The Pursuit of Holiness – The Kingdom Curriculum IV (5)

The Pursuit of Holiness

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

The Christian life is a call to holiness: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). The holy and righteous and good Law of God defines the standard of holiness; the Holy Spirit of God provides the understanding and power for holiness; and the holy Son of God is the end of holiness for all who seek Him. When we understand all that God has promised to us as His chosen and redeemed people, we will take up the Law of God in obedient pursuit of God’s purpose for our lives. What does that entail?

First, as Paul explains, we must “cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit.” We cannot grow in knowledge of and obedience to God’s Law without laying aside whatever gets in the way of this high and holy calling. This includes any secret sins lingering in heart, mind, or conscience, as well as any impure actions or habits in our daily lives. We must daily submit to the searching light of God’s Word and Spirit and be willing, as He leads, to put aside any and every sin He brings to mind (Pss. 19:11-14; 139:23, 24). The pursuit of holiness begins in silence, waiting on the Lord, over His Word, to show us where in our lives there are obstacles that will prevent us from growing in grace. As the Spirit shows them to us, we must confess (literally, “agree” with Him) and repent, laying aside whatever is contrary to God’s Law, and seeking in His Word a contrary behavior of righteousness to replace that which was displeasing to Him.

But we must also nurture the fear of God, as Paul explains. We don’t hear much about the fear of God these days; however, it is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Ps. 111:10; Prov. 1:7), and, since we want to know the Law of God in order to live in His wisdom, we must give more thought to the meaning of this term. Essentially, to fear God is just what it means – to be afraid of Him, of His discipline, of what He, out of the depths of His love, might do in order to get us to walk in His path. We fear God like we would fear a great storm that threatens to blow away our home and take our lives. But, unlike the storm, the God we fear we also love and trust, so that, while we fear Him, we are not terrified by Him. Instead, fear engenders awe and love and leads us to want to obey and please this One Who shows us such unmerited favor.

These then – cleansing and the fear of God – become the foundation for beginning to read and study the Law of God and for meditating on all of God’s Word in the light of His Law. Daily reading in the Law, long seasons of meditation and reflection, talking with others about possible applications of the Law to contemporary situations, discovering ways the prophets and apostles understood and applied the Law, reading the works of those who have wrestled with these matters for years – these now must begin to characterize our lives in pursuit of the holiness of God. This will take time and great determination, but the payoff in knowing and enjoying the promises of God, and bringing Him glory, is well worth the effort.

Order your copy of The Law of God today. Go to www.MyParuchia.com, Publications, Waxed Tablet, to place your order and take up the Kingdom curriculum of our Lord.

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.