you; what does your lifestyle say about your relationship with God? If you are comfortable with a cranky, ornery spirit, with a critical tongue or with worldly practices, you have no part with Christ.
