As a young woman, yearning with passionate intensity to serve Yahweh, I spent much time in prayer and heart-searching. I was frequently both challenged and bemused by the apostle Paul’s writing, “dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of [Yahweh]” [2 Corinthians 7:1, KJV]. What, I asked myself, could this possibly mean? How can believers have ‘filthiness’ of any kind? Is he really writing to men and women who have been born again, set free from sin, and forgiven? And how is it possible to ‘perfect holiness’? The very nature of holiness speaks of perfection since Yahweh charged us to be holy as He is holy [Leviticus 11:44].
“Holiness,” cries A.W. Tozer, “is not an optional extra.” During my search for enlightenment, this statement was burned into my heart, and I also came to understand that holiness is an ongoing commitment. “Salvation does not end your conflict with sin,” declared Alcot Walker. Overcoming temptation helps us to grow in holiness.
The idea of ‘perfecting holiness’ is connected to my personal life. It’s true that we cannot perfect what is already perfect, but we can bring to greater perfection something that has been planted in us by the power of redemption. Out of reverence for Yahweh, we can submit to that seed and, through obedience and submission, allow it to be brought to further perfection in us! Having difficulties, struggling, even falling, don’t mean we are not holy, or we’ve ‘lost’ our holiness, they indicate the need to cultivate the seed; bringing holiness to completion!
There is a powerful reason behind Paul’s call to holiness; because ‘we have these great promises’, he cries. To understand what they are we need to check the previous chapter, where Paul says we are the temple of Yahweh and quotes, “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people…And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters…” [6:16&18]. No wonder the apostle constantly urges us “to walk worthy of the calling (we) have received” [Ephesians 4:1].
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You Are The BranchesClick to see the whole passage:
1 timothy 3:16 NIV - Beyond all question, the mystery from - Bible Gateway
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