Fight For Holiness

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”  (Hebrews 12:14)

Perhaps you know them. Those professing Christians who live such unholy lives that they will hear those dreadful words of Jesus, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). Paul was speaking to professing believers when he wrote, “If you live according to the flesh you will die” (Romans 8:13). Thescripture is plain, without this practical holiness we will not see the Lord. This peace with others which results in true holiness is obtained by faith in God’s supreme grace for today and on into the future.

The apostles warn us against serving God any other way than by faith in His enabling grace. There is another way to pursue holiness that backfires and leads to death. Thoughts of pride do come; never allow them to stay; let your faith in Jesus take over. This is exactly what Peter said in 1 Peter 4:11, “Whoever serves, [let him do so] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies - in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” And again Paul says in Romans 15:18, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me.”

Throughout our lives, moment by moment, the grace of God is there enabling us to do “every good work” as the Spirit of God appoints it; for “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

It’s out of this God worked holiness in you and me that good works come and it is our faith in this grace that fights to keep it going in the Name of Jesus, Amen!